Abstract:
A removable horseshoe clip for temporarily placement on a horseshoe during the fitment process to secure the horseshoe against slipping or rotational movement during nailing, and method of use. The removable horseshoe clip includes an inner retaining clip sized to engage the inner peripheral edge of a horseshoe, a broad base for seating against the bottom surface of the horseshoe, and an outer retaining clip adapted to abut the outer peripheral edge of a horseshoe and the outer surface of a hoof wall.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority from, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/938,667, filed on Nov. 12, 2007, and which is herein incorporated by reference. 

   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
   Not Applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present application is related generally to the attachment of horseshoes to an equine hoof, and in particular, to a clip which may be temporarily secured to a horseshoe during the shoeing procedure to facilitate proper placement and alignment of the horseshoe relative to the equine hoof, and which may be subsequently removed from the horseshoe after attachment of the horseshoe to the equine hoof. 
   Horseshoes have traditionally been utilized to provide traction and protection to the hooves of equines. A standard horse shoe, such as shown in  FIG. 1A  is formed from metal, typically a soft steel or aluminum, but may be of other materials as well. The front or leading edge of the horseshoe is known as the toe, while the trailing arms or portions are known as the heels. When attached to a hoof, the heel portion closest to horse&#39;s body centerline is referred to as the inside (medial) heel, while the opposite heel portion is referred to as the outside (lateral) heel. 
   Equine hoof structure and shape may vary from animal to animal, as well as from hoof to hoof on a single horse, and hence, it is common practice for a farrier to adjust the shape of each individual horseshoe to fit the particular hoof prior to nailing. Adjustment may be done by cold forming, i.e., hammering alone, or in combination with heating. Once a horseshoe is sized and fitted to a hoof, nails, such as shown in  FIG. 2 , are driven through the nail holes in the horseshoe and into the tough outer hoof wall of the equine hoof. Generally, the nails are of sufficient length such that the tip of the nail will protrude through the outer surface of the hoof wall above the horseshoe, allowing the tip to be cut off and bent over to form a clinch which retains the nail in the hoof wall. The sequence in which the nails are driven through the horseshoe and into the hoof wall during attachment is important to ensure the proper placement of the horseshoe relative to the equine hoof structures. The shape of the nail is configured to ensure that the nails will penetrate the hoof wall at an outward incline, ensuring that they are not directed inward towards the sensitive internal structures of the equine hoof. 
   On a plain horseshoe, such as shown in  FIG. 1A , the initial nails are driven into the hoof wall through the nail holes which are closest to the heel on each side to prevent the horseshoe from sliding backwards relative to the hoof during the driving of the nails. However, when one nail is driven in on one side of the horseshoe, the nail may act as a pivot, and the horseshoe may shift or torque about that location, requiring the farrier to hammer on the side of the horseshoe to return it to the desired position before continuing. Hammering on the side of the horseshoe risks a bruising injury to the equine hoof in the event the hammer misses or slips from the horseshoe upon impact, and potentially weakens the hold of the nails which are already driven into place by twisting them within the hoof wall and widening the passage in which they rest. 
   Some horseshoes, such as shown in  FIG. 1B , are formed with one or more permanent clips raised from the upper peripheral edges of the horseshoe. Upon proper fitment of the horseshoe to an equine hoof, the raised clips align along the outer surface of the hoof wall, and serve to prevent the shoe from sliding backwards relative to the hoof during application and use. However, permanent clips increase the cost of production for the horseshoes, and/or require additional time for the farrier to make the clips and properly align them with the hoof surfaces. Permanent clips pose a potential for injury to the hoof structures in the event the horseshoe slips or loosens during use, allowing the raised clip to rotate inward towards the center of the hoof and posing a risk of penetrating puncture injuries. 
   Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a method and means for attaching a horseshoe to an equine hoof which prevents slipping and rotating of the horseshoe during nailing, which does not increase the cost of producing the horseshoe, the time required for preparation of the horseshoe, or pose a potential for injury to the hoof structures after attachment of the horseshoe to an equine hoof. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly stated, the present disclosure provides a removable horseshoe clip which may be placed temporarily on a horseshoe during the fitment process to secure the horseshoe against slipping or rotational movement during the initial nailing of the shoe onto the hoof. Once the initial nails are driven through the shoe and into the hoof, the horseshoe clip is removed from the shoe, and the remaining nails are driven to complete the fitment procedure for the shoe to the hoof. The removable horseshoe clip is formed from a rigid and resilient material, such as spring steel, and includes an inner retaining clip segment configured to engage the inner peripheral edge of a horseshoe, a broad base for seating adjacent the bottom surface of the horseshoe, and an outer retaining clip segment adapted to abut the outer peripheral edge of a horseshoe and to extend upward and along the angled outer surface of a hoof wall. The broad base has a transverse width which is greater than the longitudinal dimension between the inner and outer retaining clip segments, and is defined by three contiguous portions. A central portion is disposed between the inner and outer retaining clip segments, and has a transverse width which is generally equal to the transverse width of the larger of the clip segments. A pair of lateral bracing segments or wings extend transversely from each side of the central portion, such that the overall transverse width of the base, defined by a left bracing segment, the central portion, and a right bracing segment, exceeds the front-to-back dimension of the central portion, laterally displacing a pivot point outward from the central portion to resist accidental dislodgement from the horseshoe. 
   The present disclosure further provides a method for facilitating the attachment of horseshoes to an equine hoof utilizing one or more removable horseshoe clips each having an inner retaining clip segment configured to engage the inner peripheral edge of a horseshoe, a broad base for seating adjacent the bottom surface of the horseshoe, and an outer retaining clip segment adapted to abut the outer peripheral edge of a horseshoe and to extend upward and along the angled outer surface of a hoof wall. The method requires the initial step of sizing and fitting of the horseshoe to the equine hoof. Prior to driving nails or other attachment means to secure the horseshoe to the equine hoof, one or more removable horseshoe clips are engaged with the horseshoe by resiliently deflecting the inner and outer retaining clip segments in a slightly outward direction as the clip segments are engaged with the inner and outer peripheral edges of the horseshoe. Lateral bracing segments of the broad base abut against the lower surface of the horseshoe, preventing accidental twisting disengagement of the inner and outer retaining clip segments from the horseshoe. The removable horseshoe clips are positioned to avoid interference with the required placement for the initially driven nails or other attachment means, and to provide for an abutting engagement with the outer hoof surfaces when the horseshoe is disposed against the equine hoof in the desired placement position. The horseshoe is then secured to the equine hoof using nails or other attachment means, while the abutting engagement between the extended outer retaining clip segment and the hoof outer surface prevents sliding and rotating movement of the horseshoe. Once the horseshoe is secured to the equine hoof, the removable horseshoe clips are released from the horseshoe by application of a vertically downward force, effectively “popping” the inner and outer retaining clip segments from engagement with the inner and outer peripheral edges of the horseshoe, and allowing the clips to resiliently spring back to their original orientation relative to the broad base. The horseshoe is subsequently retained in place by the nails or other attachment means. 
   In an alternate embodiment of the removable horseshoe clip, the inner and/or outer regaining clip segments include tensions relief slots or openings which remove material from the retaining clip segments and which extend partially into the base portion, altering the resilient spring force or tension which maintains the inner and outer retaining clips at their associated rest positions. 
   The foregoing features, and advantages set forth in the present disclosure as well as presently preferred embodiments will become more apparent from the reading of the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification: 
       FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a prior art horseshoe without integrally formed clips; 
       FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of a prior art horseshoe with a pair of integrally formed clips; 
       FIG. 2  is a prior art side view of a horseshoe nail, enlarged to illustrate the angled surfaces adapted to direct the inclination of the nail through a hoof wall; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a removable horseshoe clip of the present disclosure; 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the clip of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the clip of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the clip of  FIG. 5 , taken along line  6 - 6 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating the use of a pair of the removable horseshoe clips of  FIG. 3  with a horseshoe of  FIG. 1A ; 
       FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the horseshoe and clips shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of an equine hoof during attachment of the horseshoe shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a front view of an equine hoof during attachment of the horseshoe shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view illustrating the use of a single removable horseshoe clip of  FIG. 3  with a horseshoe of  FIG. 1A ; 
       FIG. 12  is a bottom view of the horseshoe and clip shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a side view of an equine hoof during attachment of the horseshoe shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 14  is a front view of an equine hoof during attachment of the horseshoe shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 3 , illustrating an alternate embodiment of the removable horseshoe clip of the present disclosure; 
       FIG. 16  is a top plan view of the clip of  FIG. 15 ; 
       FIG. 17  is a front-to-back cross-sectional view of the clip of  FIG. 15 ; 
       FIG. 18  is a front-to-back sectional view, similar to  FIG. 17 , illustrating the engagement of the clip with a horseshoe and the abutment to a hoof; 
       FIG. 19A  is a sectional view which illustrates initial engagement of the removable clip with a horseshoe at the inner peripheral surface; 
       FIG. 19B  is a sectional view which illustrates the completed engagement of the removable clip with the horseshoe resulting from application of the force indicated in  FIG. 19A ; and 
       FIG. 20  illustrates the function of the lateral bracing segments to displace a pivot point transversely outward from the center portion and clip segments during application of an offset or prying force to remove the clip from the horseshoe. 
   

   Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings. It is to be understood that the drawings are for illustrating the concepts set forth in the present disclosure and are not to scale. 
   Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. The description enables one skilled in the art to make and use the present disclosure, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the present disclosure, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the present disclosure. 
   Turning to the figures, and in particular to  FIGS. 3-6 , a removable horseshoe clip of the present disclosure is shown generally at  100 . The clip  100  is adapted for temporary placement on a horseshoe  10  having a top surface  10 A, a bottom surface  10 B, an inner peripheral surface  10 C, and an outer peripheral surface  10 D during fitment and attachment of the horseshoe to an equine hoof. The horseshoe clip  100  consists of a planar base portion  102  including a central portion  102   a  having an inner peripheral edge  104  adapted to align with an edge of the inner peripheral surface  10 C of the horseshoe  10 , and an outer peripheral edge  106  adapted to align with an edge of the outer peripheral surface  10 D of the horseshoe  10 , and a pair of rigid lateral bracing segments  102 R and  102 L extended laterally from opposite sides of said central portion. Generally, the front-to-back longitudinal width of the planar base portion  102  is selected to correspond to the width of the horseshoe  10  for which the clip  100  is sized to fit. 
   At least one inner retaining clip  108  is disposed adjacent to the inner peripheral edge  104 , and extends generally upward from the central portion  102   a . The inner retaining clip  108  has a height which is selected to correspond approximately to, or slightly smaller than, the thickness of the horseshoe  10  for which the clip  100  is sized to fit, and is inclined inward towards the center of the planar base portion  102 , as best seen in  FIG. 6 . 
   At least one outer retaining clip  110  extends upward from the central portion  102   a , adjacent to the outer peripheral edge  106 . The outer retaining clip  110  has a height which exceeds the thickness of the horseshoe  10  for which the clip  100  is sized to fit. The height of the outer retaining clip  110  is selected such that a portion of the outer retaining clip  110  will abut an exterior surface of an equine hoof during use, and which is preferably exceeds the thickness of the horseshoe  10  for which the clip  100  is sized to fit. To facilitate abutment with the equine hoof surface, the upper portion  110 U of the outer retaining clip  110  is inclined inward towards the center of the planar base portion  102 , as best seen in  FIG. 6 . Preferably, the planar base portion  102 , the inner retaining clip  108 , and the outer retaining clip  110  are of a unitary construction, such as formed from a resilient stamped metal sheet or spring steel. 
   During use, a clip  100  is fitted to bottom  10 B of the horseshoe  10  in a “snap” or “clamp” style engagement at the desired position. As is best seen in  FIG. 6 , the inward inclines of the inner retaining clip  108  and the outer retaining clip  110  define a decreasing spacing there between, and is resiliently displaced or deflected outward for engagement with the inner and outer peripheral edges  10 C and  10 D of a horseshoe  10 . The resilient nature of the material forming the inner ant outer retaining clips, together with the outward deflection of at least the inner retaining clip  108  to engage the horseshoe  10  results in a clamping or gripping force exerted between the inner and outer retaining clip segments, which retains the horseshoe clip  100  in engagement with the horseshoe  10  during use. Upon removal of the horseshoe clip  100  from the horseshoe after use, the inner and outer retaining clips resiliently return to their original configuration. 
   Preferably, as shown in  FIGS. 7-10 , two clips  100  are fitted to the bottom surface  10 B a horseshoe  10  in a generally mirror-image configuration about a longitudinal midline of the horseshoe  10 . The specific placement of the clips  100  may be varied as required to accommodate nail holes within the horseshoe  10 , or features of the equine hoof onto which the horseshoe  10  is to be affixed. In generally, the function of the clips  100  is to provide an abutting engagement between the outer retaining clips  100  and the outer surface of the equine hoof, as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , such that the position of the horseshoe  10  adjacent the underside surface of the equine hoof is stabilized against at least backwards sliding movement and/or rotating/pivoting movement when a nail is driven through a nail hole in the horseshoe  10  and into the equine hoof. The inclination of the outer retaining clip  110  may be adjusted by bending to conform to the inclination of the outer hoof surface as required. 
   In an alternate use, as shown in  FIGS. 11-14 , a single clip  100  is fitted to the bottom surface  10 B a horseshoe  10  generally on a longitudinal midline of the horseshoe  10  at the toe. In generally, the function of the single clip  100  is to provide an abutting engagement between the outer retaining clip  100  and the outer surface of the equine hoof, as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , such that the position of the horseshoe  10  adjacent the underside surface of the equine hoof is stabilized against backwards sliding movement when a nail is driven through a nail hole in the horseshoe  10  and into the equine hoof. The inclination of the upper portion of the outer retaining clip  110  may be adjusted by bending to conform generally to the inclination of the outer hoof surface as required. 
   After the horseshoe  10  is affixed to the equine hoof by a sufficient number of other attachment means, the clips  100  are removed. To remove the clips  100 , the outer retaining clip  110  may be levered down the outer surface of the equine hoof, releasing the planar base  102  parallel alignment with the horseshoe bottom surface  10 B and “popping” the clip  100  free from engagement with the horseshoe  10  by pivoting about the inner retaining clip engagement with the inner peripheral surface of the horseshoe. 
   As required, the inner retaining clip  108  and the outer retaining clip  110  may be re-bent or inclined in the inward direction to maintain a desired amount of clamping force or pressure when affixed to a horseshoe  10 , as repeated usage will likely result in an outward bending of the retaining clips  108 ,  110  and a reduced clamping force or pressure. 
   Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that horseshoes  10  are produced in a variety of sizes, having different thicknesses and widths depending upon the particular use for the horseshoe  10  is intended. Accordingly, it will be understood that the horseshoe clips  100  of the present disclosure may be manufactured in a wide range of dimensions which will be varied according to the particular size of horseshoe  10  for which the clip  10  is intended to be used. For example, the front-to-back width of the planar base portion  102  may be varied to accommodate horseshoes  10  having a narrow width, as well as horseshoes  10  have a wide width. Similarly, the overall height of the inner retaining clip  108  and outer retaining clip  110  may be varied to accommodate horseshoes  10  having a small vertical thickness as well as horseshoes  10  having a large vertical thickness. Such variations in dimensions as required for use with different horseshoes  10  are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure. 
   Similarly, the specific size, shape, and number of the inner and outer retaining clips  108 ,  110  may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the single outer retaining clip  110  shown in middle of the outer peripheral edge  106  of  FIG. 3  may be replaced by a pair of outer retaining clips spaced apart across the length of the outer peripheral edge  106  of the central portion  102   a , such that a single clip  100  may be used to provide abutting contact to a plurality of points on the outer surface of an equine hoof during use. Alternatively, either the inner or outer retaining clips  108 ,  110  may have a width which corresponds to the entire length of either the inner or outer peripheral edges  104 ,  106  of the planar base  102 . 
   Those of ordinary skill will further recognize that the specific materials from which the clip  100  is manufactured may be varied according to need, but that the material must be sufficiently resilient and spring-like to exert the required clamping forces on the horseshoe inner and outer peripheral edges upon deflection of at least one of the inner or outer retaining clips from a rest configuration upon engagement with the horseshoe. Since it is intended that the clip  100  be reusable, and that the retaining clips retain a degree of resilience upon bending to return to their original configuration, a metal such as spring-steel is a preferred material, but those of ordinary skill will recognize that other suitable materials or combination of materials may be utilized, such as plastics, polymers, or combinations of metals and plastics. 
   Turning next to  FIGS. 15-20 , an alternate configuration of the removable horseshoe clip is shown generally at  200 . The removable horseshoe clip  200  is adapted for temporary placement on the horseshoe  10  during fitment and attachment of the horseshoe to an equine hoof. The horseshoe clip  200  consists of a planar base portion  202  including a central portion  202   a  with a front-to-back dimension identified at “Y” in  FIG. 16 , having an inner peripheral edge  204  adapted to align with an edge of the inner peripheral surface  10 C of the horseshoe  10 , and an outer peripheral edge  206  adapted to align with an edge of the outer peripheral surface  10 D of the horseshoe  10 . A pair of mirror-image rigid lateral bracing segments  202 R and  202 L are continuous with, and extended laterally outward from, opposite lateral sides of said central portion a short distance, designated as “X 1 ” in  FIG. 16 . Generally, the front-to-back dimension “Y” of the central portion  202   a  is selected to correspond to the width of the horseshoe  10  for which the clip  200  is sized to fit. 
   At least one inner retaining clip segment  208  is disposed adjacent to the inner peripheral edge  204 , and extends generally upward from the central portion  202   a . The inner retaining clip segment  208  has a height “H 2 ”, which is selected to correspond approximately to, or slightly smaller than, the thickness of the horseshoe  10  for which the clip  200  is sized to fit, and, at a rest configuration, is inclined inward towards the center portion  202   a  at a slight angle α, as best seen in  FIG. 17 . The transverse side-to-side width of the inner retaining clip segment  208  corresponds generally to the transverse side-to-side width of the central portion  202   a , and is designated “Xc” in  FIG. 16 . 
   At least one outer retaining clip segment  210  extends upward from the central portion  202   a , adjacent to the outer peripheral edge  206 . The outer retaining clip  210  consists of a lower portion  210 L and an upper portion  210 U. The lower portion  210 L has a height “H 1 ”, which is selected to correspond approximately to, or slightly greater than, the thickness of the horseshoe  10  for which the clip  200  is sized to fit, and at a rest configuration is aligned perpendicular to the central portion  202   a . The upper portion  210 U extends upward from the lower portion  210 L, to a height “H” above the height of the horseshoe  10 , and is inclined inward towards the center portion  202   a  at a slight angle β, as best seen in  FIG. 17 , corresponding generally to the inclination of a hoof to which the horseshoe  10  is to be affixed. Preferably, the planar base  202 , the inner retaining clip  208 , and the outer retaining clip segment  210  are of a unitary construction, such as formed from a resilient stamped metal sheet or spring steel which will return to the original rest configurations upon non-deforming deflection there from. 
   During use, a horseshoe clip  200  is temporarily fitted to the horseshoe  10  in a “snap” or “clamp” style engagement at the desired position. As is best seen in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , the inward inclination of the inner retaining clip segment  208  and the vertical orientation of the outer retaining clip lower portion  210 L define a decreasing spacing “Y 1 ” there between, such that at least one of the retaining clip segments  208 ,  210  is resiliently displaced or deflected outward during engagement with the inner and outer peripheral edges  10 C and  10 D of a horseshoe  10 . The resilient nature of the material forming the inner and outer retaining clip segments  208 ,  210 , together with the deflection of at least one of the retaining clip segments results in the application of a clamping or gripping force on the horseshoe inner and outer peripheral surfaces, between the inner and outer retaining clip segments  208 ,  210 , which retains the horseshoe clip  200  in engagement with the horseshoe  10 . The central portion  202   a  of the planar base is not required to engage or abut the lower surface of the horseshoe  10 , but should be disposed parallel thereto upon proper engagement between the horseshoe  10  and the inner and outer retaining clip segments. 
   A method for engaging the horseshoe clip  200  with the horseshoe  10  is illustrated in  FIGS. 19A and 19B . Initially, the inner retaining clip segment  208 , with the inwardly inclined rest configuration is positioned in angled contact with the inner peripheral surface  10 C of the horseshoe  10 , such that the planar base  202  is inclined relative to the bottom surface  10 B of the horseshoe. The upper portion  210 U of the outer retaining clip segment  210  is disposed adjacent the outer peripheral surface  10 D of the horseshoe. In this position, the inner and outer retaining clip segments  208  and  210  remain in their rest configurations, and there is no clamping engagement between the horseshoe  10  and removable clip  200 . 
   Once the clip  200  is initially positioned, an application of an applied force “F” such as shown in  FIG. 19A  at the base portion  202 , pivots the removable clip  202  generally about the engagement of the inner retaining clip segment  208  and the inner peripheral edge of the horseshoe  10 , forcing the base portion  202  into parallel alignment with the horseshoe bottom surface  10 B, and deflecting the inner retaining clip segment  208  from the rest configuration by decreasing the inward inclination angle α to the smaller deflection shown as α 2  in  FIG. 19B . As the inner retaining clip segment  208  deflects, the outer retaining clip segment  210  may deflect as it moves upward along the outer peripheral edge of the horseshoe  10 , until the lower portion  210 L engaged therewith. 
   With the inner retaining clip segment  208  deflected from the rest configuration, a tension force seeking to return the inner retaining clip to the rest configuration is generated, and acts to drive the inner retaining clip segment  208  towards the inner peripheral surface of the horseshoe  10 , effectively clamping the horseshoe  10  between the inner retaining clip segment  208  and the lower portion  210 L of the outer retaining clip segment  210 . The tension force is sufficiently strong enough to retain the removable horseshoe clip  200  in place on the horseshoe  10  during the shoeing process. 
   During the shoeing process it is possible for offsetting forces to be exerted against the removable horseshoe clip  200 . The lateral bracing segments  202 L and  202 R which extend laterally from the central portion  202   a  of the planar base act to resist these offsetting forces by displacing the location of any pivoting contact between the removable horseshoe clip  200  and the bottom surface  10 B of the horseshoe  10  laterally outward from the location of the retaining clips to the lateral edges  203  of the lateral bracing segments  202 L and  202 R. By moving the location of pivoting contact laterally outward, the amount of force required to displace the horseshoe clip  200  from the horseshoe  10 , if applied in an offset manner, such as at one of the lateral edges  203 , is greatly increased. 
   Preferably, the lateral width X 1  of each of the lateral bracing segments is selected to provide increased lateral stability and resistance to removal by offsetting lateral forces for the removable horseshoe clip  200  against the bottom surface  10 B of the horseshoe  10 . 
   Removal of the horseshoe clip  200  from engagement with the horseshoe  10  is substantially the reverse of the installation process. The outer retaining clip segment  210  is driven vertically downward, displacing the horseshoe outer peripheral edge from engagement with the lower portion  210 L, and pivoting the clip  200  about a pivoting engagement between the inner retaining clip  208  and the inner peripheral surface  10 C of the horseshoe. As the horseshoe outer peripheral edge disengages from the lower portion  210 L of the outer retaining clip segment  210 , the inner retaining clip segment  208  is freed to return to the inward inclination of the rest condition, and the retaining force engaging the horseshoe  10  is released. 
   Depending upon the particular material selected for construction of the removable horseshoe clip  10 , the tension forces generated by the deflection of the inner retaining clip  208  from the rest condition during engagement with the horseshoe  10  may be quite strong. If the tension forces are too great, removal of the horseshoe clip  200  may be difficult or dangerous, as the natural tendency of the deflected inner retaining clip segment to return to the rest configuration may occur suddenly upon release, causing the removable horseshoe clip  200  to spring quickly away from the horseshoe  10 . In order to regulate the amount of tension force holding the removable horseshoe clip  200  to the horseshoe  10 , one or more tension relief slots or openings  300  may be formed in either the inner or outer retaining clip segments by removing material there from. For example, as shown best in  FIG. 15 , a tension relief slot or opening  300  formed at the midline of the outer retaining clip segment  210  extends from the lower portion  210 L and partially into the central portion  202   a  of the planar base and the upper portion  210 U. The tension relief slot or opening  300  structurally weakens the coupling between the planar base and the outer retaining clip segment  210 , permitting a degree of deflection in the lower portion  210 L during engagement and disengagement of the removable clip  200  from the horseshoe  10 . By selecting the amount of material to be removed in the tension relief slot or opening  300 , the amount of deflection is regulated, and accordingly, the maximum tension force which can be exerted between the inner retaining clip segment and the outer retaining clip segment during engagement with the horseshoe  10  is limited. It will be recognized that the size, placement, and number of tension relief slots or opening  300  may be varied as required to achieve the desired moderation of the tension forces securing the removable horseshoe clip  200  to the horseshoe  10 . Optionally, by extending the tension relief slot or opening vertically upward onto the upper portion  210 U, the flexibility of the upper portion  210 U may be altered to facilitate bending of the upper portion  210 U to conform the outer surface of a hoof. 
   As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.