Improvements in Boots for Horses.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boots for Horses.
.
I, TOM FROST, of High Street, Bawtry, in the County of York, Saddle and Harness
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention refers to boots such as are worn round or about the ankles of horses,
to protect the same or the fetlock or both from blows, which may occur during
running, racing, jumping and the like; and has for its object, to render the effect of
any such blow or knock much less, the weight less, and the durability much greater,
than is the case with such boots as at present constructed.
And in order that my invention and the manner in which the same is to be per-
formed may be more readily and clearly understood, I have annexed hereto the
accompanying drawings, to which and the letters and marks thereon reference is
made in the following description, Fig. 1 being a front view of a boot opened out,
and Figs. 2 and 3 respectively cross sections on lines A B and C D of Fig. 1.
A horse-boot for protecting the ankle constructed in accordance with my inven-
tion comprises, a base piece a of suitable woollen material, such as kersey, and
kersey-mere; of the shape or approximately of the shape shewn in Fig. 1, for the
front legs; and of a similar but somewhat deeper shape for the hind legs. To
the outside of this is stitched or otherwise secured a patch piece of the same or.
similar woollen material, and of an elongated pear shape; the patch piece being
fitted on in a slightly inclined position with respect to the vertical direction of
the base piece, as indicated by line xy Fig. 1; so that when placed on the leg of the
horse, it runs in line with and covers the main tendon at this part of the leg. The
patch piece b is fitted on in a dished manner, so as to form a hollow pocket, in which
flocks, blanket droppings or the like, indicated by the letter c in Fig. 2, are enclosed;
being previously laid on the base piece a, and then covered with the patch
piece.
Besides the protection which this boot affords against injury from blows, it has
the advantage, that there is no lining next to the hair or skin of the leg, so that the
material of the base piece a and pad v being both and all alike, there is no difference
of shrinkage of one part compared with another, which would cause it to wrinkle;
and no injurious rubbing or fricktion can thus arise.
In the second place my invention refers to an addition or improvement in ankle
boots, for the purpose of rendering the boot a protection against injury to the fet-
lock, especially from an upward blow. For this purpose, I form or leave on the said
base piece a, a suitable extra depth of material below the semicircular lower end of
the patch piece b, as indicated at d in Fig. 3; and I cut one or more Vee notches as
indicated at e. This extra depth of material is then bent and curved up or cupped,
as shewn us in Fig. 2. When thus cupped, it is covered on both sides and bound with
leather, or other suitable material g, stitched on to it; which strengthens and stiffens
it, and retains it in the cupped shape. The boot is so strapped on the horses leg,
that when the padded part properly covers the ankle and tendon, the cupped part is
just below, but not touching, the fetlock.

page_text: Lastly in order to prevent the padding material becoming wet, which is especially
disadvantageous in the case of race horses, as the boot is (when the padding is thus
wetted), of sensible weight, and which further causes the padding material to become
knotty and lumpy and liable to rot, I line the interior of the pad on both sides with
some waterproof material or fabric, see j Fig. 2 and 3.
h are straps for fastening the boots on the horses leg and i the corresponding
buckles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The construction of ankle boots for horses consisting of a base piece and a
patch piece both formed entirely of the same or similar woollen material without
inside lining to the base piece, and enclosing suitable padding material, all
substantially as and for the purpose or purposes set forth and as shewn.
2. The construction of boots for horses with a cupped lower part, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth and illustrated.
3. The construction of ankle and fetlock boot for horses consisting of the com-
.bination of the subject matter of Claims 1 and 2.
4. The construction of ankle boots for horses characterized by enclosing the
padding material between waterproof material or fabric stitched between the base
piece and the patch piece, or between the base piece and an internal lining, substan-
tially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 17th day of February 1898.
J. CLARK JEFFERSON,
30, Park Row, Leeds, Agent for Applicant.