Protective articles for horses

Abstract

A protective article for a horse includes a protective member and a replaceable securing member. The protective member includes a body portion extending between a pair of opposing ends and dimensioned to be wrapped around and secured to a horse's body part, and further includes a first engagement member coupled to the body portion adjacent one end, and a second engagement member coupled to the body portion adjacent the other end. The replaceable securing member is adapted to be selectively engaged with the engagement members in a manner that urges the engagement members towards one another. The replaceable securing member includes a first securing assembly adapted to be manually reversibly secured to the first engagement member, and a second securing assembly adapted to be manually reversibly secured to the second engagement member, the first securing assembly securing to the first engagement member independently of the second securing assembly.

1 . A protective article for a horse, comprising:
 a protective member including a protective body portion extending between a pair of opposing ends and dimensioned to be wrapped around at least a portion of a horse's body part and secured to the horse's body part, the protective member further including a first engagement member coupled to the body portion adjacent one opposing end, and a second engagement member coupled to the body portion adjacent the other opposing end; and   a replaceable securing member adapted to be selectively engaged with the first and second engagement members in a manner that urges the first and second engagement members towards one another, the replaceable securing member including a first securing assembly adapted to be manually reversibly secured to the first engagement member, and a second securing assembly adapted to be manually reversibly secured to the second engagement member, the first securing assembly securing to the first engagement member independently of the second securing assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The protective article of  claim 1 , wherein the first engagement member includes a first ring having a first side secured to the body portion, and a second side adapted to be manually reversibly secured to the first securing assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The protective article of  claim 2 , wherein the second side is positioned approximately 1-2 inches from the adjacent opposing end. 
     
     
         4 . The protective article of  claim 2 , wherein the second engagement member includes a second ring having a first side secured to the body and a second side adapted to be manually reversibly secured to the second securing assembly, and wherein the second side of the first ring is substantially parallel to the second side of the second ring when the first and second securing assemblies are respectively secured to the first and second rings. 
     
     
         5 . The protective article of  claim 1 , wherein the replaceable securing member includes a strap, and the first securing assembly includes first and second securing elements coupled to the strap, the first securing element being adapted to be secured to the second securing element with the strap extending around the first engagement member. 
     
     
         6 . The protective article of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second securing elements are complementary hook and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         7 . The protective article of  claim 5 , wherein the second securing assembly includes third and fourth securing elements coupled to the strap, the third securing element being adapted to be manually reversibly secured to the fourth securing element with the strap extending around the second engagement member. 
     
     
         8 . The protective article of  claim 7 , wherein the third and fourth securing elements are complementary hook and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         9 . The protective article of  claim 7 , wherein the second and fourth securing elements are separate structures. 
     
     
         10 . The protective article of  claim 7 , wherein the strap includes first, second and third contiguous segments, and first and second opposing sides, and wherein the first securing element is coupled to the first segment on the first side, the second securing element is coupled to the second segment on the first side, the third securing element is coupled to the third segment on the first side, and the fourth securing element is coupled to the first segment on the second side. 
     
     
         11 . The protective article of  claim 10 , wherein the first, second and third segments each have substantially the same length. 
     
     
         12 . A method of protecting a horse's body part, comprising:
 providing a protective member including a body portion extending between a pair of opposing ends and dimensioned to be wrapped around at least a portion of a horse's body part and secured to the horse's body part, the protective member further including a first engagement member coupled to the body portion adjacent one opposing end, and a second engagement member coupled to the body portion adjacent the other opposing end;   providing a replaceable securing member including first and second securing assemblies;   manually reversibly securing the first securing assembly to the first engagement member prior to engaging the second securing assembly with the second engagement member;   subsequently manually reversibly securing the second securing assembly to the second engagement member in a manner that urges the first and second engagement members towards one another to a secured position.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first engagement member includes a first ring having a first side secured to the body portion, and a second side adapted to be manually reversibly secured to the first securing assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second engagement member includes a second ring having a first side secured to the body and a second side adapted to be manually reversibly secured to the second securing assembly, and wherein the second side of the first ring is substantially parallel to the second side of the second ring when the first and second engagement members are in the secured position. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the replaceable securing member includes a strap, and the first securing assembly includes first and second securing elements coupled to the strap, and wherein the step of manually reversibly securing the first securing assembly to the first engagement member includes manually reversibly securing the first securing element to the second securing element with the strap extending around the first engagement member. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second securing elements are complementary hook and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second securing assembly includes third and fourth securing elements coupled to the strap, and wherein the step of manually reversibly securing the second securing assembly to the second engagement member includes manually reversibly securing the third securing element to the fourth securing element with the strap extending around the second engagement member. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the third and fourth securing elements are complementary hook and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the strap includes first, second and third contiguous segments, and first and second opposing sides, and wherein the first securing element is coupled to the first segment on the first side, the second strap portion is coupled to the second segment on the first side, the third strap portion is coupled to the third segment on the first side, and the fourth strap portion is coupled to the first segment on the second side. 
     
     
         20 . A replaceable securing member for use with a protective member in a protective article for a horse in which the protective member includes a protective body portion extending between a pair of opposing ends and dimensioned to be wrapped around at least a portion of a horse's body part and secured to the horse's body part, the protective member further including a first engagement member coupled to the body portion adjacent one opposing end, and a second engagement member coupled to the body portion adjacent the other opposing end;
 the replaceable securing member being adapted to be selectively engaged with the first and second engagement members in a manner that urges the first and second engagement members towards one another, the replaceable securing member comprising:   a first securing assembly adapted to be manually reversibly secured to the first engagement member, and a second securing assembly adapted to be manually reversibly secured to the second engagement member, the first securing assembly securing to the first engagement member independently of the second securing assembly.