WO2014046634A1

WO2014046634A1 - The horseshoe compatible with the foot biomechanics of the equidae

Info

Publication number: WO2014046634A1
Application number: PCT/TR2013/000292
Authority: WO
Inventors: Akman Serhan; Izci CELAL
Original assignee: Akman Serhan; Celal Izci
Priority date: 2012-09-19
Filing date: 2013-09-16
Publication date: 2014-03-27
Also published as: IN2015DN02317A

Abstract

The invention is about a multi-part horseshoe (1,2) which is compatible with the natural biomechanics of the foot of the equdae (horse, ass and mule), and attached to the palmar surface (margo solearis) of the hooves, and prevents the breaking and wearing of hooves.

Description

DESCRIPTION

THE HORSESHOE COMPATIBLE WITH THE FOOT BIOMECHANICS OF

THE EQUIDAE TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention is about a multi-part horseshoe which is compatible with the natural biomechanics of the foot of the equidae (horse, ass and mule), and attached to the palmar surface (margo solearis ) of the hooves, and prevents the breaking and wearing of them.

PRIOR ART

The part that is under the heel joint of the front and rear legs of the equidae is defined as foot. Hoof refers to the anatomic structure that is formed as a result of keratinization of the epidermis layer of the skin surrounding foot bone and surrounding tissues.

Hooves exposure to any kind of negativity of the ground both while on the move and at the rest. It is the most important organ that provides support for the animal as it contacts with the ground. It also constitutes the most important point of support for all organs, particularly the legs (limbs) that move the body.

With the domestication of horses and donkeys among the equidae, hoof wear and preventing the diseases caused by it have been one of the most important problems. Horseshoe has been the most advanced measure to protect horse hooves during the development history of human.

It is known that various protective materials to prevent erosion of the hooves have been used since ancient times. The shape and use of them vary according to periods, communities and regions.

Today horseshoe has become a vital and indispensable element which is not only used for preventing the wearing of the hoof but also enhancing the performance and curing many foot and limb diseases.

Horse shoe is a tool made of various materials, looks like the lower edge of the hoof (margo solearis) and attached to the horse hooves with nails. Horseshoe is used to make the following basic functions:

o To supply and protect the foot medio - lateral and dorso palmar / plantar balance

o To protect hoof from wearing, trauma and contusion

o To improve the performance and traction power of the horse

o To change the way the hooves hold on the ground

o To invigorate walking

o To provide support

o To prevent injuries caused by gait disorders.

Traditional horseshoes have been widely used for these purposes in veterinary medicine and animal care. Horseshoe has been commonly applied to animals for many years. The horseshoes sold on the market are made of metal (iron, steel, titanium, aluminum, etc.) or materials such as composite, acrylic, rubber and PVC compatible with the shape of the sole of the hoof, and they protect the hooves from wearing. Although there are significant variations between the materials of the horseshoes for sale on the market, there is no significant difference in their designs.

Although there are few on the market, some of the horseshoes are flat and made of sheet metal and unsplit( Turkish horseshoes ). Its thickness is close to 1 cm. The common horseshoe alsoknown as military shoe is a classic shoe (European style) with hollow, approximately one and a half centimeters width and one centimeter thickness. This horseshoes are preferred for also racing horses as they occupy less space and are lighter compared to other designs.

The horseshoes on the market are single piece and composed of two branches; lateral and interior. Each branch has an inner and an outer edge. The point where two branches meet is called toe, center of articulation or toe of the horseshoe. Both branches have quarter and heel parts after the center of articulation. A horseshoe has a bottom or ground, and top or hoof surface. The shoes with groove on the ground face are called fullered shoe and the shoes with only punched nail holes are called flat horseshoes. The shape of the shoe should match with the shape of the sole of the hoof. The lateral branches at the widest point of the shoes are more concave than the interior branches.

The thickness of shoe is generally applied approximately twice the hoof wall. Therefore, the shoe is thicker in the front. The thickness of the shoe defines the distance between the hoof and ground surface, and it is adjusted according to the structure and work of the animal.

The special studs are driven into the punched holes avoiding the sensitive inner part of the foot in such a way that they emerge on the sides of the hoof. The bended (curved) part of the nails should be outward as they are driven in. Horseshoe is attached on the hoof using the nails.

Nail holes: The shape, number, depth, place and direction of the nails are important in terms of avoiding the sensitive inner part and attaching the shoe on the hoof firmly.

The shape of nail holes: Each nail hole has a nail head socket and nail slot. Nail head slots are drilled in accordance with the shape of the nail head and they narrow as the slots go from the ground towards the foot sole. The nail holes are placed in the fullering in the fullered horseshoes. The size and shape of the hole should match well with the nail head and size. If the nail hole becomes narrow, the neck of the nail is stripped when it is driven in. This makes the nail weak and brittle.

The location and course of the nails: It is essential for the hoof capability. The location and course of the nail affects the course of the nail in the hoof. So its location should be determined properly. Nail holes can be drilled near or far from the outer edge of the horseshoe. Nails driven in the drilled holes near the outer edge can tear the hoof. The horseshoes with the nail holes drilled far from the outer edge should be attached carefully. The nail holes should be in the line between the 1/3 width of the shoe and 1/3 outer edge. Nail holes should be drilled with 2-3 cm intervals. The nail holes of the front foot horseshoes ought to be in the front half of the shoes. The holes of the back shoud be in 2/3 of the front of the shoes. The gradient of the nails is regarded as the angle of them. The direction of the nail holes is vital in terms of not damaging the sensitive tissues. Therefore, the course of the holes in the front is inclined inwards, side holes are guided vertical and heel holes are slightly inclined ourwards (Erkurt 1945, Artun 1957, Hickman and Humphrey, 1988, Butler, 1991 ).

The number of nail holes: It varies in accordance with size and weight of the horseshoe. The condition of the hoof is important in determining the number of the nail holes. In general, there are 5 nail holes in a small horseshoe, 6-7 holes in a mediun-sized shoe, 7-8 in the shoes of heavy draught animals and 7-8 in the shoes of the race horses.

Traditional horse shoes have 7 nail holes. A front horseshoe with 7 nail holes includes 3 holes in the inside branch and 4 holes in the outside branch (Artun 1957, Hickman and Humphrey, 1988, Butler , 1991 ).

Nail and its features: Nail is the material used for attaching the horseshoe on the hoof. Today, factory manufactured nails are used in practice, and they are superior to the handmade nails in every aspect. Factory manufactured nails are smooth, shiny and made of high quality mild steel. They are hard enough to be pulled out without being bent in the hoof.

Nail consists of a head, neck , body, and a tip. The head is in the form of wedge. The outer surface is flat and the inner surface up to the neck is inclined. This inclination in the interior of head is determinant to distinguish the inner surface of the nail. The neck is the connecting line between the nail head and body. Nail body extends from the neck to the tip and has two sides. It has the twice width of its thickness. The tip is beveled interiorly. The beveled tip urges the tip to go towards fold side of the body while the nail is driven. Therefore, the nail should be driven as the beveled side is facing inner surface. Thus, the tip of the nail will go away from the live tissues and will come out from the exterior wall of the hoof. Consequently, nail will not be driven into the live tissues (Hickman and Humphrey 988, Humphrey , 995).

Nowadays, the important hoof problems occured in veterinary clinics are broken or cracked hooves, falling rivets, heel contraction and nail growth. Although following the rules of shoeing diminishes the percentage of these problems, they are significantly encountered at clinics. The causes of these problems are mostly attributed to wrong ways of attaching horseshoes, and the problems caused by the design of horseshoes are ignored.

The current horseshoes available on the market are "U" form structures riveted with 6-8 nails to the hooves. This design of the horseshoes makes a locking effect on the hooves.

The fact that the number of the nails is more does not help the stress occurred on the shoes to be distributed equally between the nails. So different stresses occur in the areas where nails are driven according to the adaptation and localization of the shoes on the hoof.

In the normal nail biomechanics ; unshod foot (hoof) steps on the ground, body weight is transmitted in the direction from top to bottom until the foot joint at the lowest part of the foot bone and pushes the foot downward. The fork is compressed and expands upwards under pressure from the ground. This situation supports and increases the pressure on the fork-heel bed. Under this pressure, fork-heel pad extends outward forces hoof cartilage to open outward (medial and lateral). This situation creates a great pressure on half back of hoof and heels and quarter expands sideways. Since the side wall is thinner and softer and its laminar connection is more flexible, the expansion in the heel is greater than in the side wall. This expansion in the hooves absorbs significant portion of pressure that occurs on foot.

A horseshoe design, which is not compatible with the stretches of the natural foot tissues and does not tolerate flexion, initiates the problems starting with fractures and cracks. The fractures and cracks are common problems. In addition, this type of horseshoes leads to the restriction of natural biomechanical movements of soft and hard tissues. The frequently occurred errors of fitting shoe increase the negative consequences of these complications. Most of the time, the animals whose legs are injured in this way become disabled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention is about the multi-part horseshoe that protects hoof without restricting the stretching of the foot tissues of the equidae. The invention consists of at least two infrastructure parts that will provide support, a horseshoe matching with the form of hoof and made of elastic materials coating these parts, and total four nails; two for each infrastructure part to fit the horseshoe to the hoof. The soles of the left and right infrastructure parts have been covered thicker and the ground side of them have been covered thinner with elastic material so that the stress transmitted to the tissues is reduced and performance is increased. In addition, the nail head holes have been designed in square form in such a direction that they do not hinder the natural biomechanical movements of the hooves and the nails with efficient thickness and strength can be driven.

The cross-section of the nail driven into the hoof has been prepared concave to the soft tissues and outer edge of the hoof and soft tissues and hoof have been protected.

The nail should be driven at the widest point of the hoof while the shoe is fitted. In this case nail grows false, shrinks, or deforms. Considering this state, one of the nail holes drilled in the part of horseshoe is on the transition line from toe to quarter and the other hole is located in the widest point of the shoe.

THE PROVISIONS OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 . General Attached View

Figure 2. Section View and Detailed View

Figure 3. Right and Left Infrastructure Part Views

Figure 4. Covering Materials View

Figure 5. Cross View of Nail

Figure 6. Section View of the Nail

Provisions of the part numbers are given below.

1. Right Infrastructure Part

2. Left Infrastructure Part

3. Nail Head Slot Joining Gap

Ground Surface Covering Material

Hoof Surface Covering Material

Filling Material of the Joining Gap

Nail

8.1 . Concave Fold

8.2. Concave Cavity

Covering Material for Nail Head Slot DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention consists of right infrastructure part (1 ) , left infrastructure part (2) compatible with the hoof form, nail head- slot(3), junction gap (4) , the covering material of the ground surface (5) , the covering material of the hoof surface, (6), junction gap filling material (7) , the concave bend (8.1 ) the nail with the concave bend (8) and the nail head slot covering material (9) parts and sections.

The present invention consists of at least two pieces of supportive infrastructure parts and covering materials with different elastic properties. While infrastructure parts are required for sound infrastructure, covering materials with different elastic properties enhances elasticity in accordance with the foot tissues, enhances traction on the ground and compensate the mistakes that may occur while rasping the hoof. The junction gap (5) in the site of joining (horseshoe toe) where right infrastructure part (1 ) and left infrastructure part (2) meet is filled with filling joining gap material (7). Joining gap filling material (7) has high elastic properties. In this way, it significantly helps the horseshoe system to stretch in accordance with the natural biomechanics of the foot movement. The nail head slot covering material(9) around the nail head slot through which nails(8) will be driven provides additional contributions to the harmony of horseshoe with its natural stretching. Right infrastructure part (1 ) and left track infrastructure (2) each have two nail head slots for the nails(8).The first nail head slot of each infrastructure is 2 cm far from the toe) the passing line from toe to quarter and the other is at the widest point of the shoe. There is nail head covering material (9) in 1 mm thickness around the nail head slot where nails will be driven and it contributes to the movements of the horseshoe during the biomechanical stretching of the foot. The space between the ground surface and right infrastructure part (1 ) and left infrastructure part (2) has been covered with filling material (5) and thus, the traction rate on the ground has been increased. This part can wear over time, but it will fulfill the task successfully considering that the average lifetime of a horseshoe is three weeks. Covering the space between the hoof and the right infrastructure part (1 ) and left infrastructure part (2) with 2cm-thick hoof surface filling material(6), not only contributes the natural stretching movements of the foot but supports the next step as well. Hoof surface coating material (6), will act as a shock absorber. This material stretches under extreme loads and does not create negative effects on the nail caused by the direct stress of the metal. The horseshoe system acts as a shock absorber under vertical, horizontal and oblique forces, and is compatible with the natural biomechanics. Thus, complications and injuries are prevented.

Horseshoe is driven into the hoof through the nail head slots in the right infrastructure part (1 ) and left part of infrastructure (2) using 4 nails (8). Thanks to the junction gap and (5) and the gap junction filling material (7), two-nail application in each part will let controlled and balanced stress on the nails compared to the known technique with more nails. When more than two nails are driven, destructive stresses will occur around the hoof area where the middle nail is driven. Nail head slots have been designed in square form and they have been angled so that they cannot hinder the movement of hoof. Movement in the direction of the natural movement of the hoof will be achieved with the help of the nail head slot covering material. Although nail heads are in square form, the inside part (the side facing the soft tissues) and outside part (outside the hoof ) have been designed as concave.

This nail system will lessen the negative effects caused by the growth of nails and will extend the duration of changing horseshoes as it allows the natural biomechanical movements of the foot. The nail system, consisting of two independently movable parts, makes it possible not to let the stress that one infrastructure part will exposure affect the other infrastructure part thanks to the junction gap and (5) and junction gap filling material (7).

Through the present invention, hoof cracks will be significantly reduced eliminating these unfavorable conditions.

Under the conditions in which more than two nails (8) are applied, the load is transferred to only some nails as the natural tissues extends. Since two nails are applied for each infrastructure part in our horseshoe system, the force can be shared equally between the nails(8). Since the nail head slot are punched at the most appropriate parts of the hoof, this horseshoe system provides additional biomechanical advantages.

The nail (8) that allows the movement of some tissues and with sufficient thickness makes a stress breaking effect. Concave fold (8.1 ) and concave cavity (8.2) have been formed on the nail in order to make the rest of the hoof texture more durable and to increase the distance between the live tissues.

Concave fold (8.1 ), reduces the stress in the sites where hoof breakage and cracking occur most. Thus, nail breakage, cracking and the likelihood of loosening of nails are minimized. Concave space( 8.2) of the cross-section of nail has been applied to the sides facing live parts of the tissues and the outer surface. The remaining two sides have a straight form. Forming a concave gap on the sides of these two nails that transmit the stress to the hoof while moving, the surface area has been increased and the hoof has been strengthened increasing the hoof volume. This design helps stress transmission and increases nail strength. The fact that junction gap (4), the junction gap filling material (7) and the nail head slot covering material (9) allow the biomechanical movements of the foot prevents or reduces stress formation significantly. This horseshoe system protects the foot without damaging the natural stretch of the supportive tissues and hoof. In this way, it affects the animal's performance and feet and hoof health positively in the long-term.

After selecting the proper size of the horseshoe for the animal foot, the hoof is prepared to attach the horseshoe. After the hoof wall has been trimmed or rasped to the desired length, right and left horseshoes are placed on the hoof, and it is ready for shoeing.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. It is a protective horseshoe system, characterized in that it contains infrastructure parts, a right (1 ) and left infrastructure part (2) with supportive functions.

2. They are the right infrastructure (1 ) and left infrastructure parts (2) mentioned in Claim 1 and characterized in that they have joining gap (4) between themselves in the toe of the shoe.

3. It is the joining gap (4) mentioned in Claim 2 and characterized in that it is filled with gap filling material (7).

4. They are the right infrastructure (1 ) and left infrastructure parts (2) mentioned in Claim 1 and characterized in that they have two nail head slots(3) for the nails (8) in the sites where toe to quarter meet and at the widest point of the shoe.

5. It is the nail head slot (3) mentioned in Claim 4 and characterized in that it is covered with nail head slot filling material (9).

6. It is the nail head slot (3) mentioned in Claim 4 and characterized in that its sides are inclined in the angle compatible with the natural movement of the hoof.

7. They are the right infrastructure (1 ) and left infrastructure parts (2) mentioned in Claim 1 and characterized in that their ground surface that contacts the soil is covered with covering material of ground surface (5).

8. They are the right infrastructure (1 ) and left infrastructure parts (2) mentioned in Claim 1 and characterized in that their surfaces that contact hoof are covered with hoof surface covering material (6).

9. It is the nail head (8) mentioned in Claim 4 and characterized in that the outer and the interior side of the remainder of the nail in the hoof contain a concave cavity (8.2).