Apparatus and method for equine facial protection

A full frontal facial safeguard or protective facial shield apparatus protects the facial area of a horse against unwanted and unnecessary injuries, wounds and scaring caused by facial cuts, scratches, scrapes, bumps, and bruises. The apparatus comprises of a protective, padded facial shield spanning from a bridge area to a poll area of a horse while cheeks and the eye area of the horse remain unobstructed. The full frontal facial safeguard can be produced in various sizes to fit most breeds and sizes of horses.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a protective facial shield apparatus for a horse and more particularly to an equine facial shield that protects between the bridge and poll of the face of a horse substantially without obstructing the horse's field of vision.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

During training, horses may not immediately comprehend what is being asked of them and therefore may become frustrated. As an example, when learning to be loaded in a trailer, or stand tied, horses will often react aggressively and in a self destructive manner without regard to their surroundings. This aggressive, self destructive behavior often results in various wounds to the face and poll area, which in severe cases can cause permanent damage and scaring.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,040,239 describes protective headgear for horses being trained for racing or halter use. The headgear features a mask that conforms generally to the shape of the horse's head between the poll and muzzle of the animal, completely covering the upper face and sides of the head. The two sides of the padded mask are attached beneath the horse's head by buckles to secure the headgear in place. The mask includes ear holes and eye holes equipped with blinkers. Enclosure of the entire face leads to discomfort by blocking airflow and preventing heat from escaping. In addition, covering the sides of the face and adding blinkers obstructs the field of vision of the animal, which may cause safety concerns Finally, the ears and immediate surrounding area of a horse are highly sensitive, and therefore successfully securing an enclosed mask of this type on such an animal may prove to be both difficult and dangerous.

As a result, there is a demand for a protective apparatus that can be secured to a horses face with minimal ear contact and will protect the most frequently damaged portions of the face while in no way restricting or otherwise interfering with the horse's breathing or field of vision

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a facial protection apparatus for a face of a horse comprising:

a protective pad extending in a longitudinal direction between opposed first and second ends, the pad comprising:a bridge portion at the first end of the pad which is elongate in the longitudinal direction and which is arranged to span at least a portion of a bridge of the face of the horse;a brow portion extending in the longitudinal direction from the bridge portion towards the second end of the pad, the brow portion being arranged to span a portion of the face of the horse above eyes of the horse; andan ear portion extending in the longitudinal direction from the brow portion towards the second end of the pad, the ear portion being arranged to span between ears of the horse; and

strapping arranged to secure the pad against the face of the horse such that facial cheeks and eyes of the horse remain uncovered and a view from each of the eyes of the horse remains substantially unobstructed.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of protecting a face of a horse comprising the steps of:

placing a protective pad on a front portion of the face of the horse such that facial cheeks of said horse remain exposed:

positioning the protective pad such that eyes of the horse remain uncovered; and

positioning the protective pad such that a view from each of the eyes of the horse remains unobstructed.

Protection is provided for the animal without sacrificing comfort by placing the protective pad on the horse's face so that it covers the frequently damaged front portion of the face while leaving the sides of the face open to the air. The horse's safety is maintained by ensuring that the horse's field of vision is in no way restricted by the pad.

The ease of mounting the protective pad on the horse is improved by avoiding contact with the sensitive ears of the animal. This reduces the likelihood of a violent reaction from the animal, thereby increasing the level of safety and ease of mounting involved in securing the invention to the horse and increasing the horse's level of comfort.

Preferably the method further comprises the steps of positioning the protective pad such that a muzzle of the horse remains uncovered and nostrils of the horse remain unobstructed.

Preferably the method further comprises the steps of positioning the protective pad such that said pad substantially covers a bridge of the face, a forehead, a forelock, eyebrows and a poll of the horse.

Preferably the method further comprises the steps of strapping the protective pad to the horse at the poll of said horse such that such that a strap extends across the poll behind the ears of said horse and strapping the protective pad to the horse at the bridge of the face of said horse.

The present invention is shaped to follow the contours of the horse's face. The bridge portion extends upward from the nose along the narrow bridge of the horse's face and is narrow enough to fit between the eyes without blocking their view. Above the eyes, the brow portion is wide enough to cover the eyebrows and forehead, again without blocking the eyes. The ear portion extends upward from here, fitting between the sensitive ears of the horse, and is attached to a final poll portion behind the ears of the horse.

Preferably there is provided strapping for securing the protective pad on the face of horse adjacent the second end of said pad. Preferably there is provided a poll portion at the second end of the protective pad, said poll portion being attached to the ear portion opposite the brow portion and being wider than said brow portion, the strapping passing through holes in said poll portion on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis. Engagement of the strap and the wide poll portion at its opposite sides ensures that the strap doesn't contact the sensitive ears of the horse.

Preferably there is provided strapping for securing the protective pad on the face of the horse at the bridge portion, the bridge portion and having holes therein on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis for the strapping to pass through.

Preferably the strapping at the poll portion and the bridge portion is integral and comprises a single strap wrapped about the face of the horse, crossing itself beneath the face of the horse between the poll portion and the bridge portion. Preferably the single strap crosses itself again above the face of the horse at the bridge portion and has opposite ends connected by a buckle. Having a single strap wrapped around the horse's head and crossing sides thereof secures the pad from each side without requiring multiple buckles.

The present invention does not interfere with the use of a typical halter used to tie or lead the horse.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the accompanying figures there is illustrated an equine facial protection apparatus generally indicated by reference numeral10. Though various embodiments are shown in the accompanying figures, in each instance the apparatus is particularly suited for covering a front portion of the face of a horse for protecting generally between the poll area and the bridge area of the horse. The common features of the various embodiments will first be described herein.

In each instance the apparatus comprises a pad12which is elongate in a longitudinal direction between a first end11for positioning just above the nose of the horse to a second end13adjacent the ears of the horse. Longitudinally extending edges15extend along opposing sides of the pad between the first and second ends to define a narrow dimension in a lateral direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the pad. The pad12is generally shaped for covering the poll, the forelock, the forehead, the eyebrows and at least part of the bridge of the face of the horse The narrow spacing between the opposing edges15ensures that the cheeks of the horse along with the area below and surrounding the eyes, as well as immediately below and in front of the ears, remains substantially unobstructed and uncovered by the pad.

The pad12includes a bridge portion14which is elongate in the longitudinal direction to extend from the first end11of the pad partway to the second end13. The bridge portion14is suitably arranged to span at least a portion of the bridge of the horse's face.

A brow portion16extends in the longitudinal direction from the bridge portion towards the second end of the pad so that the bridge portion is arranged to span a portion of the face of the horse between and above the eyes of the horse. The edges15of the pad are stepped to become substantially wider at the eyebrows just above the eyes of the horse. By arranging the brow portion to be wider in the lateral direction than the bridge portion, the bridge potion does not obstruct the view forwardly and downwardly from the eyes of the horse while the brow portion still protects an eyebrow area immediately above the eyes. The stepped lateral dimension of the brow portion forms lobes18projecting laterally outwardly in relation to the bridge portion14.

The pad12further includes an ear portion20which extends in the longitudinal direction from the brow portion towards the second end of the pad. The ear portion is substantially narrower than the bridge and the brow portion so as to be suitably arranged to span between the ears of the horse towards the poll of the horse.

A poll portion22of the pad12extends from the ear portion to define the second end of the pad. The poll portion22spans laterally outwardly in opposing directions from the ear portion to define a pair of laterally opposed ends24which are considerably wider in the lateral direction than either of the ear portion, the bridge portion or the brow portion.

The reduced lateral dimension of the ear portion between the poll portion22and the brow portion16defines a pair of laterally opposed ear recesses26which are suitably sized for receiving the ears of the horse therethrough while also accommodating an open and unrestricted area immediately in front of and below each of the ears. The brow portion16tapers inwardly from the wider lobes18back to the narrower lateral dimension of the ear portion at a sharper taper than the taper between the brow portion and the bridge portion so that the lobes18defining the wider brow portion are spaced sufficiently ahead of the ears of the horse so as not to provide any discomfort to the horse.

Suitable strapping60is connected to the pad12for secured of the pad to span the front portion of the face of the horse. The strapping60is suitably arranged to secure the pad12to the face of the horse independently of a halter62.

In each embodiment the pad12of the apparatus includes at least an outer protective layer40formed of a durable wear-resistant material which assists in resisting weather and abrasion, and an inner padding layer38which is much softer than the outer protective layer40. The inner layer comprises any suitable soft lining material to provide comfort to the horse and to provide some impact absorption.

Turning now more particularly to the embodiment ofFIGS. 1 through 6, the first embodiment will now be described in further detail. In this instance the bridge portion14is similar in length in the longitudinal direction to the brow portion so that the first end of the pad terminates only partway along the bridge of the horse between the eyes and the nostrils thereof in use.

The strapping60in this instance comprises a pair of independent straps having respective buckles that are located on the same side in relation to the pad12for convenience of attaching to horse. The straps of the strapping60include a throat strap64and a chin strap66.

The throat strap64is formed as an extension of the laterally protruding ends24of the poll portion22so that the strap is arranged to extend from the poll at a location behind the ears of the horse around the throat of the horse. A suitable throat pad68is mounted on the throat strap64for engaging against the throat of the horse to provide comfort to the horse when the throat strap64is securing the second end of the pad in place.

The first end11of the pad is secured by the chin strap66which extends around the chin of the horse and is well secured to the bridge portion of the pad. A suitable pad70is provided on the chin strap66for engaging beneath the chin of the horse when the chin strap66is secured thereabout.

Two cheek straps72are provided to extend generally in the longitudinal direction between the throat strap64and the chin strap66at both sides of the face of the horse. The cheek straps72are spaced along the throat and chin straps respectively, laterally outwardly from respective sides15of the pad12. Spacing between the cheek straps72and the respective edges15of the pad is suitably arranged to locate the eyes of the horse between the edges15and the cheek straps72without obstructing the view of the horse from the respective eyes.

Each ear recess26is provided with an ear strap73which is connected between a respective one of the laterally opposed ends24of the poll portion and the brow portion at a location just above a respective one of the lobes18. The ear straps73have a suitable length to cause the ends24of the poll portion to curve inwardly and conform to the shape of the head of a horse. The ear straps73are positioned spaced outwardly from the respective edges15of the pad so that the ear recesses26, which are bound by the straps respectively, are resultingly sufficiently large to accommodate the ears of the horse therethrough while providing an open space in front of each ear which remains uncovered by the apparatus10.

In the first embodiment, the pad12is formed of a plurality of layers in addition to the inner padding layer38and the outer protective layer40. Throughout the length of the pad12from the bridge portion to the poll portion, a stiffener layer74is provided in the form of a relatively rigid sheet of plastic material which assists the pad in holding the general shape which conforms about the face of the horse. The stiffener layer of plastic material is situated immediately against an inner side of the outer wear-resistant layer40.

An additional forming layer76is provided in the form of a layer of suede between the inner padding layer38and the stiffener layer74of plastic material. The forming layer of suede material adds some additional stiffness while assisting in securing the plastic to the underside of the outer protective layer40. All of the layers of plastic, leather and suede forming the protective outer layer40, the stiffener layer74and the forming layer76are arranged to have sufficient flexibility to allow some conforming to the shape of the face of the horse.

As shown inFIG. 6, at the poll portion22and adjacent thereto, an additional padding layer78is provided comprising dense foam or other suitable impact absorbing material to provide extra protection to the horse at the poll area.

At the first end11of the pad12the outer side of the outer protective layer40forming the bridge portion14is overlapped by at least the inner padding layer38which wraps over the first end of the pad for additional comfort to the horse.

When the apparatus according to the first embodiment is supported in combination with a halter, the overall length of the pad12is arranged to be shorter than space between the bridge strap and poll strap of the halter so that the bridge portion of the pad is not overlapped by the hatter but rather the pad12is fully supported on the horse by the strapping60independently of the halter.

The material forming the various layers of the pad12may comprise any suitable materials to accomplish the respective functions of providing wear-resistance or some durability at the outer layer40, providing some stiffening and puncture resistance at the stiffening layer74, providing some additional structural support at the forming layer76, providing some impact absorption at the padding layer78and providing some comfort and further impact absorbing at the inner padding layer38. The inner padding layer38for instance may comprise any suitable lining material including for example: hospital felt, Sherpa® fleece, a variety of woven synthetic fibers or any other material of similar properties.

The throat pad68and the chin pad70may similarly be formed of plural layers including an outer protective layer of leather and the like and an inner lining material which is lighter and softer for more comfort against the skin of the horse as compared to the outer layer.

Turning now to the second embodiment as illustrated inFIGS. 7 through 11, the pad12in this instance is somewhat longer than the previous embodiment so as to substantially fully span the bridge of the face of the horse. The first end11of the pad thus terminates just above the nostrils so that when worn in combination with a halter, the chin strap of the halter overlaps the bridge portion of the pad12.

Strapping60in the second embodiment is arranged in part by providing the poll portion22of the pad12with punched out holes28at the ends24behind the ears that secure a fastener strap30in place. The strap is a single long piece of material with a buckle32at the end that is used to fasten the facial safeguard to the horse. The fastener strap30comes down through the holes28in the poll portion22behind the ears on both sides of the horse's head, crosses under the cheek bones and is then fed upward through two top holes34in the long bridge portion14of the pad12. Once the strap is fed upward through these holes34, it is crossed over the nasal bone and then fed downward between a bottom pair of holes36in the bridge portion14and situated just behind the chin at the horses curb groove. Here the facial safeguard is fastened to the horse via the buckle32that connects the two ends of the strap30. The pad12should be secured to fit snugly on the horses face. The illustrated crossing arrangement of the strap30between the poll portion22and the bridge portion14avoids the horse's throat and the nasal bone area so as not to interfere with the horse's breathing.

As seen inFIG. 9a strap loop35is provided where the strap30crosses itself under the cheek bones. The loop consists of a piece of material37attached at opposite ends to the strap to define an opening between the piece37and the strap30. When feeding the strap30through the various holes in the pad12to secure the facial shield10on a horse, an end of the strap30is passed through the strap loop35to position portions of the strap relative to each other.

Similarly to the first embodiment, the pad12according to the second embodiment has an inner, or rear, padding layer38and an outer, or front, protective layer40. The protective layer40is firm and strong so as to repeatedly withstand impacts without significant wear or damage. The padding layer38is made of a soft material to increase the comfort of the pad12on the horse. This padding layer38prevents irritation that would otherwise be caused due to rubbing between the firm protective layer40and the horse's face and also helps to absorb some of the impact exerted on the protective layer40. The protective layer40and the fastener strap30may be constructed from materials such as, but not limited to, leather, synthetic leather, nylon and polyethylene plastic. The padding layer38may be made of lining materials such as, but not limited to, synthetic fleece, sheepskin fleece, hospital felt and regular felt lining material. It should be appreciated that the dimensions of the facial shield10, including the thickness of its layers38and40may be varied to achieve desired characteristics.

The lining material forming the padding layer38can be attached to the protective layer40by one of a number of practices including stitching and adhering. The buckle32may be made of metal, nickel, brass or other material of suitable strength and rigidity.

The apparatus according to the second embodiment also works well in conjunction with a typical halter used to lead or tie a horse, As seen inFIG. 11, such a halter44can be worn over the full frontal facial safeguard10. A well fit halter44can help stabilize and position the facial safeguard10when used properly. A halter loop42is provided generally centrally on the poll portion22behind the horse's ears. A poll strap46of the halter44that passes across the horse's head behind the ears is fed through the halter loop42to attach the halter44and facial safeguard10. A bridge strap48of the halter44crosses over the horse's face at the bridge portion14of the pad12just above where the strap30crosses over the bridge portion14. It should be appreciated that while the halter44helps secure the facial shield10to the horse, the present invention can be used with or without such a halter44in place. The halter loop42can be attached to the pad12by rivets or other fasteners known to those of skill in the art.

As described herein with regard to the exemplary embodiments, a full frontal facial safeguard or protective facial shield apparatus10for horses features a protective pad12for covering and protecting the front of a horse's face. These protected areas include the poll, the forehead, the forelock, the areas between and above the eyes and the long bridge extending downward to just above the nostrils. Areas that are not covered by the pad12include the muzzle, nostrils, chin, eyes, ears and cheeks.

Like the previous embodiment, in the second embodiment, the pad12lays flush against the horse's face and extends from a point at least partway along the bridge of the horse's face to the poll immediately behind the ears. The nose end of the pad12features a narrow elongate bridge portion14extending upward along the bridge to the eyes The bridge portion14is generally uniform in width from the nose end to a point just below the eyes, at which point the pad12begins to widen in proportion to the contours of the horse's head. A brow portion16extends upward from the eyes to cover the eyebrow and forehead areas of the face. Here, the pad continues to gradually widen from the bridge portion14to a widest point defined by the forehead. The brow portion16then narrows as it extends up from the forehead to a width proportional to the space between the horse's ears. The widening and narrowing of the pad12defines lobed outer edges18that curve outward transverse to the length of the horse's face. The edges18curve in such a way as to ensure that the pad12is narrow enough between the eyes so as not to interfere with the sight line of the horse, but wide enough above the eyes to adequately protect the eyebrow and forehead.

Extending further along the face from the brow portion16toward the poll end of the pad12is an ear portion20that is narrow enough to fit between the ears without contacting these sensitive parts of the animal. With this ear portion20sized as such, the pad12can be placed on the horse's head without irritating the sensitive ears and inducing a potentially dangerous physical reaction. The facial safeguard10thereby improves safety for both the animal and the person training the horse. At the upper end of the pad12, a short, wide flap defines a poll portion14that extends across the poll of the horse to opposite ends24just behind the ears. The changes in width from the brow portion16to the ear portion20and finally to the poll portion22are all gradual and smooth so as to define visually appealing curved recesses26which are sufficient size to leave adequate room for the ears and a small surrounding area, thereby increasing comfort for the animal.

The facial safeguard for horses is padded, comfortable, ergonomic, lightweight, and very durable. Construction of the protective layer40from strong materials allows it to be able to adequately protect the front of the horses face. The present invention protects against and prevents wounds during any number of activities, including learning to tie, being loaded in a trailer, traveling, being transported, riding thru heavy brush and trees, and recovering from an existing facial injury or wound. Used for, and in accordance with, veterinary care and technique, the present invention can help protect an existing wound or to further the suture treatment of facial wounds. The present invention prevents unwanted wounds to the commonly injured areas of a horse's head, specifically the front of the face and the poll area, while avoiding the unnecessary and uncomfortable practice of enclosing the sides of the head. The present invention protects against a number of possible injuries, such as cuts, scrapes, scratches, bumps, bruises and puncture wounds. It should be appreciated that through modification of characteristics such as size and shape, the present invention can be adapted for use with horses of all ages, gender, breeds and disciplines.

As horses rarely injure the sides of their faces, it is unnecessary to enclose the head to provide adequate injury protection. By covering only the front of the face, the present invention prevents injury with a lighter, more comfortable apparatus that is easier to mount on a horse. With the sides open to the air, the apparatus does not trap heat and sweat and therefore allows the horses skin to breathe. In addition, this openness allows access to the side of the face which horses will often scratch with their hooves to relieve itching. The present invention is also less restrictive to the animal's movement than a head enclosing mask.

In preferred embodiments, the pad of the apparatus has 5 layers at the poll area comprising: a top layer of the finest vegetable tanned leather for durability and a stunning finish; an intermediate later of shape enhancing polystyrene which acts as a barrier acts as a barrier against puncture wounds and lacerations; an intermediate layer of high density foam padding for shock absorption; an intermediate layer of genuine suede for added weight and strength; and an underside layer of plush long knitted fleece for comfort.

The apparatus thus prevents and protects against unwanted and unnecessary injuries, wounds, and damaging scars to a horse's face and poll region while trailering, transporting, or schooling.

The apparatus is a unique leather made product. It is handmade from the finest quality leather, underlined with plastic, foam, and suede, and then backed by soft Sherpa R Fleece. These carefully constructed layers are precisely sewn together with strong, cream colored saddle thread. The apparatus may come standard in two colors of leather, Walnut and Burgundy, and can be accented with Italian made Basket Weave or Oak Leaf tooling. Brass name plates and silver lettering for personalization can also be made available. Two sizes for either “Standard” or “Large” breed will accommodate a vast variety of equine breeds.

Each apparatus is a quality, handmade product that is constructed of the finest materials and made with the utmost care for the better well being of the horse. The apparatus is easy to fit, comes in a variety of sizes and options, and is fully adjustable to meet a horse's needs.

As described herein, the apparatus10is a protective product it is specifically designed to prevent and protect equine against unwanted and unnecessary frontal facial trauma, injuries, wounds, and scars while offering unbeatable poll protection. It is constructed of quality leather and Sherpa R Fleece which makes this product extremely durable and easy to clean. The apparatus offers maximum equine head protection and generous facial coverage with minimal effort from the handler and zero discomfort to the horse. The apparatus has potential to revolutionize how horses are cared for while trailering, transporting, and schooling.

The apparatus10will cut down on costly veterinary bills. It will prevent and protect against facial and poll damage. It will protect horses against ugly scaring and malformation of facial tissues and features. It offers maximum protection without impeding the field of vision or interrupting, the breathing of the horse. The extensive facial and head coverage areas of the horse includes the Poll, the Parietal region, the temporal region, the Supra Orbital region, the Frontal Sinus region, and a substantial portion of the Dorsal Nasal region.

The skeleton of the horse is made up of 205 bones the skull alone has 34 bones, making it the 5thlargest concentration of bones. Generally when wounds occur on the front of the face area, it happens to the skin on bone, making it very painful for the horse. There is no muscle on the front of the face to cushion the blows from trauma. When an injury occurs on the face, there is generally a lot of blood flow, which is good for healing, but it can be hard to stop and control, especially when the horse is in intense pain. Also, the face of a horse generally scars the worst because they are often the most difficult wounds to suture and care for. If a horse has punctured or injured his face to the bone, there is a substantial risk of infection the bone, if not treated properly by a veterinarian. This type of injury can be costly and lengthy to treat, and can often lead to death. Accordingly, the apparatus10can pay for itself in a single use when compared to unexpected and costly veterinarian bills.

Because horses are blind directly in front of them, the apparatus10can be worn with little or no notice from the horse. The shape, fit, and simplicity of the apparatus makes it easy to apply and remove by the handler. It is lightweight and breaths easily.

The apparatus is best used when teaching a horse to load and unload in a trailer. The apparatus is also useful while trailering, transporting, teaching to stand tied, teaching to ‘hot walk’, while schooling in the starting gates, and for horses that are simply careless with their heads and unaware of their surroundings. The apparatus10will also be beneficial for gelding procedures, teeth floating procedures, or anytime a horse needs to be ‘put under’ to proceed with veterinarian care or while treating existing facial wounds and injuries.