Importance

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Abstract

A new and useful amusement device for an animal such as a horse is provided, which is designed to (i) occupy and amuse an animal such as a horse which is confined to an enclosure, (ii) condition the animal against an event such as a foreign object appearing in the enclosure, and (iii) enable the animal to exercise by playing in various ways with the device. The amusement device is designed to be rugged and durable enough to withstand environmental conditions of an animal enclosure such as a paddock or corral, and flexible enough to retain is shape despite the physical abuse associated with being played with by a horse. According to the preferred embodiment, the amusement device comprises an article having a horse play value comprising a shape and size which encourages a horse to play with the article by (i) biting or chewing the article, (ii) gripping the article in its mouth and tossing the article and/or (iii) stepping on the article, and a flexibility and durability such that the article will retain its horse play value for a predetermined period of time in an outdoor environment such as a horse corral and being repeatedly bitten, chewed, tossed and/or stepped on by a horse over that predetermined period of time. Moreover, according to the preferred embodiment, the article has a configuration such as a simulated mane and/or simulated forelock configured to provide a convenient biting, chewing and/or gripping shape for a horse. Additionally, selected portions of the amusement device preferably have a textured outer surface which is configured to receive and retain paint, so that the selected portions can be painted a selected color. This provides the owner of the animal an opportunity to customize the article.

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First Claim