Improvements in Shoeing Hoofed Animals.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 13th May, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Shoeing Hoofed Animals.
I, OSWALD SCHARFENBERG, of Mülheim on the Rhine, in the Empire of
Germany, Veterinary Surgeon, a. D. 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 :-
Heretofore it has been always customary to protect the whole of the wearing
surface or border of the hoof with iron, whilst this invention has for its object to
provide as protection a bridge employed between the hoof walls which not only
protects the most sensitive parts of the hoof, which are in front of the coronet, but
also retains and facilitates the movement of the hoof owing to the other portion
thereof not being interfered with.
The bridge, which is to be considered the first characteristic part of this inven-
tion, is applied to the hoof in such a manner that its wearing surface will be at the
same level as that of the hoof. Such may be attained either by letting the bridge
into the horny walls of the hoof, i.e. recessing the same accordingly, or if deemed
necessary, for instance in very low hoofs the flat step of the horse on the whole of
the hoof may be attained by employing the bridge on the hoof and building up the
other portions with corresponding pieces, i.e. securing artificial horny substance
thereon.
This bridge has for its advantage to provide a most simple method of shoeing,
which may be performed by any one without any practical knowledge, there being
nothing more simple than to remove a portion of the hoof wall laterally, to receive
the bridge and fitting the bridge into the same, after which the latter is fastened
in position on the hoof in the ordinary manner by means of horse-shoe nails, screws.
or specially arranged flanges (clips), as hereinafter described.
Experience has taught, that if such a bridge is employed on the hoof and if the
other or natural part of the hoof is used jointly therewith as wearing surface, the
horse will not only retain its natural elasticity and movability of the hoof, i.e.
regain the same, but will also to a certain extent harden the horn of the hoof and
such even by heavy wear on paved roads and the like and thus prevent the slipping
to any great extent.
The bridge let in and the hoof wall compensate each other to a certain extent
owing to the horn protecting the bridge from to much wear, and vice versû the
bridge preventing a too rapid wear of the horn by occasional increased use
thereof.
On the hoof protection thus characterized, i.e. the bridge let into or secured to
the wearing surface of the hoof, a protection plate may if required be used for
instance for draught horses in winter time for use on slippery snow and the like,
the method of fastening this plate on the bridge let in, as well as the plate itself,
forming a second part of this invention, but it may be remarked that also other
methods of fastening this protection plate on the bridge may be employed.
::
The protection plate fixed to the bridge, owing to the flat underside of the hoof
rests of course on the whole surface thereof and ensures for the horse therefore a
firm step besides preventing the access of snow as the whole of the underside is
covered with metal and thus the snow is not permitted to accumulate under the
hoof. (To the metal surface the snow will not adhere.)
The method of fastening, spécially tested by the inventor, has for its advantage,
that the protection plate may be applied to and removed from the hoof in the most:
simple and easy manner.
The characteristic points of this fastening consists in providing the bridge with

page_text: two or more slots or openings, inclining in opposite directions, which engage two or
more projections formed on the plate also inclined in opposite directions.
And in order that my invention may be more fully understood I have caused to
be appended hereunto two sheet of drawings marked with letters of reference
indicating like parts in the various figures.
a is the bridge which may be of any suitable form as may be required and shown
in the drawing. For the front hoof when no protection plate is employed a bridge,
as shown in Fig. 1^, for instance the bridge a having slots s, s¹, s³, (Fig. 1B) if a
protection plate is to be fixed thereto. As will be seen the holes provided on both
sides for fastening are different in number, i.e. on the movable inner horny wall of
the hoof are only two holes provided, or one only may be used, whilst on the outer
horny wall a large number of fastenings may be employed the hoof moving only
very little at this place.
The form of the bridge for the back hoof is shown in Figs. 2 and 2º and may
be altered as required.
Figs. 3, 4 & 5 show the bridge let into the hoof from which will be seen
that the underside of the bridge is at a level with f¹ of the horny wall.
Figs. 6, 7 & 8 show also, as in Figs. 3, 4 & 5, the bridge let into the horny wall.
The form of fastening in each case is that of a dove tail because such is superior ;
the hoof surface of the bridge being thus wider than the bottom surface thereof.
Figs. 6, 7, 8 & 14, serve as fastenings for the bridge, the clips which are
furnished with depressable projections which after having placed the bridge in
position are hammered down and form counter hooks against the horny wall.
Figs. 12 & 13 show that these bridges may be applied to flat hoofs Fig. 12, as
well as to narrow hoofs Fig. 13. In flat hoofs the plate must be hollowed out from
the hoof surface.
Figs. 9, 10 & 11 thus show, like Eigs. 15 & 16, the protection plate against the
bridge, besides the characteristic. means of fastening the same, more clearly
indicated in Figs. 15 & 16. The bridge a, which is let into the horny wall, has
two slots t, t, which incline in opposite directions. The slot t engages the corre-
sponding positioned fixed nose n of the protection plate b, whilst the second slot t'
of the bridge is filled up when inserting the nose n', which when placed in position,
surrounds also the pin in the protection plate and is kept in its proper position by
the same. After insertion this pin is rivetted over a little whereby a very firm and
yet easy removable fastening is obtained. The removing takes place in a very
simple manner through forcing off the rivetted part.
In conclusion it may be mentioned that the bridge may not only be formed of
iron, steel, or brass but also of wood and other suitable material and that the same
may also have branches.
In respect of the protection plates it may be remarked, that the outer border p
of the same projecting on all sides may be easily roughened; catches, calks, or
other gripping devices may be also employed on the said border.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim, is-
1st. A hoof protection consisting of a bridge let into the horny walls in such a
manner, that the bottom surface of the bridge is at a level with the remainder of
the wearing surface or border of the hoof for the purpose of protecting the horny
part against damage and wear and at the same time retaining the natural movability
of the hoof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. In the hoof protection specified in Claim I, a modification consists in fixing
the bridge on the wearing surface or border of the hoof and artificially increasing
the remainder or exposed part of the latter in height for the purpose as specified in
Claim I.
3rd. The employment of a bridge as specified in Claims I & II in connection

page_text: with a protection plate covering the surface of the hoof, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
4th. The employment of the bridge specified in Claims I & II as holder for a
protection plate covering the surface of the hoof, by providing the bridge and
protection plate with slots and noses positioned in opposite directions as means for
fastening, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 90th day of March 1893.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicant.