Patent ID: 7614155
Filing Date: 2009-11-10
Classification: A01L,G01B

Abstract:
1. A method for enabling a farrier to determine the correct angle to bevel the bottom ground-facing surface of a hoof of a horse such that unbalanced stress on tissues within the horse's foot is minimized when the foot is bearing the horse's weight, said hoof having a forwardmost surface extending upwardly from said ground-facing surface of the hoof to a coronet band in the foot, the method comprising the steps of: (a) presenting a goniometer; then (b) placing a first edge of said goniometer against the forwardmost surface of the horse's hoof; then (c) pivoting said opposing edge of said goniometer until said opposing edge is parallel to a vertical portion of the horse's foot anterior to the first phalanx thereof; then (d) measuring the angle Θ between said first edge and said opposing edge; then (e) beveling the ground-facing surface of the hoof such that when the foot is weight-bearing, the angle Θ is about −10 degrees.