Importance

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Abstract

An equine hoof appliance for horses, comprising a substantially flat pad having the general shape of the footprint of a horse's hoof and defining a curved toe portion and a substantially flat rear edge portion. The pad attaches to the ground-contacting surface of a horse's hoof and, on its opposite surface, mounts a horseshoe disposed around a ground contacting forwardly sloping and distally extending caudal projection on the pad. The caudal projection emulates and exaggerates the hoof frog and in so doing accomplishes two important objectives. The projection encourages heel first foot placement for maintenance of healthy phalanges alignment. Simultaneously the projection stimulates proprioceptive functions in the hoof to improve the horse's balance.

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First Claim