Patent Publication Number: US-11641845-B1

Title: Tailboard system for horse stalls

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/065,340 to Bartley et al., filed Aug. 13, 2020 and entitled “TAILBOARD SYSTEM FOR HORSE STALLS,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Embodiments of the invention described herein pertain to the field of horse stall equipment. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, one or more embodiments of the invention enable a tailboard system for horse stalls. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Many breeds of horses, particularly animals shown in-hand, require beautiful tails to be competitive. To maintain a long and luxurious tail, owners may keep the horse&#39;s tail in a tail set or bustle. In addition, to keep horses at their best appearance, and for other husbandry purposes, show horses are often stabled. Unfortunately, a common behavior of stabled horses is to rub the base of their tails against the stall walls. This undesirable behavior may have many different causes including behavioral and medical reasons. Tail rubbing may also simply be a common vice such as cribbing or weaving. But for the show horses, a ragged and frayed tail may mean an interrupted career. Tail rubbing often causes the hair on the tail to fall out or be pulled out. For example, if the hair gets stuck on a nail and is pulled out, or if the hair falls off from consistent rubbing, the appearance of the tail will be ruined. Hair loss is particularly detrimental for show horses that need to keep a specific, groomed appearance. 
     Attempts have been made to prevent show horses from rubbing their tails on the walls of their stalls by placing, at a height about 4-6 inches below the base of the tail, wooden, rectangular planks perpendicular to the wall of the stall like a shelf. These planks are referred to in the art as “tailboards.” 
     Proper tailboard placement depends on a number of factors. First, the height of the horse. The height of a horse is measured in “hands,” where a hand is four inches. Measurement is made from the ground to the top of the withers (shoulder blades). In general, a horse&#39;s shoulders are slightly higher than its hind quarters. Furthermore, horse breeds, and individuals within a breed, will vary in their average height, but stall walls are usually a standard size. The correct placement for a miniature horse would obviously be different than for a draft horse, for example. Another consideration for placement is that individual horses may have a favorite spot or corner where it prefers to rub. Therefore, tailboards should generally be placed on the stall wall at a height appropriate to the area and height where the particular horse rubs. For example, the average Saddlebred horse, has a height of about 60 to 64 inches, which means the tailboards are generally placed lower than 60 to 64 inches, in order to contact the horse approximately 4-6 inches below the tail base, for example. 
     Tailboards are commonly installed by using a shelf bracket or bracing that can be difficult to install, and the shelf bracket or bracing may create a potential catch point that could injure the horse. Typically, these tailboard installations consist of a 2′×8′, 2′×10′, or 2′×12′ pieces of lumber attached to the wall to keep the horses off the wall. Wooden tailboards are also commonly chewed on, defecated on, and are otherwise easily damaged by the horse, causing the need for the wooden tailboards to be periodically replaced. 
     As is apparent from the abovementioned problems, current tailboard designs are inconvenient, may cause injury to horses, are easily damaged by the horses, are difficult to install, difficult to maintain and require periodic replacement. Therefore, there is a need for improved tailboard system for horse stalls. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One or more embodiments of the invention enable a tailboard system for horse stalls. 
     A tailboard system for horse stalls is described. An illustrative embodiment of a tailboard system for a horse stall includes a plurality of tailboard sections, each tailboard section of the plurality of tailboard sections comprising a first arched portion between a first pair of integral flanges, the first pair of integral flanges comprising an integral upper flange and an integral lower flange, the arched portion comprising a pair of straight, angled sides connected by a rounded tip, and at least one tapered end, a first tapered end of the at least one tapered end adjacent to a second tapered end of an adjacent section of the plurality of tailboard sections to form a triangular gap therebetween, and a joint strap covering the triangular gap, the joint strap comprising a second pair of flanges between a second arched portion, and wherein the plurality of tailboard sections are adapted to be mounted by the first pair of integral flanges in a row around at least a portion of an inside perimeter of the horse stall to form the tailboard system. In some embodiments, the plurality of tailboard sections include one of a wall section, an end cap, a corner section, or a combination thereof. In certain embodiments, at least one tailboard section of the plurality of tailboard sections includes an end cap that terminates the row, the end portion comprising a closed, angled end opposite the first tapered end, the closed, angled end forming about a forty-five degree angle with the inside perimeter. In some embodiments, the plurality of tailboard sections are adapted to prevent a horse wearing a tail set from rubbing its tail on the inside perimeter of the horse stall. In some embodiments, the tailboard system further includes a plurality of fasteners extending through the first pair of integral flanges, the plurality of fasteners configured to secure the tailboard section to the inside perimeter of the horse stall. In certain embodiments, the plurality of tailboard sections include molded polyethylene. In some embodiments, the first tapered end has an eight-degree taper. 
     An illustrative embodiment of tailboard system for a horse stall includes a plurality of tailboard sections, each tailboard section of the plurality of tailboard sections comprising a first rounded portion between a first pair of integral flanges, the first pair of integral flanges comprising an integral upper flange and an integral lower flange, and at least one end, a first end of the at least one end adjacent to a second end of an adjacent section of the plurality of tailboard sections to form a seam therebetween, and a joint strap covering the seam, the joint strap comprising a second pair of flanges between a second rounded portion, and wherein the plurality of tailboard sections are adapted to be mounted by the first pair of integral flanges in a row around at least a portion of an inside perimeter of the horse stall to form the tailboard system. In some embodiments, the plurality of tailboard sections include one of a wall section, an end cap, a corner section, or a combination thereof. In certain embodiments, at least one tailboard section of the plurality of tailboard sections includes an end cap that terminates the row, the end portion comprising a closed, angled end opposite the first end, the closed, angled end forming about a forty-five degree angle with the inside perimeter. In some embodiments, the plurality of tailboard sections are adapted to prevent a horse wearing a bustle from rubbing its tail on the inside perimeter of the horse stall. In certain embodiments, the first rounded portion includes an oblong-shaped profile. In some embodiments, the plurality of tailboard sections are adapted to prevent a horse wearing a tail set from rubbing its tail on the inside perimeter of the horse stall. In certain embodiments, the first rounded portion includes a pair of straight, angled sides connected by a rounded tip. In some embodiments, the first rounded portion includes one of a bell shape or a parabolic shape. In certain embodiments, the tailboard system further includes a plurality of fasteners extending through the first pair of integral flanges, the plurality of fasteners configured to secure the tailboard section to the inside perimeter of the horse stall. In some embodiments, the plurality of fasteners are spaced at intervals around the first pair of integral flanges. In certain embodiments, the plurality of tailboard sections include molded polyethylene. 
     In further embodiments, features from specific embodiments may be combined with features from other embodiments. For example, features from one embodiment may be combined with features from any of the other embodiments. In further embodiments, additional features may be added to the specific embodiments described herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Advantages of the present invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art with the benefit of the following detailed description and upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a tailboard system of illustrative embodiments for a horse wearing an exemplary tail set. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of a tailboard system of illustrative embodiments for a horse waring an exemplary bustle. 
         FIG.  3 A  is a perspective view of a wall section of illustrative embodiments for a horse wearing a bustle. 
         FIG.  3 B  is a front view of a wall section of illustrative embodiments for a horse wearing a bustle. 
         FIG.  3 C  is a side view of a wall section of illustrative embodiments for a horse wearing a bustle. 
         FIG.  3 D  is a perspective view of a wall section of illustrative embodiments for a horse wearing a tail set. 
         FIG.  3 E  is a front view of a wall section of illustrative embodiments for a horse wearing a tail set. 
         FIG.  3 F  is a side view of a wall section of illustrative embodiments for a horse wearing a tail set. 
         FIG.  4 A  is a perspective view of an end cap of illustrative embodiments for a horse wearing a bustle. 
         FIG.  4 B  is a side view of an end cap of illustrative embodiments for a horse wearing a bustle. 
         FIG.  4 C  is a front view of an end cap of illustrative embodiments for a horse wearing a bustle. 
         FIG.  4 D  is perspective view of an end cap of illustrative embodiments for a horse wearing a tail set. 
         FIG.  4 E  is a front view of an end cap of illustrative embodiments for a horse wearing a tail set. 
         FIG.  4 F  is a side view of an end cap of illustrative embodiments for a horse wearing a tail set. 
         FIG.  5 A  is a perspective view of a corner section of illustrative embodiments for a horse wearing a bustle. 
         FIG.  5 B  is a back view of a corner section of illustrative embodiments for a horse wearing a bustle. 
         FIG.  5 C  is a side view of a corner section of illustrative embodiments for a horse wearing a bustle. 
         FIG.  5 D  is a perspective view of a corner section of illustrative embodiments for a horse wearing a tail set. 
         FIG.  5 E  is a back view of a corner section of illustrative embodiments for a horse wearing a tail set. 
         FIG.  5 F  is a side view of a corner section of illustrative embodiments for a horse wearing a tail set. 
         FIG.  6 A  is a perspective view of a joint strap of illustrative embodiments for a horse wearing a bustle. 
         FIG.  6 B  is a side view of a joint strap of illustrative embodiments for a horse wearing a bustle. 
         FIG.  6 C  is a front view of a joint strap of illustrative embodiments for a horse wearing a bustle. 
         FIG.  6 D  is a perspective view of a joint strap of illustrative embodiments for a horse wearing a tail set. 
         FIG.  6 E  is a side view of a joint strap of illustrative embodiments for a horse wearing a tail set. 
         FIG.  6 F  is a front view of a joint strap of illustrative embodiments for a horse wearing a tail set. 
         FIG.  7    is a cross sectional view of a horse wearing a tail set in a stall having a tailboard system of illustrative embodiments installed. 
     
    
    
     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and may herein be described in detail. The drawings may not be to scale. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A tailboard system for horse stalls will now be described. In the following exemplary description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to an artisan of ordinary skill that the present invention may be practiced without incorporating all aspects of the specific details described herein. In other instances, specific features, quantities, or measurements well known to those of ordinary skill in the art have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention. Readers should note that although examples of the invention are set forth herein, the claims, and the full scope of any equivalents, are what define the metes and bounds of the invention. 
     As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a wall section includes one or more wall sections. 
     “Coupled” refers to either a direct connection or an indirect connection (e.g., at least one intervening connection) between one or more objects or components. The phrase “directly attached” means a direct connection between objects or components. 
     Illustrative embodiments are primarily described herein with respect to horse stalls. However, illustrative embodiments are not so limited and may equally apply to horse trailers, temporary stalls, fences, portable stalls, and stalls for other animals, which animals may undesirably rub against, chew or catch on the walls of the stall. 
     As used herein references to an animal “rubbing its tail” refers to the animal rubbing the base of its tail, particularly the area of the tail covering the anus. 
     Illustrative embodiments may provide a safer, more durable, easier to install, improved tailboard system. There may be no brackets for a horse to cast themselves on, there may be no wood or edges to chew on, and the tailboards of illustrative embodiments may be easily installed using an integral flange. The tailboards of illustrative embodiments may be a molded, arch-shaped tailboard that may be affixed to the wall of a horse&#39;s stall to prevent the horse from rubbing its tail. A tailboard system of illustrative embodiments may include one or more of four components: corner section, wall section, end cap, and joint strap. Illustrative embodiments may be fabricated by cutting and poly welding, or more preferably, be molded, one-piece components. Certain illustrative embodiments may be a polyethylene tailboard with an arch and/or rounded design. The arch of illustrative embodiments may beneficially make it difficult for a horse to chew on the tailboard. Illustrative embodiments also may eliminate the use of brackets for installation since the tailboards of illustrative embodiments may be screwed directly to the stall using an integral flange. The flange and screw attachment may improve the safety of a stalled horse by eliminating all catch points. The sections of illustrative embodiments may provide an additional advantage of being nestable together for ease and efficiency of shipping or transport. The shape of the tailboard sections of illustrative embodiments may allow the tailboards to protrude far enough from the wall to prevent a horse wearing a tail set from rubbing its tail, while also providing for enough strength to withstand bumping, rubbing and pressure from the weight of the horse. 
     Tailboards for horses wearing tail sets present a particularly difficult problem because tail sets cause a horse&#39;s tail to stick out about twice as far as a bustle. As a result, a conventional tailboard for a horse with a tail set would require a foot-wide barrier between the horse and the wall, and would also be required to be strong enough to withstand a typically 1,200 pound horse from leaning on the tailboard. This has been particularly challenging in the past. Illustrative embodiments provide a unique tailboard shape and mounting that, when installed, extends a foot outward from the wall and may not break or become damaged when bumped, leaned on or otherwise pressured by a horse. 
       FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2    illustrate exemplary tailboard installations of illustrative embodiments.  FIG.  1    illustrates exemplary tailboards for a horse wearing a tail set, and  FIG.  2    illustrates exemplary tailboards for a horse wearing a bustle. As demonstrated by comparing  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   , exemplary tail set tailboard system  100  may protrude further out from wall  205  than exemplary bustle tailboard system  200 , since a tail set causes a horse&#39;s tail to stick out further from the horse&#39;s rear than a bustle. Therefore, the longer profile of tail set tailboard system  100  as compared to bustle tailboard system  200  may decrease the likelihood that a horse is able to reach wall  205  with the base of its tail when wearing a tail set. Tail set tailboard system  100  may include a shape and a mounting design to provide increased strength able to withstand pressure from the weight of the horse. 
     Turning to  FIG.  1   , tail set tailboard system  100  may be installed in a row around one or more walls  205  of horse stall  210 , for example around the inner perimeter and/or a portion of the inner perimeter of horse stall  210 . Tail set tailboard system  100  may be attached to wall  205  at about tail-height, for example a few inches and/or 4-6 inches below the height where the base of a horse&#39;s tail would bump into wall  205 , for example about 4′8″ ft off the ground for a typical Saddlebred horse. In illustrative embodiments tail set tailboard system  100  may not touch the horse&#39;s tail at the base of the tail itself, but rather a few inches below the base such that the horse is not inclined to rub its tail on tailboard system  100  itself. In  FIG.  1   , to the left of water trough  105 , one tail set wall section  115  is secured between two tail set end caps  120  and  120   a . Two tail set end caps  120  are installed adjacent to one another to the right of water trough  105 . In some embodiments, tail set end caps  120  may be reversible and used interchangeably on either the left or right end of the tailboard arrangement by rotating tailboard end cap  120  around by 180°. In certain embodiments, tail set end cap  120  may be left-handed or right-handed. 
     Tail set joint straps  125  may cover the seams and/or gaps between adjacent sections, for example seam  245  between tail set wall section  115  and tail set end cap  120 , seam  245  between two tail set wall sections  115 , and so forth. In  FIG.  1   , one tail set joint strap  125  has been omitted to show an illustrative embodiment of a configuration of adjacent sections forming tail set tailboard system  100 . As shown, the sides of tail set end cap  120   a  and tail set wall section  115  are tapered away from one another in a direction away from wall  205 , to provide gap  145  between the two adjacent sections. Gap  145  may increase in size in a direction away from wall  205  and/or may be triangular in shape. Tail set joint strap  125  may be attached to cover gap  145  and provide a truss-like and/or triangular-like configuration for additional strength of the connections between adjacent sections of tail set tailboard system  100 . 
       FIG.  2    illustrates an exemplary bustle tailboard system  200  of illustrative embodiments. In  FIG.  2   , bustle corner section  240  is shown seated in a corner of stall  210 . Bustle corner section  240  may be placed in corners of stall  210 , with bustle wall section  215  and/or bustle end cap  220  connecting to one or more sides of bustle corner section  240  such that the sections are adjacent to one another in a row. In  FIG.  2   , bustle end cap  220  is installed between feeder  110  and bustle corner section  240  on a first side of bustle corner section  240 . Bustle wall section  215  is installed on a second side of bustle corner section  240 . Bustle joint straps  225  may cover seam  245  between adjacent sections, for example, seam  245  between bustle corner section  240  and bustle wall section  215 , seam  245  between bustle corner section  240  and bustle end cap  220 , seam  245  between bustle wall section  215  and bustle end cap  220 , and so forth. A section of bustle tailboard system  200  may lie flush and/or flat against an adjacent section of bustle tailboard system  200  without any gap  145  and/or adjacent sides of sections may be tapered as described herein with respect to tail set tailboard system  200 . 
     As demonstrated in  FIG.  2   , when a horse is wearing a bustle, one or more bustle wall sections  215 , bustle end caps  220  and/or bustle corner sections  240  may be arranged in various orderings and combinations, depending on the size and shape of the stall, and whether a space for feeder  110 , water trough  105 , a door or other stall feature should be accommodated. As demonstrated in  FIG.  1   , when a horse is wearing a tail set, one or more tail set wall sections  115 , tail set end caps  120  and/or tail set corner sections  140  (shown in  FIG.  5 D ) may be arranged in various orderings and combinations, depending on the size and shape of the stall, and whether a space for feeder  110 , water trough  105 , a door or other stall feature may be accommodated. In  FIG.  1    water trough  105  is shown in a corner of stall  210 . In  FIG.  2   , feeder  110  is illustrated in the middle of wall  205 , and is surrounded by two bustle end caps  220 . 
     Tailboard system  100 ,  200  may be made of polyethylene (or another similar plastic), wood or metal, composite, or another similar nontoxic, smooth, shapeable or moldable, and durable material. Polyethylene may provide the benefit of the greatest strength and ability to mold each section in a single piece. In some embodiments, corners  140 ,  240  and end caps  120 ,  220  may be fabricated from molded pieces from a mold for wall section  115 ,  215 . Each component of tailboard system  100 ,  200  may include flanges  230  (shown in  FIG.  3 A ), with flanges  230  integral with the section, and a flange  230  placed on each of the top side and bottom side of the tailboard piece. Flanges  230  may be integral and extend parallel to the plane of wall  205  from rounded portion of section when the component is installed on wall  205 . Screws  130  may be screwed through flanges  230  to secure sections of tailboard system  100   200  to wall  205 . Screws  130  and/or another fastener such as a cam bolt, nail, spike, cotter pin, toggle bolt, adhesive, rivets and/or another similar fastener may be employed to secure flanges  230  to wall  205 . 
       FIG.  3 A - FIG.  3 C  illustrate a bustle wall section  215  of illustrative embodiments. Bustle wall section  215  may be straight and hollow. Ends  305  of bustle wall section  215  may be opened or closed. In  FIG.  3 A , ends  305  of bustle wall section  215  are shown open. Ends  305  may be perpendicular or may be tapered, as described herein with respect to sides  335  of tail set wall section  115 . Bustle wall section  215  may include rounded portion  300  extending between two flanges  230 . Rounded portion  300  may be round, ovular, oblong, arched or have another similar shape that is rounded without any corners or edges. When bustle wall section  215  is positioned on wall  205 , flanges  230  may extend parallel to wall  205  at the top and bottom of rounded portion  300 . Rounded portion  300  may form a semi-circle, slightly more than half a circle, or a portion of the surface area of a sphere or oval. Flanges  230  may extend parallel to wall  205  and may be used in conjunction with screws  130  to secure wall section  215  to wall  205 . Flanges  230  and screws  130 , with bustle joint straps  225  covering seams  245  between adjacent sections, may reduce or eliminate catch points in bustle tailboard system  200 . In one nonlimiting illustrative embodiment, bustle wall section  215  may be 2, 3, or 4 feet long, for example, rounded portion  300  may be 8 inches in diameter, and flange  230  may be 3 inches long, 2 inches thick and extend radially outward from the edge of rounded portion  300  at the base of rounded portion  300  that rests against wall  205  when installed. 
     Rounded portion  300  may assist in preventing a horse from chewing on tailboard system  200 . In bustle embodiments, rounded portion height  310  may be a low profile as compared to a conventional tailboard and allow rounded portion to stick out only about six inches from wall  205 . This low profile may prevent the horse from defecating on tailboard system  200 . In molded polyethylene embodiments, material thickness for the mold may be 0.0625 in one exemplary embodiment. In some embodiments, all components may be molded at a 12 # shot weight, except for bustle joint straps  225 . Bustle joint straps  225  may be molded at 6 # to reduce the profile of bustle joint straps  225 . Exemplary dimensions provided herein are for an illustrative 10-foot×10-foot, or 12-foot×12-foot, stall  210 . Those of skill in the art may appreciate that dimensions of sections of tailboard system  200  of illustrative embodiments may vary depending on stall size, the size and type of animal held within the stall and/or the type of tail trainer worn by the animal, if any. Wall section  215  may be molded or formed of a different size or cut with a hand saw to accommodate smaller stalls. 
       FIGS.  3 D- 3 F  illustrate a tail set wall section  115  of illustrative embodiments. Tail set wall section  115  may be similar to bustle wall section  215 , except tail set wall section  115  may include arched portion  315  extending between a pair of flanges  230 . Arched portion  315  may protrude outwards from wall  205  far enough to prevent a horse wearing a tail set from touching wall  205  with the base of its tail. For example, arched portion  315  may include arched portion height  320  of about twelve inches or about twice as high as rounded portion height  310  of bustle wall section  215 . Arched portion  315  may be parabolic, shaped like an arch with angled sides or bell shaped. In some embodiments arched portion  315  may include straight slanted sides  325  connected by rounded tip  330 . Straight slanted sides  325 , rather than curved sides, may provide strength while simultaneously permitting tail set wall section  115  to be nested with other tail set wall sections  115  during transport or storage. In some embodiments, arched portion  315  may be shaped similarly to rounded portion  300 , or vice versa. 
     Terminal sides  335  of tail set wall section  115  may be taper outward towards wall  205 , with angle θ being about 98°, and/or an angle slightly larger than perpendicular rather than perpendicular. Tapering of terminal sides  335  may provide the truss-like configuration and/or triangular gap  145  illustrated in the enlarged portion of  FIG.  1   . When tail set joint strap  125  is installed over gap  145 , gap  145  may be covered from view, and tail set joint strap  125  may provide a triangular support system. In  FIG.  3 D  and  FIG.  3 E , terminal sides  335  are shown closed, but terminal sides  335  may also be open, for example, if tail set wall section  115  is cut or sawed to shorten its length. In one nonlimiting example, the length of base  340  may be 36.45 inches, whilst the length of apex  345  may be 32.52 inches. In this example, the bottom of arched portion  315  may be 14.24 inches wide including flanges  230 . Each flange may be 3.26 inches wide, and therefore bottom  350  of arched portion  315  may be 7.72 inches exclusive of flanges  230 . Each flange  230  may be about 2 inches thick, and the diameter of rounded tip  330  may be 5.05 inches. In another nonlimiting example, the length of base  340  may be 19.4 inches, while the length of apex  345  may be 23.87 inches. 
       FIG.  4 A- 4 C  illustrate bustle end cap  220  of illustrative embodiments. Bustle end cap  220  may be shaped similarly to bustle wall section  215  including rounded portion  300  and flanges  230 , except that end cap  220  may have one closed, angled bustle end  400  that may cap and/or close an end of bustle tailboard system  200 . For example, one bustle end cap  220  may be at each end of tailboard system  200 . Closed, angled end  400 , may create a terminal end of bustle tailboard system  200 , and may create a smooth end that may be difficult for a horse to chew on or become caught on, and may also close tailboard system  200  from dirt and debris. In one nonlimiting embodiment, end cap  220  may be 30 inches in length, and angle ϕ may be 45°. When placed in stall  210 , end cap  220  may be aligned with the last bustle wall section  215  or bustle corner section  240  to form the terminal end of bustle tailboard system  100 . 
       FIG.  4 D- 4 F  illustrate tail set end cap  120  of illustrative embodiments. Tail set end cap  120  may be shaped similarly to tail set wall section  115 , including arched portion  315  and flanges  230 , except that tail set end cap  120  may have one closed, angled tail set end  405  that may cap and/or close an end of tail set tailboard system  200 , in similar fashion to bustle end cap  220 . The second side of tail set end cap  120 , may include tapered side  335 , such that tail set end cap  120  may include gap  145  between itself and an adjacent section on the side of end cap  120  that is not at the end of the row of sections. 
       FIGS.  5 A- 5 D  illustrate bustle corner section  240  of illustrative embodiments. Bustle corner section  240  may be similar to bustle wall section  215 , but include a 90° bend or about a 90° bend in the center so as to fit and/or mate inside and/or around a corner of the inner perimeter of stall  210 . In the example shown in  FIG.  5 C , corner section  240  may include two corner sides  500 , which may for example be 30-inch-long sections, connected together at a 90° angle α, for example. Bustle corner sections  240 , bustle wall sections  215  and/or bustle end caps  220  may be organized in various arrangements, as desired, to fit the size and features of a particular stall  210 . 
       FIGS.  5 D- 5 F  illustrate tail set corner section  140  of illustrative embodiments. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that tail set corner section  140  may be similar to bustle corner section  240 , but instead with the features of tail set wall sections, such as arched portion  315 , angle θ and tapered sides  335 , for example. 
       FIGS.  6 A- 6 C  illustrate a bustle joint strap  225  of illustrative embodiments.  FIGS.  6 D- 6 F  illustrate an exemplary tail set joint strap  125  of illustrative embodiments. Bustle joint straps  225  and/or tail set joint straps  125  may attach over seam  245  and/or triangular gap  145  between any two pieces in bustle tailboard system  200  and tail set tail board system  100 , respectively. For example, bustle joint strap  225  may attach over seam  245  between bustle wall section  215  and an adjacent bustle wall section  215 , between bustle wall section  215  and bustle corner section  240 , etc. Similarly, tail set joint strap  125  may attach over seam  245  and/or triangular gap  145  between tail set wall section  115  and an adjacent tail set wall section  115 , tail set wall section  115  and tail set corner section  140 , tail set wall section  115  and tail set end cap  120 , and so forth. Similar to bustle wall section  215 , bustle joint strap  225  may include rounded portion  300  extending between two flanges  230  but may be a narrow strip rather than a tube. Tail set joint strap  125  may include arched portion  315  between two flanges  230 , and may be a strip wide enough to fully cover triangular gap  145 . 
       FIG.  7    illustrates an exemplary horse  700  inside stall  210 . In  FIG.  7   , horse  700  is wearing tail set  705 . As shown in  FIG.  7   , tail set tailboard system  100  may prevent horse  700  from rubbing its tail on wall  205 . Particularly, tailboard system  100  may provide a barrier that prevents horse  700  from rubbing the base of its tail against wall  205 . Tailboard system  100  may include arched portion  315  that extends outward from wall  205  an arched portion height  320  that is long enough to prevent horse  700  wearing tail set  705  to reach wall  205  with the base of its tail, for example 11.5 or 12 inches from wall  205 . Further tailboard system  100  may provide sufficient strength to withstand rubbing, bumping and abutting from horse  700 . Tail set tailboard system  100  may be free from any catch points or chew points. Sections of tailboard system  100  may be advantageously nestable for storage and/or transport, similar to the nesting of paper cups. 
     Illustrative embodiments may include a method of installing tail set tailboard system  100  or bustle tailboard system  200 . First the height of installation of the tailboard system  100 ,  200  may be established by determining the height of the base of the horse&#39;s  700  tail (or a few inches, such as 4-6 inches below the base) and measuring such location on stall  210 . A line may be marked with a marker or chalk to mark the location where the top of the upper flanges  230  should align. Next, corner sections  140 ,  240  may be started with, if any, and line up corner sections  140 ,  240  and ensure corner sections  140 ,  240  are level marked. Wall sections  115 ,  215  and/or end caps  120 ,  220  may then be connected in a row with the corner section  120 ,  220 , with the sections in the desired combination. Pilot holes may be drilled along the flanges  230 , for affixing the sections to wall  205 . Pilot holes may be evenly spaced and, in some embodiments, no more than 12 inches apart. Joint straps  125 ,  225  may be used to cover all seams  245  and/or triangular gaps  145 . Joint straps  125 ,  225  may screw down through flanges  230  and tighten against wall section  115 ,  215 , end cap  120 ,  220  and/or corner section  140 ,  240  as applicable to a particular seam  245  and/or triangular gap  145 . 
     If modifications are needed to any pieces, such as to accommodate a beam or other feature of stall  210  such as a wall stiffener or structural post, wall section  115 ,  215 , end cap  120 ,  220  and/or corner section  140 ,  240  may be cut with a hand saw to make a space for the relevant feature. The modified section may be secured with screw  130  within one inch on either side of the modification. 
     Screws  130  for attachment of flanges  230  and/or joint straps may be lag type, truss head screws, although the type of screw needed may depend on the construction of the stall  210 . Screw  130  may include a large head or washer to make the head as large as possible so as not to pull through tailboard system  100 ,  200 . Those of skill in the art may appreciate that other similar fasteners known to those of skill in the art may be similarly employed. 
     Illustrative embodiments may provide an improved tailboard system that may be safer for horse  700 , may prevent damage to the horse&#39;s tail and/or hair loss, lasts longer than conventional tailboards, reduces catch points, and/or may mitigate the horse chewing or defecating on the tailboard. Illustrative embodiments may be suitable for horses  700  wearing tail sets  705 , and may be long enough to prevent tail-rubbing while a horse is wearing tail set  705 , and also have enough strength to avoid breakage despite, in some embodiments, a foot-long length protrusion from wall  205  and pressure from the weight of horse  700 . Illustrative embodiments may be nestable and/or stackable for transport or storage. Illustrative embodiments may provide a tailboard that improves the ability of a horse&#39;s tail to remain intact—such as in a tail trainer like a tail set or bustle—while the horse is inside stall  205 . These benefits may be accomplished at least by the specific shape and mounting features described herein. 
     A tailboard system for horse stalls has been described. Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the invention may be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the general manner of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention shown and described herein are to be taken as the presently preferred embodiments. Elements and materials may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein, parts and processes may be reversed, and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the invention. Changes may be made in the elements described herein without departing from the scope and range of equivalents as described in the following claims. In addition, it is to be understood that features described herein independently may, in certain embodiments, be combined.