Horse orthotic

Abstract

Embodiments of this invention include orthotic devices for treating hoof ailments, including laminitis and founder, and methods of treating the hoof ailments using an orthotic. In one embodiment, the hoof orthotic includes a platform having a heel end, a toe end, an inside and an outside edge, the heel end comprising a center section of the platform. The toe end includes a first tip and a second tip having a space therebetween such that the toe end is not enclosed. The platform includes an upper hoof contact surface and a lower surface, the upper surface being elevated at the heel end of the platform and sloping such that the heel end has a greater vertical height than the toe end. The orthotic also includes attachment means that extend vertically from the platform for attaching the orthotic to the animal hoof. The orthotic can be made from a resilient and/or elastomeric material that may also provide cushioning and fitting advantages.

1 . A hoof orthotic configured to be attached to a hoof for treating laminitis and founder in hoofed animals by removing the animal's weight from a toe of a hoof and supporting a frog of the hoof to decrease tension of a flexor tendon in the hoof and stimulating blood flow to the hoof, the hoof orthotic comprising:
 a monolithic structure comprising
 a platform comprising a resilient material, the platform including a heel end, a toe end, an inside edge and an outside edge, the heel end comprising a center section of the platform having a vertical height of between about ½ inch and 1½ inches, the toe end comprising two portions of the platform that extend forward from the center section of the platform comprising a first and second tip having a space therebetween such that the toe end is not enclosed and no portion of the monolithic orthotic extends under the toe end of the hoof when the orthotic is attached to the hoof, the platform at the first tip and second tip having a vertical height of between ⅛″ and ½″, the platform further comprising an upper hoof contact surface and a lower surface that are relatively disposed such that the lower surface is planar and the upper hoof contact surface is elevated at the heel end of the platform and sloping such that the heel end has a greater vertical height than the toe end; 
 a frog support comprising a protrusion extending from the center section of the platform towards the toe end of the hoof orthotic, the frog support integral in the monolithic orthotic and configured to contact and support the frog of the hoof when the orthotic is attached to a hoof; and 
 two attachment wings attached to the outside edge of the platform and extending away from the upper hoof contact surface, wherein the wings do not enclose the toe end or the heel end of the orthotic. 
   
     
     
         2 . The hoof orthotic of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment wings leave approximately twenty percent of the heel end unenclosed. 
     
     
         3 . The hoof orthotic of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment wings have a height greater than about two inches when measured from the lower surface of the platform to the top of the attachment wings. 
     
     
         4 . The hoof orthotic of  claim 3 , wherein the attachment wings have a height less than about three inches when measured from the lower surface of the platform to the top of the attachment wings. 
     
     
         5 . The hoof orthotic of  claim 1 , wherein the wings are generally angled towards a center axis of the orthotic. 
     
     
         6 . The hoof orthotic of  claim 1 , further comprising means for holding medications, salves, or other treatments against a hoof, the holding means integral in the monolithic orthotic. 
     
     
         7 . The hoof orthotic of  claim 6 , wherein the means for holding medications, salves, or other treatments against a hoof comprises a lip running along a top of the inside edge of the platform. 
     
     
         8 . The hoof orthotic of  claim 6 , wherein the means for holding medications, salves, or other treatments against a hoof comprises one or more depressions or cuts in the upper hoof contact surface of the platform. 
     
     
         9 . The hoof orthotic of  claim 1 , further comprising one of more magnets disposed in the upper hoof contact surface. 
     
     
         10 . The hoof orthotic of  claim 1 , wherein the two attachment wings each comprise a toe end and a heel end, and wherein the orthotic further comprises at least one strap connecting the toe ends of the two attachment wing members. 
     
     
         11 . The hoof orthotic of  claim 1 , wherein the two attachment wings comprise a first attachment wing member and a second attachment wings, the first and second attachment wings member disposed adjacent to the toe end first tip and the toe end second tip respectively and are disposed along a portion of the outside edge of the orthotic such that there is a gap between the first and second wing at the toe end and the heel end of the monolithic orthotic. 
     
     
         12 . The hoof orthotic of  claim 1 , wherein the monolithic orthotic comprises one of more magnets disposed in the upper hoof contact surface. 
     
     
         13 . A hoof orthotic configured to be attached to a hoof for treating laminitis and founder in hoofed animals by removing the animal's weight from a toe of a hoof and supporting a frog of the hoof to decrease tension of a flexor tendon in the hoof and stimulating blood flow to the hoof, the hoof orthotic comprising:
 a monolithic structure comprising a resilient material, the structure comprising
 a platform including a heel end, a toe end, an inside edge and an outside edge, the heel end comprising a center section of the platform having a vertical height of between about ½ inch and 1½ inches, the toe end comprising two portions of the platform that extend forward from the center section of the platform comprising a first and second tip having a space therebetween such that the toe end is not enclosed and no portion of the monolithic orthotic extends under the toe end of the hoof when the orthotic is attached to the hoof, the platform at the first tip and second tip having a vertical height of between ⅛″ and ½″, the platform further comprising an upper hoof contact surface and a lower surface that are relatively disposed such that the lower surface is planar and the upper hoof contact surface is elevated at the heel end of the platform and sloping such that the heel end has a greater vertical height than the toe end; 
 means for supporting the frog of a hoof; and 
 means for attaching the orthotic to a hoof. 
   
     
     
         14 . The hoof orthotic of  claim 13 , wherein the frog supporting means comprises a protrusion extending from the center section of the platform towards the toe end of the hoof orthotic, the frog support integral in the monolithic orthotic and configured to contact and support the frog of the hoof when the orthotic is attached to a hoof. 
     
     
         15 . The hoof orthotic of  claim 13 , wherein the attachment means comprises two attachment wings attached to the outside edge of the platform and extending away from the upper hoof contact surface, wherein the wings do not enclose the toe end or the heel end of the orthotic. 
     
     
         16 . The hoof orthotic of  claim 15 , wherein the attachment means have a height greater than about two inches when measured from the lower surface of the platform to the top of the attachment wings. 
     
     
         17 . The hoof orthotic of  claim 16 , wherein the attachment means have a height less than about three inches when measured from the lower surface of the platform to the top of the attachment wings. 
     
     
         18 . The hoof orthotic of  claim 13 , wherein the attachment means are generally angled towards a center axis of the orthotic. 
     
     
         19 . The hoof orthotic of  claim 13 , further comprising means for holding medications, salves, or other treatments against a hoof, the holding means integral in the monolithic orthotic. 
     
     
         20 . The hoof orthotic of  claim 19 , wherein the means for holding medications, salves, or other treatments against a hoof comprises one or more depressions or cuts in the upper hoof contact surface of the platform.