A2o—Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, May 17,1980
j Electronic horseshoe
BY DICK ANGLESTEEN
KENNETT SQUARE -
An “electronic horseshoe” is
being developed as a space
age research tool at the New
Bolton Center to aid in the
study and treatment of
equine leg injuries.
The horseshoe will be used
in both the orthopedic
treatment of injuries and to
study the effect of drugs on
lameness, according to Dr.
Lawrence Soma, member of
the research team at the
University of Penn
sylvania’s Veterinary School
facility.
The electronic horseshoe
actually is comprised of two
shoes made of hardened
aluminum with an overall
thickness of about a quarter
inch. It is a little heavier
than a normal shoe.
The inner half of the shoe
attaches to the hoof and the
exterior portion can be
bolted to it. Between the two
halves are sandwiched four
sensors, donut-shaped
transducers smaller than a
dime which can be
monitored through a
telemetry system.
“Two of the sensors are
positioned in the front of the
shoe and two in the back
portion,” Dr. Soma ex
plained.
“With the shoe, we can
study a horse in free-ranging
_' , _ i. A BUTLER'S FIGHTING
Butler nuuiuled: Burdmgs % reduced prici
_.lu::2 : : • ■ : _
«S> ’4300
FARMSTED I
Galvanized Walls and
Galvanized Roof
with 20'x 13'D/SDoor
These Buildings Engineered for
Self-Erection
(Butier Will Furnish Erection
and Foundation Drawings)
* ALL BUILDINGS F. 0.8
ANNVILLE, PA.
* (Buildings not equipped as shown)
• Prices Based On Independent Survey of Agri-Builders,
* Price Could Vary With Each Agri-Builder
Limited Time Only
P.E. HESS, BUTLER MFG. CO.
Box 337, Oxford, PA 19363
Dealer Inquiries Available in Pennsylvania Counties - _ „ _., __ __ ... _ .
Armstrong Beaver Butler Cameron Clearfield Elk C&M SALES INC. KNOXVILLE B.T. CONTRACTOR LEROY E. MYERS, INC. W. R. MOODY,
Indiana Jefferson Lawrence Mercer McKean Maryland RD#l CONSTRUCTION PO Box 535 Route HI, Box 163 CONTRACTOR
Counties Baltimore Harford New Jersey Counties • Honesdaie, Pa 18431 Knoxville, Pa 16928 Biglerville, Pa 17303 Clear Spring, Md 21722 113 Walnut Lane
Sussex Somerset Morris Passaic Atlantic Cape May I PH 717-253-1612 PH 814-326-4188 PH 717 677-6121 PH 301-582-1552 West Newton, Pa 15089
1 PH 412-872-6804
Name I
Address
County
City
Mockup prototype of new electronic horseshoe is explained by Dr. Lawrence
Soma, of New Bolton Center equine research staff. In the background, or
thopedic shoeing activities are conducted in the Center’s farrier shop.
movement and record the
effects of an injury on such
movement as compared to
that of a healthy leg.
“It will permit us to ob
jectively characterize the
footfall of a horse in each of
the legs.”
Measurements can be
made not only of the amount
of pressure exerted by a
1000-pound animal on the
40' x 40' x 14'
BUTLER
AGRI BUILDER
State
shoe, but the distribution of
such pressure.
Some questions which the
studies hope to answer:
How long is the foot kept
down?
When does the animal
start to push off?
How long is there weight
on the heel as compared to
the flat part of the foot?
* VARIOUS SIZES
HEIGHT & WIDTH
AVAILABLE
|A. E. ENGEL, INC. SUNNY MEAD SALES ORVILLE MACK AL MAURER D. E. SMITH, I&JC.
| PO 80x216 RD#3, 80x409 P.O 80x47 POBox7B Mifflmtown,Pa IWS9
| Marlton, N J 08053 Altoona, PA 16601 Nazareth, Pa 18064 Cambra, Pa 18611 PH 717-436-2151
PH 609-983-4404 PH 814-944-6045 PH 215-759-1331 PH 717-864-3135
/
“Also, we’ll be looking at
★ BUTLER AND AGRI-BUIIDERS ARE FiGHTIN
to aid equine treatment
the effects of drugs on
lameness,” Dr. Soma said.
“If a horse is lame and
given a drug, specifically
how does it affect
movement?
“We can measure how
weight may be shifted when
an animal becomes fatigued.
“With the shoe, we’ll be
able to study a specific
(Turn to Page A2l)
FARMSTED® I
Face mask held by Or. Soma is used in studies to
measure such things as oxygen consumption rates
by a horse during exercise.
IDEAL
FOR
GRAIN
OR
MACHINERY
STORAGE
# 0
#
«eSS® 1 '
40' x
FAR,
Galvanize
Galvan
with 20' x
These Bi
(Butler
1 ) and^i
* ALL BUILDINGS F.O
ANNVILLE, PA.
• (Buildings not equipped as shov
• Prices Based On indeper
• Price Could Vary With Ea
Limited Tin
m
'i
Bndgei
' PJ