Horseshoe with a plurality of nail hole patterns

Abstract

A horseshoe 10 with a plurality of nail patterns provides opposed mirror-image left and right branches 20, 30 connected by a bridge 40. The bridge is flexible enough that the left and right branches are able to move with respect to each other in response to the “splaying” or radial expansion of the horse's hoof when weight is applied. Scribe marks 50 defined on the lower surface of the bridge provide indica to guide a horseshoer in grinding the bridge to provide greater flexibility. At least two nail hole patterns, an inner nail pattern 60 and an outer nail pattern 70 are defined between the upper and lower surfaces of the left and right branches. The inner nail hole pattern is used where the horse's hoof wall is approximately ⅜″ thick and generally healthy. The outer nail hole pattern is used where the hoof wall thickness is much less, often approximately ⅛″, and the hoof's health is devastated. A groove 80 defined in the lower surface of each of the branches, links the nail holes of the inner and/or outer nail hole patterns and tends to promote traction. A tapered region 90 defined in each branch interacts with the flexible bridge by tending to move the branches of the shoe away from each other when the horse applies weight.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A horseshoe comprising: 
 (A) opposed left and right branches;    (B) a bridge connecting the left and right branches;    (C) an inner nail pattern defined between an upper and a lower surface of each of the left and right branches; and    (D) an outer nail pattern defined between an upper and a lower surface of each of the left and right branches.    
     
     
         2 . The horseshoe of  claim 1 , additionally comprising tapered region means, defined in each branch, for causing a force applied to the bridge having a radially outward component vector.  
     
     
         3 . The horseshoe of  claim 1 , additionally comprising scribe marks defined on the lower surface of the bridge.  
     
     
         4 . A horseshoe comprising: 
 (A) opposed left and right branches;    (B) a bridge connecting the left and right branches;    (C) scribe marks defined on the lower surface of the bridge;    (D) an inner nail pattern defined between an upper and a lower surface of each of the left and right branches;    (E) an outer nail pattern defined between an upper and a lower surface of each of the left and right branches; and    (F) tapered region means, defined in each branch, for interacting with the flexible bridge by tending to move the branches of the shoe away from each other when the horse applies weight.    
     
     
         5 . The horseshoe of  claim 4 , wherein the outer nail hole pattern is closer to an outside curved edge than to a ridge line of the tapered region means of each of the left and right branches and wherein the inner nail hole pattern is substantially centered between the ridge line and inside curved edge.  
     
     
         6 . The horseshoe of  claim 4 , wherein a groove defined in the lower surface of each of the branches, the groove linking the nail holes of the inner nail hole patterns.