# US 5,706,898 A · Equine frog support system

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- Number: US 5,706,898 A
- Document ID: US5706898A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/440,537
- Filed: 1995-05-12
- Granted: 1998-01-13
- Earliest claimed: 1995-05-12
- Assignees: Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mech. College
- Inventors: Ralph Eugene Beadle
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5706898A

## CPC

- A01L 7/02: Elastic inserts or soles for horseshoes
- A01L: SHOEING OF ANIMALS

## Abstract

An equine frog support system, comprising a support base constructed of a material, preferably a thermoplastic material, molded to conform to the frog and collateral sulci of an equine foot, the material being sufficiently rigid and fully elastic during the use thereof to support the frog and the collateral sulci; and a wrapping or other device for holding the support base against the foot. Preferably, the support base is shaped to support only the frog and collateral sulci of the foot. Also, a method for treating equine laminitis is provided, comprising the steps of placing a softened hardenable material, preferably a thermoplastic material, over the frog and collateral sulci of an equine foot. While the material is in a softened state, the animal is caused to place weight on the affected foot, thereby compressing the material between the ground and the foot. The compressed material is allowed to conform to the frog and the collateral sulci until the material hardens, thereby forming a substantially rigid and fully elastic support base, after which the support base is secured to the foot. If necessary, the support base may be removed from the foot after the material hardens, and excess material may be removed from the support base so that primarily the frog and the collateral sulci are supported.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An equine frog support system, comprising:
(a) a support base constructed of a material molded to conform to the frog and collateral sulci of an equine foot, said material being sufficiently rigid during the use thereof to support the frog and the collateral sulci, and wherein said support base is shaped to support only the frog and collateral sulci of said foot; and
(b) means for holding said support base against said foot.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The equine frog support system of claim 1, wherein said material is a thermoplastic material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The equine frog support system of claim 2, wherein said material is fully elastic in its hardened state.

### Claim 4

A method for treating equine laminitis, comprising the steps of:
(a) placing a softened hardenable material over the frog and collateral sulci of an equine foot;
(b) while said material is in a softened state, causing the animal to place weight on said foot, thereby compressing said material between the ground and said frog;
(c) allowing said compressed material to conform to the frog and the collateral sulci until said material hardens, thereby forming a substantially rigid support base;
(d) after said material hardens, removing excess material from said support base so that said support base supports only the frog and the collateral sulci; and
(e) securing said support base to said foot.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein said hardenable material is a thermoplastic material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein said material is fully elastic in its hardened state.