Orthotics and prosthetics for shodding a horse and methods of fabrication and measurement therefor

Abstract

A method for shodding a horse with a variety of orthotic and prosthetic shoes is provided, which includes the use of a laser mounted on a vertically variable staging platform to measure the differences in length of a horse's legs. The laser-based measurements are then combined with observed hoof pitch dimensions in order to determine the height and angle of appropriate build-ups for a horseshoe, of which a mold is than made. A conventional horseshoe is placed in a shoe mold, and a polyurethane or other durable but initially pliable material is selectively poured so as to build up portions of the shoe. The build ups correct both the differences in leg length and variations and inconsistencies in the shape of the horse's hooves, thereby creating an appropriate orthotic or prosthetic shoe suitable for shodding.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.