| CLAIMS
1. Method for mounting covering (10; 11, 12) on a hoof (1) of a horse, wherein engagement spots for the covering (10; 11, 12) are created in the hoof (1) by arranging from a side at least one hole (15) in horn material of the hoof (1) at opposite sides of the hoof (1) , at the location of the heels (6) .
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein, at the location of the heels (6) , at a position at a distance above a bottom surface (7) of the hoof (1) , material of the hoof (1) is removed in order to create and/or deepen a cavity (13) .
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein covering (10; 12) for a bottom surface (7) of the hoof (1) is attached to the hoof (1) at the location of the heels (6) by providing attachment members (18) , wherein each attachment member (18) is put to engagement with both the ' covering (10; 12) and the at least one hole (15) in the horn material of the hoof (1) .
4. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein covering (10) for a bottom surface of the hoof (1) which is provided with two projections (17) is applied, wherein each projection (17) is inserted into a cavity (13) which is located in the hoof (1) at the location of the heels (6) , at a position at a distance above the bottom surface (7) of the hoof (1) , and wherein the projections (17) are attached to the hoof (1) through the engagement spots.
5. Method according to claim 4, wherein an attachment member (18) is provided per projection (17) , and wherein each attachment member (18) is put to engagement with both the projection (17) and the at least one hole (15) in the horn material of the hoof (1) .
6. Method according to any of claims 1-5, wherein covering (10; 11, 12) for a bottom surface of the hoof (1) is mounted in individual pieces (11, 12), wherein two covering pieces (12) are mounted at the location of the heels (6) , and wherein these two covering pieces (12) are attached to the hoof (1) through the engagement spots.
7. Method according to any of claims 1-5, wherein a U-shaped shoe (24) having an inner carrier (26) , an outer carrier (27) and covering (25) for a bottom surface of the hoof (1) is provided, wherein the inner carrier (26) is put to contact with an inner surface of the hoof (1) , and the outer carrier (27) is put to contact with an outer surface of the hoof (1) , and wherein the shoe (24) is attached to the hoof (1) through at least the engagement spots .
8. Method according to any of claims 1-7, wherein, at the location of the heels (6) , at opposite sides of the hoof (1) , a hole (15) is arranged in horn material of the hoof (1) , from both an inner side and an outer side.
9. Method according to claim 8, wherein elongate bodies (18) are provided, and wherein, per set of holes (15) , an elongate body (18) is inserted through both holes (15) and fixed to the hoof (1) .
10. Method for mounting covering (10) on a hoof (1) of a horse, wherein back covering pieces (12) which are adapted to cover a bottom surface (7) of the hoof (1) at the location of the heels (6) are provided, and are attached to the hoof (1) at the location of the heels (6) , and wherein at least one front covering piece (11) . which is adapted to cover a part of the bottom surface of the hoof (1) which is located more to the front is provided, and is attached to the hoof (1) .
11. Method according to claim 10, wherein, for the purpose of attaching the back covering pieces (12) to the hoof (1) , a connection is made exclusively with a central portion of each of the covering pieces (12) .
12. Assembly (11, 12) which is destined to be applied for covering a bottom surface of a hoof (1) of a horse, comprising' back covering pieces (12) and at least one front covering piece (11) , wherein the back covering pieces (12) are adapted to cover a bottom surface (7) of the hoof (1) at the location of the heels (6) , and wherein the front covering piece (11) is adapted to cover a part of the bottom surface of the hoof (1) which is located more to the front.
13. Assembly (11, 12) according to claim 12, wherein each of the back covering pieces (12) comprises standing walls (20) at a side which is destined to be placed against the bottom surface of the hoof (1) , which walls (20) are destined to be contacting a surface of the hoof (1) from a side, wherein the walls (20) are delimiting a space (21) which is suitable for receiving a part (7) of the hoof (1) at the location of the heels (G) . .
14. Assembly (11, 12) according to claim 13, wherein the standing walls (20) are, having a divergent positioning with respect to each other.
15. Assembly (11, 12) according to any of claims 12-14, wherein each of the back covering pieces (12) is provided with a projection (17) which is destined to be inserted into a cavity (13) which is located in the hoof (1) at the location of the heels (6) , at a position at a distance above the bottom surface (7) of the hoof (1) .
16. Assembly (11, 12) according to any of claims 12-15, wherein the back covering pieces (12) are provided with an opening for receiving means for attachment of the covering pieces (12) to the hoof (1), exclusively at a central position.
17. Assembly (11, 12) according to any of claims 12-16, wherein the back covering pieces (12) comprise a flexible material such as rubber .
18. Assembly (11, 12) according to any of claims 12-17, wherein the various covering pieces (11, 12) are interconnected, and wherein the connections are flexible.
19. Covering piece (12) for use in an assembly (11, 12) according to any of claims 12-18, which is adapted to cover a bottom surface
(7) of a hoof (1) of a horse at the location of the heels (6) , and which comprises standing walls (20) at a side which is destined to be placed against a bottom surface of the hoof (1) , which walls (20) are destined to be contacting a surface of the hoof (1) from a side, wherein the walls (20) are delimiting a space (21) which is suitable for receiving a part (7) of the hoof (1) at the location of the heels (6) .
20. Assembly (18, 24) of a U-shaped shoe (24) which is destined to be mounted on a hoof (1) of a horse and attachment means (18) which are destined to attach the shoe (24) to the hoof (l) , wherein the shoe (24) comprises an inner carrier (26) which is destined to be put to contact with an inner surface of the hoof (1) , and an outer carrier (27) which is destined to be put to contact with an outer surface of the hoof (1) , wherein the attachment means comprise two elongate bodies (18), and wherein free ends of the carriers (26, 27) of the shoe (24) are adapted to receive the elongate bodies (18) .
21. Assembly (18, 24) according to claim 20, wherein a part (25) of the shoe (24) which is adapted to clasp around a bottom part of the hoof (1) , and which is connected to the carriers (26, 27) , is manufactured from a flexible material such as rubber. |
Title: Covering for a hoof of a horse and method for mounting such covering
The invention relates to a method for mounting covering on a hoof of a horse .
Such a method is known. It is common practice to provide a bottom side of each of the hoofs of a horse with a horseshoe in order to avoid excessive and/or irregular wear of the hoofs. In most cases, a horseshoe is shaped as a flat piece of iron which is bent in a U-shape, and in which a number of holes are arranged. The dimensions of the horseshoe are adapted to the dimensions of the hoof in such a way that the horseshoe is capable of covering a bottom side of an outer wall of the hoof, which is called hoof wall. The horseshoe is fixed to the hoof by driving nails through the holes in the horseshoe and into the hoof .
Application of the known horseshoe involves disadvantages, of which a number will be elucidated below. In the first place, it is a fact that the horseshoe fixes the hoof to a certain extent, as a result of which the so-called hoof mechanism is hindered. The hoof mechanism means that the horn shoe of the hoof spreads out a little bit when it is subjected to a load, and moves back again when the horse lifts a leg on which the hoof is located. During motion of a horse, this movement is the largest at a back side of the hoof. The hoof mechanism plays an important role in the blood circulation of the hoof. The matter is that on the basis of the movement taking place in the hoof, a pumping action is obtained. Consequently, the hoof mechanism contributes also to pumping blood from the leg in an upward direction. Besides, the hoof mechanism has a function of damping shocks during the motion of the horse, as a result of which a lower tendon load is obtained, among other things. Hence, there are a number of reasons why the hoof mechanism is very . important , and why it needs to be taken into account in mounting hoof covering. Otherwise, the hoof could be fixed to such an extent that the motion of the horse gets disturbed, or that the horse even gets crippled.
For"the purpose of not hindering the hoof mechanism too much, the horseshoe is not attached to a back side of the hoof. Thus, at
the back side of the hoof, free ends of the horse shoe are positioned against the bottom side of the hoof without any further attachment . In order to guarantee that the horseshoe keeps covering the hoof during a certain period, while the hoof is growing in that period, an end which, is at the back of the horseshoe is somewhat projecting with respect to the back side of the hoof. This may cause troubles, particularly in the field of horse sports. The matter is that it occurs that a horse strikes against the back side of the hoofs of the front legs with the hoofs of the back legs during motion, wherein it may happen that a hoof of a back leg contacts the back end of a horseshoe on a front leg, and pushes the horseshoe away from the hoof in doing so, which may lead to severe tendon injuries .
Another disadvantage of the known horseshoe is related to the fact that large varieties in shape and dimensions of the hoof exist. Therefore, horseshoes need to be adapted during mounting in order to be capable of covering the hoof in an proper manner, and of being attached to the hoof in a proper manner. In view of the fact that the horseshoe usually comprises a piece of iron, adapting the horseshoe is a labour-intensive process, wherein forging techniques need to be applied.
It is an objective of the invention to provide another method for mounting covering on a hoof of a horse than fixing the known horseshoe by means of nailing, wherein the disadvantages as mentioned of the application of the known horseshoe do not occur.
The objective is achieved by a method in which engagement spots for the covering are created in the hoof by arranging from a side at least one hole in horn material of the hoof at opposite sides of the hoof, at the location of the heels. The invention is based on the insight that there are only a limited number of pressure points located on the bottom side of the hoof. Most of these pressure points are located on a front part of the hoof. However, all the way at the back, at the location of the heels, there are also pressure points. By creating engagement spots at this position, it is possible to mount a covering for the hoof which is well adapted to the natural pressure distribution over the hoof, and.which is also well fixed at the back side of the hoof. Within the scope of the invention, various possibilities for the covering of the hoof exist. For example, it may comprise a number of individual parts, or may be manufactured as a whole from flexible
material such as rubber or a suitable plastic, by means of which hindrance of the hoof mechanism is prevented. In any case, it is advantageous when the hoof covering is mounted in individual parts, wherein two covering pieces are mounted at the location of the heels, and wherein these two covering pieces are attached to the hoof through the engagement spots .
Another insight underlying the invention is that the hoof has a suitable shape at the location of the heels for enabling a firm fixing of hoof covering. In particular, a bottom surface of the hoof has a triangular shape at the location of the heels, wherein a cavity is located above this bottom surface, or may be easily created or deepened, which is accessible in a direction from the front to the back at a position above the triangular bottom surface. By arranging from the side at least one hole in horn material of the hoof at a suitable place, as is done according to the invention, access to the space is gained. On the basis thereof, various possibilities for fixing hoof covering to the engagement spots are obtained.
Within the scope of the invention, it is possible that hoof covering which is provided with two projections is applied, wherein each projection is inserted into the cavity, and wherein the projections are attached to the hoof through the engagement spots. The latter may take place by providing an attachment member per projection, and putting each attachment member to engagement with both the projection and the at least one hole in the horn material of the hoof. Depending on the material of the projections, among other things , they may be provided with a hole for receiving the attachment member, for example, or the projections may be pierced when the attachment member is inserted through it from a side. Applying hoof covering with projections which are inserted into cavities at the location of the heels is not at all necessary. In general, hoof covering may be attached to the hoof at the location of the heels by providing attachment members, wherein each attachment member is put to engagement with both the covering and the at least one hole in the horn material of the hoof.
The hoof covering may be provided in the shape of a shoe . Preferably, such a shoe is U-shaped, and may comprise an inner carrier and an outer carrier besides covering for a bottom surface of the hoof, wherein the inner carrier is put to contact with an inner surface of the hoof, and the outer carrier is put to contact
with an outer surface of the hoof, and wherein, in any case, the show is attached to the hoof through the engagement spots. Because of the fact that a hoof is has an inclined backward orientation at the front side, a considerable extent of grip is obtained on the basis of securing the shoe in a backward direction.
A practical manner for realizing that hoof covering is fixed to the hoof through the engagement spots comprises the steps of arranging from both an inner side and an outer side a hole in horn material of the hoof at opposite sides of the hoof, at the location of the heels, and providing elongate bodies, wherein per set of holes, an elongate body is inserted through both holes and fixed to the hoof. Subsequently, ends of the elongate bodies may then serve as attachment spots. It is also possible that a central portion of the elongate bodies serves as attachment spot, assuming that this portion is extending through a cavity as has already been described in the foregoing.
The method according to the invention offers various advantageous possibilities compared to applying the traditional horseshoe. By creating engagement spots at the location of the heels, it is possible to create a solid attachment of any suitable shoe to the hoof. In general, it is possible to cover the bottom surface of the hoof at the location of the heels, and also to directly fix the covering at the location of the heels. For example, the covering can be divided in a number of pieces, which may be attached to the hoof while being totally separated, or which are connected to each other in a flexible way. In any case, it is realized by the invention that the bottom surface of the hoof may be protected at the location of the heels without hindering the hoof mechanism. The shape of the pieces which are covering the heels may even be chosen such that the hoof mechanism is supported. Because of the fact that the covering which is located at the location of the heels is actually fixed to engagement spots at the location of the heels, there is practically no risk for the covering to get detached there . The invention also relates to a method for mounting covering on a hoof of a horse, wherein back covering pieces which are adapted to cover a bottom surface of the hoof at the location of the heels are provided, and are attached to the hoof at the location of the heels, and wherein at least one front covering piece which is adapted to cover a part of the bottom surface of the hoof which is located more
to the front is provided, and is attached to the hoof. The hoof covering is mounted on the hoof in various pieces, wherein the pieces may be individual pieces, although it cannot be excluded that the pieces are interconnected, wherein the connections are flexible in that case. When the pieces are individual pieces, it is possible that only a small gap is present between the pieces.
It may be so that for the purpose of attaching the back covering pieces to the hoof, a connection is made exclusively to a central portion of each of the covering pieces. In this respect, a single connection per covering piece may be sufficient.
The invention furthermore relates to an assembly which is destined to be applied for covering a bottom surface of a hoof of a horse, and which comprises back covering pieces and at least one front covering piece, wherein the back covering pieces are adapted to cover a bottom surface of the hoof at the location of the heels, and wherein the front covering piece is adapted to cover a part of the bottom surface of the hoof which is located more to the front. As has already been indicated in the foregoing, such an assembly has the important advantage that a good connection to the hoof is possible at the location of the heels at the one hand, while the hoof mechanism is not hindered on the other hand. Compared to the traditional horseshoe, the assembly also has the advantage that it is easily mountable, wherein it does not at all need to be necessary to apply forging techniques . The back covering pieces may be rubber or plastic blocks, for example, wherein there may be a single front covering piece which may be manufactured from iron, but which may simply be chosen from a series of standard pieces, as it covers a considerably smaller part of the hoof than the traditional horseshoe. For the purpose of fixing the back covering pieces in various directions, it is advantageous when they comprise standing walls at a side which is destined to be placed against the bottom surface of the hoof, which walls are destined to be contacting a surface of the hoof from a side, wherein the walls are delimiting a space which is suitable for receiving a part of the hoof at the location of the heels. In view of the fact that the bottom surface of the hoof has a triangular shape at the location of the heels, it is preferred when the standing walls are having a divergent positioning with respect to each other. In that case, the back covering pieces are capable of
snugly receiving the triangular part in the space delimited by the walls .
Each of the back covering pieces may be provided with a projection which is destined to be inserted into a cavity which is located in the hoof, at the location of the heels, at a position at a distance above the bottom surface of the hoof. This allows for an easy way of fixing the covering pieces to the hoof, as has already been explained. Moreover, the back covering pieces are fixed in a direction from the front to the back by means of the projections, which contributes to the strength of a connection between the pieces and the hoof. This is achieved because the projections are inclined in a backward and upward direction in the hoof when the back covering pieces are at their place on the hoof .
It is possible that the back covering pieces are intended to be fixed to the hoof at two sides. However, it is also well possible that the back covering pieces are only provided on a central position of an opening for receiving means for attaching the covering pieces to the hoof .
The invention furthermore relates to a covering piece for use in an assembly as described in the foregoing, which is adapted to cover a bottom surface of a hoof of a horse at the location of the heels, and which comprises standing walls at a side. which is destined to be placed against the bottom surface of the hoof, which walls are destined to be contacting a surface of the hoof from a side, wherein the walls are delimiting a space which is suitable for receiving a part of the hoof at the location of the heels.
The invention also relates to an assembly of a U-shaped shoe which is destined to be mounted on a hoof of a horse, and attachment means which are destined to attach the shoe to the hoof, wherein the shoe comprises an inner carrier which is destined to be put to contact with an inner surface of the hoof, and an outer carrier which is destined to be put to contact with an outer surface of the hoof, wherein the attachment means comprise two elongate bodies, and wherein free ends of the carriers of the shoe are adapted for receiving the elongate bodies. The elongate bodies are destined to be mounted through the hoof at the location of the heels, after which the carriers of the shoe can be fixed to the ends thereof. A part of the shoe which is adapted to clasp -around a bottom part of the hoof, and which is connected to the carriers, may be
manufactured from rubber or another suitable resilient material, for example, a flexible plastic.
Summarizing, the object of the invention is that pieces of hoof covering are fixed to the hoof at the location of the heels . This involves various possibilities and advantages. It is an interesting possibility to make use of the triangular shape of the bottom surface of the hoof at the location of the heels, wherein pieces of the hoof covering can have walls which are clasping around the triangular shape, so that these pieces are fixed in various directions on the basis thereof. It is another interesting possibility to make use of a cavity which is located in the hoof at the location of the heels, at a distance above the bottom surface, wherein parts of the hoof covering and/or attachment means may be mounted in the cavity, and wherein, if so desired, an opening providing access to the cavity can be arranged in horn material of the hoof, from one or two sides.
The invention will be explained in more detail on the basis of the following description. In the process, reference will be made to the drawing, in which equal reference signs indicate equal or similar components, and in which: figure 1 diagrammatically shows a bottom view of a hoof of a horse; figure 2 diagrammatically shows a bottom view of a hoof of a horse having hoof covering according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention; figures .3-5 illustrate a possibility for fixing a back covering piece of the hoof covering shown in figure 2 to the hoof; figure 6 diagrammatically shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the back covering piece,- figure 7 shows both the back covering piece as shown in figure 6 and an alternative to the back covering piece; figure 8 diagrammatically illustrates an attachment of the alternative back covering piece shown in figure 7 to a hoof of a horse ; figure 9 diagrammatically shows a side view of a hoof of a horse having hoof covering according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention; and figure 10 diagrammatically shows a bottom view of a hoof of a horse having carriers of the hoof covering according to the second preferred embodiment of the invention.
The invention relates to covering which is destined to be mounted on a hoof of a horse. In view of this fact, the anatomy of a hoof 1 will now briefly be explained first on the basis of figure 1. The hoof 1 is depicted in the figure in an orientation in which a back side of the hoof 1 is at the top. For sake of completeness, it is noted that the terms "front side" and "back side" are related to the horse: the front side of the hoof 1 is at the side where the head of the horse is located, and the back side of the hoof 1 is at the side where the tail of the horse is located. The hoof 1 comprises a sole 2, which is encompassed by a bottom edge of a hoof wall 3. Along an inner surface of the hoof wall 3 , the so ^ -called white line 4 is present. The hoof wall 3 is not closed at the back side, but folded over, as it were, to the front. The folded parts are indicated as bars 5. At the position where the hoof wall 3 and the bars 5 are connected to each other, parts which are called heels 6, and which are having a triangular bottom surface 7, are located. At the back side of the hoof 1, between the bars 5, the co-called frog 8 is located, which has a function as cushion during motion of the horse, among other things. It may be seen in figure 1 that an outer circumference of the hoof 1 has a substantially round shape as seen from the bottom side.
Figure 2 shows a first preferred embodiment of hoof covering 10 according to the invention. In this figure, a general shape of the hoof wall 3 and the bars 5 is depicted by means of a dashed line. The hoof covering 10 comprises a U-shaped front covering piece 11 and two triangular back covering pieces 12, wherein the front covering piece 11 is mounted on a front part of the hoof wall 3, and wherein the back covering pieces 12 are covering the hoof 1 at the location of the heels 6. In the following, it will be explained how the various covering pieces 11, 12 can be attached to the hoof 1.
In the shown example, the front covering piece 11 can be regarded as being a front part of a traditional horseshoe. Therefore, it is a suitable and well-tried technique to fix the front covering piece 11 to the hoof wall 3 by means of nails. That does not alter the fact that within the scope of the invention, other embodiments of the front covering piece 11 and also other manners to attach the front covering piece 11 to the hoof 1 are conceivable as well .
A possible embodiment of the back covering pieces 12 and a possible manner to attach the covering pieces 12 to the hoof 1 are
illustrated in figures 3-5. In figure 3, a bottom view of a part of the hoof 1 is diagrammatically shown, wherein a part of the hoof wall 3, a part of a bar 5, and a heel 6 located in between are shown in particular. At a distance above the triangular bottom surface 7 of the heel 6, a cavity 13 is located, which is accessible from a basis of the bottom surface 7 in an inclined backward and upward direction. In figures 4 and 5, in which a side view of a hoof 1 and a part of a leg 9 to which the hoof 1 is attached is diagrammatically shown, a back wall 14 of the cavity 13 is diagrammatically indicated by means of a dashed line.
For the purpose of attaching the back covering pieces 12 to the hoof 1, two holes 15 are arranged in the hoof 1 per piece 12, at the location of the heels 6. In figure 4, a hole 15 which is visible from an outside of the hoof 1 is shown. Each of the back covering pieces 12 comprises a block 16 which is provided with a projection 17, wherein the projection 17 is projecting from the block 16 in an inclined orientation. In positioning the back covering piece 12 with respect to the hoof 1, the ' projection 17 is inserted into the cavity 13, while the block 16 is put to contact with the bottom side of the hoof 1. Subsequently, the back covering piece 12 is attached to the hoof 1 by means of a pin 18 which is successively inserted through a hole 15 which is accessible from the outside of the hoof 1, through the projection 17 of the covering piece 12, and through a hole 15 which is located at an inside of the hoof 1. Only the pin 18 is shown in figure 3, wherein a central portion 19 of the pin 18 which is extending through the projection 17 of the covering piece 12 is depicted in a hatched fashion. Because of the fact that the attachment of the back covering piece 12 to the hoof 1 is realised through the projection 17 which is extending backward and upward in an inclined orientation, an attachment is obtained in which the covering piece 12 remains well in place during a normal, forward motion of the horse.
A suitable material for the block 16 of the back covering piece 12 is rubber or a flexible plastic, while the projection 17 may be made of metal. However, within the scope of the invention, other choices of material are also possible . An advantage of the application of rubber for the block 16 is that it leaves room for the hoof 1 on the basis of its flexibility. As a result, growth can be absorbed without any problems, and it is prevented under all circumstances that the hoof mechanism, in which the largest movement
of the hoof 1 takes place at the back side, and in which the heels 6 may be moving differently with respect to each other, is hindered.
Figure 6 shows an embodiment of a back covering piece 12 in perspective view. It can clearly be seen that the covering piece 12 has standing walls 20 at the top side, i.e. the side which is destined to be placed against the bottom side of the hoof 1, which are delimiting a space 21. This is advantageous, because sliding away of the covering piece 12 with respect to the hoof 1 in sideward directions and forward direction may be prevented in this way. The matter is that the walls 20 can be placed in such a way that shape and dimensions of the space 21 substantially correspond to shape and dimensions of the bottom surface 7 of the heels 6, wherein the shape is a triangular shape. Furthermore, a bump 22 or the like, or the already shown projection 17, can be provided at a central place on the covering piece 12 to prevent sliding away in backward direction with respect to the hoof 1. In figure 7, at the left side, it is illustrated how the covering piece 12 shown in figure 6 is positioned on the hoof 1. It can be seen that the walls 20 are connected to surfaces of the hoof 1, and that the bump 22 or the like is in contact with a basis of the bottom surface 7 of the heels
6.
The walls 20 of the back covering piece 12 can be fully extending to the back and be touching each other, as is the case, among other things, with the embodiment shown in figure 6. In such a case, the back covering piece 12 is somewhat projecting with respect to the back side of the hoof" 1. When the block 16 of the back covering piece 12 is manufactured from a flexible material such as rubber, this is not a problem. When it would occur that a force which is directed downward is exerted on a free point 23 of the block 16 which is most at the back, for example, when the horse strikes against the hoof 1 of a front leg 9 by the hoof 1 of a back leg 9, and the latter hoof 1 moves with respect to the first hoof 1 in downward direction, there is no risk that the covering piece 12 is knocked off the hoof 1, on the basis of the flexibility of the rubber. However, it is different when the block 16 comprises a metal sheet, ■ for example. In that case, it is preferred when there is no point 23 projecting to the back side. A variant without such a point 23 is diagrammatically shown in figure 7, at the right side of the figure.
Figure 8 diagrammatically shows a side view of a hoof 1 and a back covering pieces 12 without point 23 arranged thereon. It can clearly be seen in the figure that a small part at the back side of the hoof 1 is kept free. Figure 8 also serves to illustrate one of the many possibilities to attach the back covering piece 12 to the hoof 1. In the shown example, the standing walls 20 are relatively high, sufficiently high to cover holes 15 arranged at the location of the holes 6 , so that the covering piece 12 can be fixed to the hoof 1 by means of a pin 18 or the like which is extending through the walls of the covering piece 12 and the holes 15 in the hoof 1.
Various possibilities are conceivable for fixing the back covering pieces 12 to the hoof 1, besides the possibilities which have already been described. In general, a choice may be made in favour of connecting the covering pieces 12 at two sides thereof to the hoof 1, or to do this through a central portion thereof.
However, a combination thereof or still other possibilities are allowed as well within the scope of the present invention.
Figure 9 shows a second preferred embodiment of hoof covering 10 according to the invention. In this embodiment, the hoof covering 10 comprises a U-shaped shoe 24 which comprises a covering piece 25 and a set of carriers having an inner carrier 26 and an outer carrier 27. The covering piece 25, which is indicated by means of a dashed line, is preferably manufactured from a flexible material ' such as rubber. For example, the carriers 26, 27 can be nylon straps, and serve to pull the shoe 24 in the proper way around the hoof 1, wherein the inner carrier 26 is put to contact with an inner surface of the hoof 1, and the outer carrier 27 is put to contact with an outer surface of the hoof 1, as shown in figure 10. To this end, ends of the carriers 26, 27 are fixed to pins 18 or the like which are extending through holes 15 in the hoof 1 at the location of the heels 6.
It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the scope of the invention is not limited to the examples discussed in the foregoing, but that various amendments and modifications thereof are possible without deviating from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
By providing possibilities for fixing hoof covering 10 to the back side of the hoof 1, in particular at the location of the heels 6, it is achieved by the invention that a good protection of the
hoof 1 is obtained, while the hoof mechanism does not need to be hindered and growth of the hoof 1 can be allowed without any problems at the same time .
Within the scope of the invention, the hoof covering 10 can be provided in individual pieces 11, 12, but this is not necessary. For example, it is also possible to provide a flexible whole 24. It is also possible for parts 11, 12 which are rigid as such to be connected to each other by flexible bodies.
Summarizing, it can be posed that in the field of covering for a bottom side of hoofs of horses, considerable improvements are obtained compared to the application of the traditional horseshoe when hoof covering 10 which is fixed to the hoof 1 at least at the location of the heels 6 is applied. In particular, engagement spots are created at the location of the heels 6 by arranging from a side at least one hole 15 in the horn material of the hoof 1.
In an embodiment, the hoof covering 10 comprises a single front covering piece 11 and two back covering pieces 12. The back covering pieces 12 may be connected to the hoof 1 via the engagement spots in various manners. For example, the covering pieces 12 can comprise a projection 17, which is inserted into a cavity 13 which is present in the hoof 1 at the location of the heels 6, wherein the projection 17 is fixed in its place by a pin 18 which is inserted through both holes 15 in the hoof 1 and the projection 17. In order to guarantee a good fixation of the position of the back covering pieces 12 with respect to the hoof 1, these pieces 12 are preferably adapted to connect to a triangular bottom surface 7 which is present at the location of the heels 6, in sideward directions. In that case, it is mainly due to the shape of the covering pieces 12 that the position thereof is fixed, wherein it is not necessary to tighten the covering pieces in some way. Apart from that, it is not necessary that the back covering pieces 12 are capable of connecting to surfaces of the hoof 1 in sideward directions, because it is also possible that the pieces 12 are designed such as to be somewhat "oversized", wherein a space in the pieces 12 for receiving a part of the heels 6 is larger than this part .
The design of the hoof covering 10 according to the invention can be chosen such that the hoof mechanism is not hindered, or is even stimulated.