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An Anti-Slipping Shoe for the Horse
AN ANTI-SLIPPING SHOE
39
AN ANTI-SLIPPING SHOE FOR THE HORSE By
J.
McCUNN
Royal Veterinary College. MODERN roads are not built for horse traffic. The diminution in the number of working horses, especially trotting horses, in our towns is in no small measure due to the fear of the roads which has become so prevalent of late years. No sensible person would care to return to the mud and filth of the roads of the past. Given a good and sure foothold for the horse the modern road is an advantage. Less energy is required to move a load and therefore an animal can pull much heavier loads . This is a distinct commercial asset in favour of horse-drawn traffic. It would appear that in spite of experiments a non-slip road is still a long way off. It behoves us, therefore, to investigate the question of non-slipping shoes. Many and various are the inventions which have this end in view. It has recently been my privilege to collaborate with Mr. Hitchin, the foreman of the Royal Veterinary College, in an attempt to produce a non-slip shoe. The device which I describe is entirely Mr. Hitchin's invention; my own part has been small, namely trial and investigation.
It is a well-known fact that slipping can be almost avoided if two surfaces made of different materials are brought into contact with the ground at the same time. The rubber heel of a boot into which there is inset a centre of leather is probably the best example of this. The Hitchin anti-slip device takes advantage of this principle. The shoe is prepared with a shoulder at the heel. pads are now riveted to this shouldered portion.
Specially shaped rubber
The ground surface of the shoe is then completed, the toe and fore-parts of the branch being of iron and the heel portion rubber (illustration). Ordinary horse shoe nails are used as the rivets. The lateral movement of the pad is checked or controlled by an internal flange. I have been able to give these shoes a considerable trial and this trial has given me the greatest satisfaction.
It has been found that: 1.
The rubber will wear longer than the iron.
2.
The life of the shoes, even in severe wearers, is considerably lengthened. In one stud of 8 horses, the cost of shoeing has been reduced by one-half since the introduction of this method of shoeing.
40
THE VETERINARY JOURNAL 3.
There is a great diminution in concussion effects.
4.
Slipping is eliminated.
5.
The physiological action of and the hygiene of the hoof is not interfered with.
I have been able to give these shoes extensive trial on a number of riding and commercial horses. In the case of the riding horses, the shoes are safe to use on grass . The only difficulty that I have encountered is that of the farrier. I have found that some of them are very diffident about using anything new or anything which necessitates extra labour, such as shouldering the shoe. Under gentle persuasion, however, several of these men have become great supporters of the pads. I publish this note in the hope that others may put these pads to the trial. It is very gratifying to me to see such an excellent device is the product of the fertile brain of one of the members of the lay staff at the R.V.C.
39
AN ANTI-SLIPPING SHOE FOR THE HORSE By
J.
McCUNN
Royal Veterinary College. MODERN roads are not built for horse traffic. The diminution in the number of working horses, especially trotting horses, in our towns is in no small measure due to the fear of the roads which has become so prevalent of late years. No sensible person would care to return to the mud and filth of the roads of the past. Given a good and sure foothold for the horse the modern road is an advantage. Less energy is required to move a load and therefore an animal can pull much heavier loads . This is a distinct commercial asset in favour of horse-drawn traffic. It would appear that in spite of experiments a non-slip road is still a long way off. It behoves us, therefore, to investigate the question of non-slipping shoes. Many and various are the inventions which have this end in view. It has recently been my privilege to collaborate with Mr. Hitchin, the foreman of the Royal Veterinary College, in an attempt to produce a non-slip shoe. The device which I describe is entirely Mr. Hitchin's invention; my own part has been small, namely trial and investigation.
It is a well-known fact that slipping can be almost avoided if two surfaces made of different materials are brought into contact with the ground at the same time. The rubber heel of a boot into which there is inset a centre of leather is probably the best example of this. The Hitchin anti-slip device takes advantage of this principle. The shoe is prepared with a shoulder at the heel. pads are now riveted to this shouldered portion.
Specially shaped rubber
The ground surface of the shoe is then completed, the toe and fore-parts of the branch being of iron and the heel portion rubber (illustration). Ordinary horse shoe nails are used as the rivets. The lateral movement of the pad is checked or controlled by an internal flange. I have been able to give these shoes a considerable trial and this trial has given me the greatest satisfaction.
It has been found that: 1.
The rubber will wear longer than the iron.
2.
The life of the shoes, even in severe wearers, is considerably lengthened. In one stud of 8 horses, the cost of shoeing has been reduced by one-half since the introduction of this method of shoeing.
40
THE VETERINARY JOURNAL 3.
There is a great diminution in concussion effects.
4.
Slipping is eliminated.
5.
The physiological action of and the hygiene of the hoof is not interfered with.
I have been able to give these shoes extensive trial on a number of riding and commercial horses. In the case of the riding horses, the shoes are safe to use on grass . The only difficulty that I have encountered is that of the farrier. I have found that some of them are very diffident about using anything new or anything which necessitates extra labour, such as shouldering the shoe. Under gentle persuasion, however, several of these men have become great supporters of the pads. I publish this note in the hope that others may put these pads to the trial. It is very gratifying to me to see such an excellent device is the product of the fertile brain of one of the members of the lay staff at the R.V.C.