Abstract:
A foal weaning gear for wear by a nursing mare to deny access by a foal includes a protective pad disposed over the mammary glands and resiliently held in position by a plurality of adjustable straps providing continuous triaxial resilient biasing of the protective pad throughout normal physical activities of the mare without requiring ongoing adjustment during the weaning period.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to devices for weaning nursing animals, and, in particular, a weaning device worn by a mare for weaning a foal from physical and emotional dependency. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Young animals during initial stages of development require ready access to the mammary glands of the parent and acquire a physical and emotional dependency thereon. After such initial growth, however, it is desirable to wean the young animal from such dependency. The procedure is difficult and often traumatic occasionally resulting in physical as well as emotional damage to the foal. While certain gear has been proposed for physically denying access, the approaches have generally been unsatisfactory for foals and mares inasmuch as the bonds regarding nursing are strong, and the daily physical activities, running and frolicking, readily dislodge proposed restraining gear. Accordingly, physical separation of the foal from the mare until weaning is effected is still the most commonly used technique. Such separation results in extreme anguish for both the mare and foal. 
     Numerous types of weaning gear have been proposed for other nursing animals, particularly cattle. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 486,766 to Chase discloses a protective udder bag for cows for preventing undesired access by a calf. Various leather belts are coupled to the bag for retention. The leather materials are prone to loosening due to realignment in normal environments requiring continuing adjustment. 
     A similar approach is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,114,632 to N wherein leather straps support the front and rear of the covering bag. The disposition of the retaining harness would not be effective for maintaining position during rolling and other activities uniquely favored by horses. Further like devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,523,820 to Cox, 1,633,4068 to Jenkins, 1,848,586 to Thompson, and 455,618 to Helm. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,251,886 to Hawkins discloses a foal weaner wherein a harness worn by a mare includes a plurality of leather straps for maintaining position of the protective pad. The straps tend to reposition in use and must be frequently retightened to prevent dislodging. 
     Accordingly a need continues to exist for weaning gear, particularly adapted to the needs of mares and foals, that is readily positioned on the mare for effectively limiting access by the foals, and maintains position without the need for adjustment during normal activities of the mare until weaning of the foal is effected. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing needs are accomplished in accordance with the present invention by a foal weaning gear that is readily attached in position on the mare and resiliently withstands environmental and physical conditions of use without dislodging. The foal weaning gear includes an absorbent protective pad that conforms to the mammary anatomy of the mare and is resiliently triaxially biased into comfortable and secure position by an encircling adjustable girth belt wrapped forwardly of the rear legs and a pair of elastic tethering straps diverging rearwardly from the top of the girth belt over the back of the mare and attached to the rear corners of the protective pad providing rearward and upward biasing. A loose fitting padded collar is disposed over the neck of the mare. An elastic back strap extends along the back of the mare and interconnects the collar with the top of the girth belt providing a continuous forward biasing on the girth belt and tethering straps to maintain position of the protective pad notwithstanding normal movement activities of the mare. The back strap also flexes to accommodate normal neck movement for the mare without undue restraint. Elastic flank straps, extending along the rear legs between the girth belt and the tethering straps, provide lateral biasing for maintaining pad position during normal frolicking and rolling activities. The weaning gear thus provides affirmative positioning of the protective pad without adjustment over extended periods thereby denying access to the foal and effectively weaning the foal quickly and without physical or emotional trauma. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a weaning gear for a mare that may be used for denying access to a foal without supplemental adjustment. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a foal weaning gear that may be readily secured to a nursing mare and does not interfere with normal physical activities. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a readily secured comfortable wearing gear for a nursing mare that remains in position throughout the weaning period and withstands environmental conditions without adjustment. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a mare provided with foal weaning gear in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an opposed side elevational view of the foal weaning gear; 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of the foal weaning gear in the assembled condition removed from the mare; 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of the foal weaning gear in a partially unassembled condition; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged top view of the girth belt illustrating the connections with the tethering straps and back strap; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view showing the attachment of the flank strap to the tethering strap; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged side view showing the adjustment strap for the girth belt; and 
     FIG. 9 is an enlarged top view showing the attachment between the collar and the back strap. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings for the purpose of describing the preferred embodiment and not for limiting same, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a mare  10  provided with a foal weaning gear  12  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. As hereinafter described in detail, the weaning gear  12  covers the mammary glands of the mare for assisting in weaning a nursing foal. 
     The weaning gear  12  comprises a lower protective pad  20  secured to the back of the mare  10  by girth belt  22 , a pair of tether straps  24  and flank straps  26 . The girth belt  22  is resiliently connected to a collar  28  by an elastic back strap  30 . 
     The protective pad  20  is formed of a woven absorbent material and has a front end stitched to the lower portion of the girth belt  22  and the corners of the rear end stitched to the rear ends of the tether straps  24 . The protective pad has curved sides, such that the protective pad  20  in use overlies and conforms to the mammary anatomy of the mare  10 . 
     The girth belt  22  is an elongated member of sufficient length to encircle the mare forwardly of the rear legs. The girth belt  22  is formed of a natural or synthetic padded material such as a fleece, comfortable when worn and resistant to environmental damage. The overall length of the girth belt  22  is slightly longer than the contact area on the mare to accommodate varying sized mares. As shown in FIG. 5, the ends of the girth belt  22  are provided with engagable hook and eye fastening strips  40  for facilitating preliminary alignment on the mare. As also shown in FIG. 8, an adjustment strap  42  is attached at a lower end  44  to the lower section of the girth belt  22  and carries a snap hook  46  at the upper end  48  that is releasably connected to an apertured connecting member  50  attached to the girth belt  22  on the opposite side of the fastening strips  40 . Accordingly, the effective length of the adjustment strap  42  may be adjusted to provide a comfortable, secure mounting of the girth belt  22  on the mare. 
     Referring additionally to FIGS. 3 and 4, the tether straps  24  are a sliding buckle adjustable construction of material. The tether straps  24  have lower ends respectively connected to the rear outer comers of the pad  20  and carry snap hook fasteners  60  at the opposite ends. The fasteners  60  are connected to a fastener loop  62  attached to the top center of the girth belt  22  for securing the pad  20  in position (FIG.  6 ). 
     The flank straps  26  have an adjustable sliding buckle and are of elastic construction and are attached at forward ends to the sides of the girth belt and include garter-type fasteners  64  at the rearward ends that are connected with a button  70  attached to the midsection of the tether straps  24  (FIG.  7 ). The flank straps  26  may be adjusted to resiliently tension the tether straps  24  to maintain a continuous biasing on the pad, notwithstanding normal activities of the mare. 
     The collar  28  is an elongated padded member adapted to loosely encircle the neck of the mare adjacent the forelegs. The collar  28  may be formed in a continuous loop or have the ends thereof interconnected by releasable fasteners, such as hook and loop fasteners. The collar  28  carries a button  80  on the top surface engaged by a garter-type fastener  82  on the back strap  30  (FIG.  9 ). 
     The back strap  30  is also a sliding buckle adjustable and elastic construction having a looped rear end threaded through a loop fastener  84  connected at the top center of the girth belt  22  and having a garter-type fastener  82  at the front end connected with the retaining button  80  on the collar  28 . The back strap  30  provides continuous forward biasing of the girth belt  22  to maintain positioning of the protective pad  20  while accommodating full neck movement during movement and feeding. 
     The above described weaning gear  12  is mounted by initially disconnecting the various straps, opening the girth belt  22  and approximately positioning the latter on the back of the mare. The hook and loop fastening strips  40  are secured to loosely position the girth belt  22 . The tether straps  24  and the pad are pulled rearwardly between the rear legs and the free ends hooked with fasteners  60  to the attachment loop  62  on the girth belt  22  for positioning the protective pad  20  in conformity with the mammary gland. The buckles on the tether straps  24  are adjusted as required to provide an affirmative comfortable fit. The collar  28  is then disposed over the neck and the back strap  30  connected between the collar  28  and the girth belt  22 . The length of the back strap  30  is likewise adjusted for affirmative and comfortable biasing. After achieving the initial fitting, the flank straps  26  are attached and adjusted to provide secure lateral positioning of the pad during normal activities. 
     The weaning gear  12  is preferably worn continuously until effective weaning of the foal has been achieved. In actual use, the weaning gear has been demonstrated to provide rapid weaning with minimal physical and emotional anguish to the foal enabling the foal to remain in desired proximity with the mare throughout the weaning period. After weaning is completed, the weaning gear is removed and conventionally washed prior to subsequent use. 
     Having thus described a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will now be appreciated that the objects of the invention have been fully achieved, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The disclosures and description herein are intended to be illustrative and are not in any sense limiting of the invention, which is defined solely in accordance with the following claims.