Horseshoe

Claim 2

A horseshoe, to be affixed to the distal surface of a horse's hoof having a longitudinal axis, said horse having first, second, and third phalanx bones, Pi, Pii, and Piii, respectively, said Piii having a dorsal surface thereon and partially rotating, with respect to said Pii, about an axis of articulation substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis, said horseshoe having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a toe portion having a front surface and an inner surface, comprising: 1. said front surface of said toe portion: a. making a substantially obtuse angle with said lower surface at a balance point; and b. being configured so that said balance point is located, when said horseshoe is affixed to said distal surface, at the intersection of: I. said lower surface, and II. a plane: A. containing said axis of articulation; and B. extending downwardly and forwardly therefrom parallel to said dorsal surface along said longitudinal axis; 2. said upper surface being substantially planar.

Claim 3

A horseshoe, to be affixed to the distal surface of a horse's hoof, said hoof having a longitudinal axis, and said horse having first, second, and third phalanx bones, Pi, Pii, and Piii, respectively; A. said Piii; 1. having a dorsal surface thereon; 2. rotating, with respect to Pii, about an axis of articulation substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis; B. said horseshoe having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a toe portion having a front surface and an inner surface, comprising: 1. said front surface of said toe portion: a. making a substantially obtuse angle with said lower surface at a balance point; and b. being configured so that said balance point is located, when said horseshoe is affixed to said distal surface, at the intersection of: I. said lower surface, and II. a plane which contains said axis of articulation and extends downwardly and forwardly therefrom parallel to said dorsal surface along said longitudinal axis; 2. said upper surface being substantially planar; and 3.

Claim 4

A horseshoe, to be affixed to the distal surface of a horse's hoof, said hoof having a longitudinal axis, and said horse having first, second, and third phalanx bones, Pi, Pii, and Piii, respectively; A. said Piii; 1. having a dorsal surface thereon; 2. rotating, with respect to Pii, about an axis of articulation substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis; B. said horseshoe having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a toe portion having a front surface and an inner surface, comprising: 1. said front surface of said toe portion: a. making a substantially obtuse angle with said lower surface at a balance point; and b. being configured so that said balance point is located, when said horseshoe is affixed to said distal surface, at the intersection of: I. said lower surface, and II. a plane which contains said axis of articulation and extends downwardly and forwardly therefrom parallel to said dorsal surface along said longitudinal axis; 2. said upper surface being substantially planar; and 3.

Claim 5

said inner surface of said toe portion, on the longitudinal axis of the

Claim 6

said inner surface of said toe portion, on the longitudinal axis of the

Claim 7

horseshoe, is substantially perpendicular to said lower surface. 3. The horseshoe of claim 2, wherein an insert, of a substance having substantially greater abrasion resistance than the material of said horseshoe, is inserted therein substantially at said balance point thereof.

Claim 8

The horseshoe of claim 3, wherein said insert is substantially straight.

Claim 9

The horseshoe of claim 3, wherein said insert is curved, with the center thereof lying on said intersection and said longitudinal axis.

Claim 10

A horseshoe, to be affixed to the distal surface of a hoof of a horse, said hoof having a longitudinal axis, and said horse having first second, and third phalanx bones, Pi, Pii, and Piii, respectively; A. said Piii: I. having a dorsal surface thereon; II. rotating, with respect to Pii, about an axis of articulation substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis; B. said horseshoe having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a toe portion, and having a front surface and an inner surface, comprising:

Claim 11

A horseshoe, to be affixed to the distal surface of a hoof of a horse, said hoof having a longitudinal axis, and said horse having first second, and third phalanx bones, Pi, Pii, and Piii, respectively; A. said Piii: I. having a dorsal surface thereon; II. rotating, with respect to Pii, about an axis of articulation substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis; B. said horseshoe having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a toe portion, and having a front surface and an inner surface, comprising:

Claim 12

said front surface of said toe portion: a. making a substantially obtuse angle with said lower surface at a balance point; and b. being configured so that said balance point is located, when said horseshoe is affixed to said distal surface, at the intersection of: i. said lower surface, and ii. a plane which contains said axis of articulation and extends downwardly and forwardly therefrom parallel to said dorsal surface along said longitudinal axis; 2. an insert having a curve therein of a substance having substantially greater abrasion resistance than the material of said horseshoe being inserted in said lower surface substantially at said balance point thereof, with the center of said curve being located on said longitudinal axis.

Claim 13

said front surface of said toe portion: a. making a substantially obtuse angle with said lower surface at a balance point; and b. being configured so that said balance point is located, when said horseshoe is affixed to said distal surface, at the intersection of: i. said lower surface, and ii. a plane which contains said axis of articulation and extends downwardly and forwardly therefrom parallel to said dorsal surface along said longitudinal axis; 2. an insert having a curve therein of a substance having substantially greater abrasion resistance than the material of said horseshoe being inserted in said lower surface substantially at said balance point thereof, with the center of said curve being located on said longitudinal axis.

Claim 14

A horseshoe, to be affixed to the distal surface of a horse's hoof, said hoof having a longitudinal axis, and said horse having first, second, and third phalanx bones, Pi, Pii, and Piii, respectively; I. said Piii: a. having a dorsal surface thereon; b. rotating, with respect to Pii, about an axis of articulation substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis; C. said horseshoe having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a toe portion: I. having a front surface and an inner surface, comprising: 1. said front surface of said toe portion: a. making a substantially obtuse angle with said lower surface at a balance point; and b. being configured so that said balance point is located, when said horseshoe is affixed to said distal surface, at the intersection of: I. said lower surface, and II. a plane which contains said axis of articulation and extends downwardly and forwardly therefrom parallel to said dorsal surface along said longitudinal axis; 2. said upper surface being substantially planar;

Claim 15

A horseshoe, to be affixed to the distal surface of a horse's hoof, said hoof having a longitudinal axis, and said horse having first, second, and third phalanx bones, Pi, Pii, and Piii, respectively; I. said Piii: a. having a dorsal surface thereon; b. rotating, with respect to Pii, about an axis of articulation substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis; C. said horseshoe having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a toe portion: I. having a front surface and an inner surface, comprising: 1. said front surface of said toe portion: a. making a substantially obtuse angle with said lower surface at a balance point; and b. being configured so that said balance point is located, when said horseshoe is affixed to said distal surface, at the intersection of: I. said lower surface, and II. a plane which contains said axis of articulation and extends downwardly and forwardly therefrom parallel to said dorsal surface along said longitudinal axis; 2. said upper surface being substantially planar;

Claim 16

said inner surface of said toe portion, on the longitudinal axis of the horseshoe, being substantially perpendicular to said lower surface; and 3. a curved insert of a substance having substantially greater abrasion resistance than the material of said horseshoe, being located in said lower surface substantially at said balance point thereof, the center of said curved insert being at said intersection on said longitudinal axis.

Claim 17

said inner surface of said toe portion, on the longitudinal axis of the horseshoe, being substantially perpendicular to said lower surface; and 3. a curved insert of a substance having substantially greater abrasion resistance than the material of said horseshoe, being located in said lower surface substantially at said balance point thereof, the center of said curved insert being at said intersection on said longitudinal axis.

Claim 18

In a horseshoe to be affixed to the distal surface of a horse's hoof, said hoof having a longitudinal axis, and said horseshoe including: I. an upper surface and a lower surface: A. a toe portion having: 1. a front surface and an inner surface; II. said horse's hoof: A. including first, second and third phalanx bones Pi, Pii and Piii, respectively; 1. said Piii having a dorsal surface thereon; and B. rotating, with respect to Pii, about an axis of articulation substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis: the improvement comprising: a. said inner surface, on the longitudinal axis of the horseshoe, being substantially perpendicular to said lower surface; b. said upper surface being substantially planar; c. said front surface of said toe portion making a substantially obtuse angle .with said lower surface at a balance point: 1. said balance point being located, when said horseshoe is affixed to said distal surface, at: A. the intersection of said lower surface, and B. a plane: I. containing said axis of articulation; II. extending downwardly and forwardly therefrom parallel to said dorsal surface along said hoof's longitudinal axis; d. said horseshoe having a curved insert being: 1. located substantially at said balance point; 2. of a substance having substantially greater abrasion resistance than the material of said horseshoe; and 3. the center of said curved insert being located at said intersection on said longitudinal axis.

Claim 19

In a horseshoe to be affixed to the distal surface of a horse's hoof, said hoof having a longitudinal axis, and said horseshoe including: I. an upper surface and a lower surface: A. a toe portion having: 1. a front surface and an inner surface; II. said horse's hoof: A. including first, second and third phalanx bones Pi, Pii and Piii, respectively; 1. said Piii having a dorsal surface thereon; and B. rotating, with respect to Pii, about an axis of articulation substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis: the improvement comprising: a. said inner surface, on the longitudinal axis of the horseshoe, being substantially perpendicular to said lower surface; b. said upper surface being substantially planar; c. said front surface of said toe portion making a substantially obtuse angle .with said lower surface at a balance point: 1. said balance point being located, when said horseshoe is affixed to said distal surface, at: A. the intersection of said lower surface, and B. a plane: I. containing said axis of articulation; II. extending downwardly and forwardly therefrom parallel to said dorsal surface along said hoof's longitudinal axis; d. said horseshoe having a curved insert being: 1. located substantially at said balance point; 2. of a substance having substantially greater abrasion resistance than the material of said horseshoe; and 3. the center of said curved insert being located at said intersection on said longitudinal axis.

Claim 20

The horseshoe of claim 5, 6 7 or 8, wherein said insert is substantially normal to said longitudinal axis.

Claim 21

The horseshoe of claim 5, 6, 7, or 8, wherein said shoe has arms extending rearwardly from said toe portion and terminating in heel ends, said heel ends being widened to receive a threaded plug inserted therein.

Claim 22

The horseshoe of claim 10, wherein a traction calk is inserted into said threaded plug.

Claim 23

The horseshoe of claim 10, wherein a blank plug is inserted into said threaded plug to prevent debris from clogging said threaded plug.