Improvements in Hoof-pads.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1899-Accepted, 1st July, 1899
Improvements in Hoof-pads.
I, HEINRICH PETER LUDWIG ERICHSEN, of 64, Häfen, Bremen, in the Empire
of Germany, Master Smith, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
When a horse is moving quickly the three lower joints of the hoofs together
with the ligaments as well as the hoofs themselves, if shod with shoes of the kind
hitherto used, and covering the whole edge of the hoof, are very disagreeably
affected especially when the shoes are furnished with calkins. When a horse shod
in the existing fashion goes for example on the right along a curved paved road,
he first steps out with the outer edge of the left and the inner edge of the right
hoof. Hereby the three lower joints are constantly pressed against one another
on the left side in consequence of which cartilaginous formations result as well
as bruises and the ligaments are wrung. Moreover, when the inner half of the
hoof steps or strikes in advance of the other the weight of the body falls entirely
on this half, the inner parts enclosed by the horn cap are torn or twisted, the
hoof-bone on the raised half, under, and that on the lowered one up; thereby the
connecting covering is torn and bruised, the hide covering of the hoof is pressed
up against the inner ligament of the said cap; whilst, below, the connecting cover-
ing between the side of the hoof and the inner part of the hoof is distorted or
twisted. If the side of the hoof be not stout enough to withstand the pressure
on the one side it bursts, the connecting covering is torn, blood flows, the accumu-
lated blood is carried into the small vessel in the hoof sole and causes spots to
appear which are known as wind-galls. On rough paved roads especially the
fleshy parts become bruised, as well as a spraining of the ligatures, which is the
reason why horses tread cautiously on such roads.
In the case of horses which are not shod the side part that comes too quickly
in contact with the ground goes up and the other half down so that the uneven-
ness of the road is balanced; the joints remain in position and thus there is no
possibility of the bone and the hoof parts mentioned being torn and bruised.
The object of this invention is a covering for the hoof possessing the same
property as the natural hoof.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing
Figure 1, illustrating the bottom of a hoof provided with such a covering,
Figure 2, being a longitudinal section, and
Figure 3, a cross section of the hoof.
The hoof-pad (2) which may be made of leather, india rubber or some similar
elastic material, is furnished with holes (s) and (f) through which pieces of tow (2)
and (k) are drawn. These pieces of tow are pulled out on both sides of the pad
and so form on one side a soft sole on the treading surface and on the opposite
side a protecting cushion for the sole of the hoof. As seen in Figure 1, the front
edge of the hoof is shod, the pad forms with the tow or oakum an elastic bearing
and consequently prevents the inconveniences connected with the ordinary horse

page_text: shoe and referred to in the introduction. The pad is fixed by being squeezed or
jammed between the hoof and the horseshoe.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1
An elastic hoof-pad, furnished on the upper as well as on the treading surface
with a covering of loose tow or oakum, in such a manner that pieces of tow are
drawn through holes in the pad and untwisted at both ends for the purpose of
preventing the pressure of the pad on the sole of the hoof and to render the tread
of the hoof elastic, the pad being fixed by being squeezed or jammed between the
hoof and the horseshoe which covers only the front edge of the hoof.
Dated the 31st day of May 1899.
W. D. ROWLINGSON,
7, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.