Abstract: A method of treating a hoof of an ungulate animal. The method comprises coating one or both of (i) at least a portion of a bottom surface of the hoof or (ii) at least a portion of a block surface with a curable polymer and allowing the polymer to cure for a period of time. The polymer is cured within 60 seconds or less of the coating and the cured polymer has a Shore D hardness of about 10 to about 50. The curable polymer is provided as a two component system. The first component is a reaction product of (a) comprises 4-4?-diphenylmethane-diisocyanate, castor oil, isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane, and glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, and wherein (b) comprises dicyclohexylmethane-4,4-diisocyanate, polyether polyol, 4,4?-diphenylmethane-diisocyanate (MDI), and triethoxy(3-isocyanatopropyle)silane. The second component comprises polyoxypropylene oxide ether polyol, diol (2000 MW), polyxoypropylene oxide ether polyol, triol (450 MW), tetrahydroxypropylethylendiamine, metaxylenediamine, and organobismuth catalyst.

Abstract: Fasteners are configured to anchor a horseshoe to a hoof. The fasteners are used in conjunction with wrapping, banding and/or casting material to secure a horseshoe to a hoof. Methods of anchoring a horseshoe to a hoof employ fasteners and wrapping, banding and/or casting material.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved horseshoe, which comprises a hoof engagement surface that is provided with an unevenness and makes contact with the hoof in such a manner that the shoe will fit more closely to and immovably against the bottom of the hoof. The unevenness provides an anti-slip interference with fibrous material of the hoof to lessen relative movement between the horseshoe and the hoof, both during assembly thereto by a farrier and during galloping of the horse, desirably inhibiting shearing stresses being placed on the securement nails. The anti-slip interference is provided by an array of bumps or hemispherical shaped domes that project upwardly from the hoof-engaging surface to displace fibrous hoof material and complete an interlocking engagement therewith in an amount sufficient to inhibit relative movement but not create discomfort to the horse.

Abstract: Sole (5) for a shoe adapted for use on hoofed or cloven-hoofed animals where the sole (5) at least comprises: a forward (10) and a rear part (11) plus at least a coupling/joint (14) which allows the at least one forward part (10) and the at least one rear part (11) to move completely or partly independent of each other. The invention also discloses a shoe (1) for use of said sole (5).

Abstract: A horseshoe for securing to an animal foot and methods for forming and securing the horseshoe to an animal foot are disclosed. A body portion contains at least one channel having a cross-sectional shape that is wider at a level below a top surface than at an upper level. The channel retains a rigid material forming a bonding lug which is substantially co-planar with the top surface of the horseshoe body. The bonding lug interacts with a bonding agent to increase the strength of the bond between the horseshoe and the animal foot.

Abstract: A removable horseshoe clip for temporarily placement on a horseshoe during the fitment process to secure the horseshoe against slipping or rotational movement during nailing, and method of use. The removable horseshoe clip includes an inner retaining clip sized to engage the inner peripheral edge of a horseshoe, a broad base for seating against the bottom surface of the horseshoe, and an outer retaining clip adapted to abut the outer peripheral edge of a horseshoe and the outer surface of a hoof wall.

Abstract: An adjustable inductive shoeing apparatus including an inductive heating element, an adjustable mounting structure, and a control circuit is described. The inductive heating element is substantially U-shaped and disposed in a serpentine arrangement to replicate the U-shape of a horseshoe at least twice. The adjustable mounting structure supports and secures a horseshoe adjacent to the inductive heating coil so as to facilitate heating of the horseshoe and/or an adhesive. The adjustable mounting structure includes a pair of jaws and/or a plurality of brackets which are movable to conform to the lateral extents of a horseshoe. Brackets are disposed in a substantially U-shaped pattern along the adjustable mounting structure. In some embodiments, brackets contact the inductive heating element so as to adjust the inductive heating element to the shape and size of a horseshoe. In other embodiments, inductive heating element passes through the brackets.

Abstract: A horseshoe made from rubber or an elastomeric material has a tread portion with a plurality of interconnected side-by-side hollow cylindrical buttons. The buttons are open at their upper ends and their lower ends are covered by a thin film of the rubber or elastomeric material. The horseshoe is attached to the horse's hoof with an adhesive and sufficient adhesive is applied to the tread portion to fill the buttons with adhesive material and provide a thin layer of the adhesive material between the tread portion and the hoof when the horseshoe is pushed toward the hoof.

Abstract: A hoof/shoe attachment device (10) attaching a shoe (14) for a hoofed animal to the animal's hoof without the use of nails. The shoe (14) and an adapter (12) are held together by a adaptor fastener (12C) such as rivets. The hoof/shoe attachment device (10) comprises materials that prevents the rivet heads from pulling through. At least two fabric layers (adaptor cloth retainer upper layer (12BA) and adaptor cloth retainer lower layer (12BB) are embedded in the adaptor (12). The adaptor cloth retainer upper layer (12BA) is made from an arimid fiber known for abrasion resistance. The adaptor cloth retainer lower layer (12BB) is made from fiberglass. The hoof/shoe attachment device (10) when bonded to a hoof (16) results in a long wearing nailess shoe.

Abstract: A kit which can be used to form a horseshoe, which can be assembled by a farrier in the field, and which can be applied to a horse using adhesives. Specifically, a kit is provided including a rigid cast polymeric sole or a horseshoe, and a rigid planar member for attachment to the sole. A hoof contacting layer (cuff) including a skirt extending therefrom is also provided. The sole, planar member, and hoof contacting layer all include a heat activated thermoplastic urethane adhesive. The kit can also include layers of shock-attenuating material also coated with the adhesive. Such shock-attenuating material may be wedge shaped. Alternatively, additional layers of rigid wedge-shaped material may be added as necessary to produce a shoe with the desired shape. Since the adhesive is heat activated thermoplastic urethane adhesive, a farrier can heat the layers in the field to activate the adhesive and glue the shoe together.

Abstract: A horseshoe support system supports a horseshoe on the bottom of a horse hoof by attachment of the horseshoe to the side of the hoof. The horseshoe has an upper surface engageable with the bottom of the hoof and an arrangement of a plurality of peripheral connectors spaced around the horseshoe. The horseshoe support system comprises a plurality of separate anchor pads, each having an inner face adapted to be adhesively secured at a selected position to the side of the hoof. Each anchor pad further has an outer connector, to provide an arrangement of anchor pad connectors around the side of the hoof adjacent to the arrangement of horseshoe connectors. Each anchor pad connector is positioned for connection to at least one horseshoe connector.

Abstract: A protective covering for a horse's hoof which comprises a horseshoe having convex and concave edges and a skirt embedded in a polymeric resin bonded to the horseshoe and extending beyond the convex edge of the horseshoe. The skirt may be made from any suitable flexible sheet material including a polymeric fiber fabric, a molded thermoplastic sheet material, or a laminate of molded thermoplastic sheet material and polymeric fiber fabric. When the shoe is fitted to the horse's hoof, the skirt extends up over the outside of the hoof. The protective covering is secured to the hoof using an acrylic structural adhesive both between the hoof and the shoe and between the skirt and the outside of the hoof. The skirt is preferably a thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene. The polymeric resin is preferably polyurethane.

Abstract: A process for gluing a horseshoe having a rim extending upward around the sidewall of the hoof. In an earlier process, both the hoof and the part to be attached, if any, were preheated to about 275.degree. F. and then bonded with a hard paste-type urethane adhesive. Principal new features are grooving of the sidewall to increase bond strength and lowering the sidewall preheat temperature to 220.degree. F. in order to eliminate the discomfort sometimes experienced at 275.degree. F. by horses with thin sidewalls.

Abstract: A method is provided for securing a horseshoe to a hoof by wrapping a curable resin coated sheet material around an applied horseshoe and at least a portion of the hoof after the cure has been initiated, such that the resin coated sheet material secures the horseshoe to the hoof. An apparatus is also provided for securing a horseshoe according to the method.

Abstract: A method is provided for securing a horseshoe to a hoof by wrapping a curable resin coated sheet material around an applied horseshoe and at least a portion of the hoof after the cure has been initiated, such that the cured resin coated sheet material secures the horseshoe to the hoof. An apparatus is also provided for securing a horseshoe according to the method.

Abstract: A two part plastics material horseshoe has a relatively flexible plastics strip part of generally L-shaped cross-section, shaped so as to be suitable for adhering to the side wall of a hoof, and a relatively inflexible plastics shoe-part adapted for bonding to the strip-part once the latter has been adhered to the hoof. The two parts are pre-united in the toe region, to set the relative dispostion thereof prior to adhering the strip part to the hoof. Attachment of the strip-part to the hoof is enhanced by providing a liner having a rough texture within the strip-part, and the shoe-part may be affixed to the strip-part by a heat-welding technique.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for shoeing horses using a plastics material horse shoe. A flexible L-shaped strip, preferably preformed from plastics to fit a hoof, is adhered to the front and side walls of the hoof as well as to the peripheral region of the sole. Then the plastics shoe is adhered to the underside of the strip. The provision of a separate strip allows a satisfactory indirect bond of the shoe to the hoof by using anaerobic, fast-setting adhesives. The strip should be relatively resilient, whereas the shoe should be relatively hard and rigid.

Abstract: A hoof covering for horses comprises a horseshoe-shaped plastic body which has a generally acute-angled cross section so as to form a lower side with a flat upper surface and an upwardly extending side in the form of a conical side wall. The flat upper surface serves as a support for a hoof of a horse. The conical side wall is capable of being bent into the desired shape for mounting the hoof covering on the hoof by an adhesive.

Abstract: An appliance for facilitating the adhesive mounting of a horseshoe comprises a boot having an inflatable liner in the form of a tube whereby upon inflation of the tube the horseshoe is pressed against the hoof while the adhesive is curing.

Abstract: A horseshoe is applied to the hoof by means of elongated strands or laces which are adhesively secured to the shoe after being threaded through holes in the hoof. The laces have a breaking strength less than that of the strength of the horse's hoof. The horseshoe itself includes a pad having a barrier sheet with loops on one side thereof integrally secured to the body member of the shoe, while loops on the other side provide means to facilitate adhesive securement to the hoof.

Abstract: Elongated strands are threaded through holes in a horse's hoof. The strands have substantial exposed air spaces into which adhesive may flow for facilitating securement of the shoe to the hoof by interaction with the adhesive upon the shoe. Additionally, or alternatively the strands may be used to assist in the medical treatment of cracks in the hoof.