Equine Rocker Shoe
An equine accomodative hoof support (rocker shoe) system consisting of a tapered base that allows, in some embodiments, the equine hoof to roll forward or to the side, without unnecessary bending, thus allowing it to find a comfortable natural position to relieve stress on a sore, injured, or diseased hoof. The ability of the base to rock allows the equine to adjust its stance to find the most comfortable position, not unlike standing in a bed of sand. The system can replace expensive hoof treatment by a farrier and can easily be utilized directly by an equine practitioner or equine owner. The system provides an efficient, user friendly self-adjusting approach to sole supportive realignment of the P3 (third phalanx) as the hoof grows out.
1 . An equine rocker shoe system comprising:
a tapered flexible base structure, having a top side and underside, made of an elastomer polymer, having a critical Shore A hardness in the range of about 50-80,
a harder shoe rim structure disposed on the top side of the base having an open center section defining a receptacle area to receive a shock-absorbing elastomer pad—the rim structure having a critical harness of about Shore A 90 to Shore D 65.
2 . The equine rocker shoe system of claim 1 also comprising a shock-absorbing elastomer pad sized to fit into the receptacle area formed by the shoe rim structure.
3 . The equine rocker shoe system of claim 1 wherein the shoe rim structure has a front and back and is tapered front to back.
4 . The equine rocker shoe system of claim 1 shoe rim structure is detachable from the base.
5 . The equine rocker shoe system of claim 2 wherein the shock-absorbing elastomer pad is made of a polyurethane elastomer gel, having a critical Shore A hardness of about 15-30.
6 . The equine rocker shoe system of claim 2 wherein the shock absorbing elastomer pad has a critical hardness of about 15-30 Shore A and is comprised of a front section of one hardness, and a rear section of a different hardness.
7 . The equine rocker shoe system of claim 1 wherein the underside of the base structure is patterned.
8 . The equine rocker shoe system of claim 1 wherein the base has a front, rear, and centerline and is tapered toward the front from about the centerline as measured from front to rear and has a rounded rear edge.
9 . The equine rocker shoe system of claim 1 wherein the shoe rim structure is of lower hardness than the base.
10 . The equine rocker shoe system of claim 1 rim structure is shaped to form an irregular shape to prevent rotation of a shock-absorbing elastomer pad that may be placed therein.
11 . A method of providing accommodative hoof support for an equine comprising:
a) examining an equine hoof to determine what support is needed;
b) selecting an equine rocker shoe system suitable to provide the needed support; and
c) attaching the equine rocker shoe system to the underside of the equine hoof; wherein the equine rocker shoe system comprises:
a tapered flexible base structure, having a top side and underside, made of an elastomer polymer, having a critical Shore A hardness in the range of about 50-80,
a harder shoe rim structure disposed on the top side of the base having an open center section defining a receptacle area to receive a shock-absorbing elastomer pad—the rim structure having a critical harness of about Shore A 90 to Shore D 65.
12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the equine rocker shoe system is attached to the equine hoof by nailing, adhesive of wrapping with casting tape.
13 . The equine rocker shoe system of claim 11 also comprising a shock-absorbing elastomer pad sized to fit into the receptacle area formed by the shoe rim structure.
14 . The equine rocker shoe system of claim 11 wherein the shoe rim structure has a front and back and is tapered front to back.
15 . The equine rocker shoe system of claim 11 shoe rim structure is detachable from the base.
16 . The equine rocker shoe system of claim 12 wherein the shock-absorbing elastomer pad is made of a polyurethane elastomer gel, having a critical Shore A hardness of about 15-30.