Racing-type horseshoe

Claim 2

A horseshoe comprising a sole plate adapted to be affixed to a horse's hoof in contact with the hoof a cushioned base plate adapted to be attached to said sole plate for ground contacting purposes with said base plate comprising a support plate for attachment to said sole plate and an elastomeric ground plate bonded to said support plate, said sole plate having holes in it and said base plate having matching holes in it, and a plurality of threaded means for attaching said base plate to said sole plate after the sole plate is affixed to a horse's hoof and for quickly and easily removing and replacing said base plate with any of a variety of alternative base plates, said attachment of the base plate to the sole plate being entirely by securement of said support plate to said sole plate with said threaded means.

Claim 3

A horseshoe as set forth in claim 1 in which the ground contacting portion of said base plate comprises an elastomeric rail on each side of the base plate and a metal toe grab.

Claim 4

A horseshoe as set forth in claim 1 which is adapted to receive leaded weights at any of the threaded fastener means to balance a horse's hoof.

Claim 5

A horseshoe as set forth in claim 1 in which dust caps cover the heads of the threaded fasteners.

Claim 6

A horesehoe as set forth in claim 1 in which said sole plate has holes in it for receiving nails for securing the sole plate to a horse's hoof, and said holes and nail heads are covered by said support plate when the horseshoe is secured on the horse's foot.

Claim 7

A horeseshoe as set forth in claim 1 in which said sole plate has an integral bar connecting opposite sides of the plate.

Claim 8

A horseshoe as set forth in claim 1 in which said support plate and said elastomeric ground plate have substantially flat faces in interfacial contact.

Claim 9

A horseshoe kit comprising at least one sole plate adapted to be nailed to a horse's hoof in direct contact with the hoof a cushioned base plate adapted for attachment to said sole plate for ground contacting purposes, said base plate comprising a support plate for securement to said sole plate and an elastomeric ground contact plate bonded to said support plate, said sole plate having tapped holes in it and said metal support plate having matching holes in it, and a plurality of headed threaded means for attaching said base plate to said sole plate after the sole plate is affixed to a horse's hoof and for quickly and easily changing base plates while said sole plate is affixed to a horse's hoof, said attachment of the base plate to the sole plate being entirely by securement of said support plate to said sole plate with said threaded means.

Claim 10

A horseshoe kit comprising at least one sole plate adapted to be nailed to a horse's hoof in direct contact with the hoof a cushioned base plate adapted for attachment to said sole plate for ground contacting purposes, said base plate comprising a support plate for securement to said sole plate and an elastomeric ground contact plate bonded to said support plate, said sole plate having tapped holes in it and said metal support plate having matching holes in it, and a plurality of headed threaded means for attaching said base plate to said sole plate after the sole plate is affixed to a horse's hoof and for quickly and easily changing base plates while said sole plate is affixed to a horse's hoof, said attachment of the base plate to the sole plate being entirely by securement of said support plate to said sole plate with said threaded means.

Claim 11

A kit as set forth in claim 8 in which said sole plate is made of non-metallic material.

Claim 12

A kit as set forth in claim 9 in which said sole plate has threaded metal inserts therein for receiving said threaded fastener means.

Claim 13

A kit as set forth in claim 8 in which said sole plate has a roughened surface for contacting a horse's hoof to help grip the hoof and reduce stress on the nails used to nail the plate to the hoof.

Claim 14

A kit as set forth in claim 8 in which said support plate is made of material selected from the group consisting of polymers, plastics, graphites and carbon fiber in resin base.

Claim 15

A horseshoe comprising a sole plate having holes in it for receiving nails to affix the plate to a horse's hoof in contact with the hoof a cushioned base plate adapted to be attached to said sole plate for ground contacting purposes and covering the heads of the nails which affix the sole plate to the hoof, with said base plate comprising a substantially flat support plate for attachment to said sole plate with a plurality of threaded means and an elastomeric ground plate having a flat upper surface bonded to said support plate.

Claim 16

A horseshoe comprising a sole plate having holes in it for receiving nails to affix the plate to a horse's hoof in contact with the hoof a cushioned base plate adapted to be attached to said sole plate for ground contacting purposes and covering the heads of the nails which affix the sole plate to the hoof, with said base plate comprising a substantially flat support plate for attachment to said sole plate with a plurality of threaded means and an elastomeric ground plate having a flat upper surface bonded to said support plate.

Claim 17

A horseshoe as set forth in claim 13 which is adapted to have weights added thereto in the central part of the horseshoe.

Claim 18

A horseshoe as set forth in claim 13 in which said elastomeric ground plate comprises at least two sections that may be replaced individually.