METHOD FOR MAKING A HORSESHOE

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of defining the parameters of a custom horseshoe for its manufacture, and to a method of manufacturing a custom horseshoe, this shoe being intended to match the shape of a hoof of a specific horse for which it was made.

[0002] It also relates to a computer program for implementing the steps of this method when this program is executed on a computer, the latter being able to be part of a mobile workstation. Technological background

[0003] In order to preserve the qualities of a horse's foot, it is known to protect it by placing a horseshoe on the corresponding hoof.

[0004] While in the past, shaping a horseshoe was the exclusive domain of the farrier, ordinary horseshoes are now manufactured in factories.

[0005] Although the shoes thus obtained have a substantially uniform and flat shape, they allow, when shoeing a horse, a significant saving of time for the farrier.

[0006] In order to make horseshoes lighter while ensuring adequate hold, factory-made horseshoes are, for sporting use, typically made of aluminum, rather than steel.

[0007] However, since such shoes are difficult to shape, the farrier must choose a shoe whose shape and dimensions are as close as possible to the shoeing adapted to the hoof to be shod.

[0008] The use of such an iron can therefore cause some discomfort to the horse, particularly when one of the horse's feet is fragile, for example navicular pathology.

[0009] To ensure greater comfort for the horse, particularly by taking into account the morphology of each foot but also any associated pathologies, custom-made shoe manufacturing processes have recently been proposed. See for example DE 102014001508 A1 and WO 92 / 03770 A1.

[0010] These processes aim to produce orthopedic fittings not for retrospective use, but for preventive purposes.

[0011] For example, there are known fittings with joined branches, i.e. closed at the rear, to increase the load-bearing surface, reduce the penetration of the iron into the ground and thus prevent tearing.

[0012] Furthermore, numerous developments have also been made to combine performance, comfort and protection of the shod foot in a single product.

[0013] We thus know methods for manufacturing composite irons, which comprise a metal frame assembled with one or more parts made from a damping material.

[0014] The structure of these irons not only ensures significant lightening of the shoeing but also allows shock absorption.

[0015] However, making such custom irons is usually a long and tedious process for the operator.

[0016] In fact, the latter is typically required to manually collect a set of parameters for each fitting to be manufactured, then to program a machine to machine a metal part to the required dimensions to obtain a corresponding fitting blank and to work the part thus obtained to add the necessary finishing elements (clips, notches, etc.).

[0017] Such custom-made irons are therefore time-consuming to produce and consequently expensive. Subject of the invention

[0018] The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art and to meet the constraints stated above by proposing a method for defining the parameters of a custom horseshoe for its manufacture, and a method for manufacturing a custom horseshoe, simple in its design and in its operating mode, allowing an operator to define very quickly, easily and reliably, the parameters of a custom horseshoe for its manufacture.

[0019] Another object of the present invention is such a method making it possible to guide the operator during each of the stages of defining the custom horseshoe.

[0020] Another object of the present invention is such a method providing the operator with several sources of complementary information on a specific horse to be shod, by the restitution of each of them through a specific display space on the screen of a terminal so that the determination by the operator of the final parameters of the custom horseshoe is as precise and easy as possible.

[0021] The present invention also relates to a computer program making it possible to implement the steps of this method when it is executed on a computer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] To this end, the invention relates to a method for defining the parameters of a custom-made horseshoe for its manufacture, said shoe being intended to match the shape of a hoof of a specific horse for which it was made.

[0023] A method for defining the parameters of a custom horseshoe for its manufacture according to the invention is defined in claim 1. A method for manufacturing a custom horseshoe according to the invention is defined in claim 11. A computer program according to the invention is defined in claim 13. A recording medium according to the invention is defined in claim 14. A workstation according to the invention is defined in claim 15. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

[0024] According to the invention defined in claim 1, having obtained a digital image of at least part of a hoof to be shod, the following steps are carried out: a) superimposing an image of a horseshoe and said digital image to insert the image of said horseshoe into said digital image, b) adapting the dimensions and / or shape of said horseshoe in said image to said hoof to be shod, and c) adjusting the dimensions and / or shape of said horseshoe in said image taking into account at least physical parameters of the horse and / or the activity envisaged for this horse and the possible existence of at least one pathology such as an area of ​​inflammation and / or at least one area of ​​reduced blood circulation, of the foot of the horse whose hoof is intended to receive said shoe.

[0025] Advantageously, in step a), the image of this horseshoe is selected from a data library.

[0026] The digital image of at least part of the hoof to be shod is advantageously a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image of at least part of the underside of the foot whose hoof is to be shod.

[0027] Preferably, in step a), the superposition of the two images is carried out so that the image displayed on the screen of a terminal shows the single horseshoe superimposed on the underside of the foot of the hoof to be shod. For example, this superposition is obtained by a blending superposition process.

[0028] For example, physical parameters of the horse can be its breed and age.

[0029] Preferably, the horseshoe comprises a metal part. This horseshoe can then be made of this metal part alone or be a composite iron. In the latter case, it comprises, in addition to this metal part, one or more non-metallic resilient parts.

[0030] Alternatively, the custom horseshoe is a non-metallic iron, for example a plastic shoe.

[0031] When the horseshoe has a metal part and one or more non-metal parts, this metal part can be embedded in a plastic material or, on the contrary, be visible or even partially visible in the final horseshoe. In the latter case, not only this or these non-metal parts can be colored, but also the metal part in order to give a particular aesthetic appearance to the horseshoe.

[0032] This horseshoe when it is non-metallic or said part, or at least one of the parts, made of non-metallic material of the horseshoe when the latter comprises a sandwich structure of which at least one part is metallic, can be uniformly loaded with particles lightening it.

[0033] For purely illustrative purposes, these may be cork particles. They may also be fibers to improve the mechanical performance of iron and / or wear-resistant particles such as metal particles or ceramic particles.

[0034] Conventionally, the assembly of the non-metallic part(s) and the metal part to form the composite fitting is, for example, obtained by gluing.

[0035] This non-metallic part is, for example, made from a plastic material such as polyurethane.

[0036] The custom horseshoe may also be a composite iron with a metal matrix containing ceramic particles. For purely illustrative purposes, it may be an aluminum matrix horseshoe in which ceramic particles are dispersed. As another example, the external surface of this iron intended to come into contact with the ground may contain a concentration of ceramic particles to reduce wear of the iron. Advantageously, the latter have an average size of less than approximately 20 µm.

[0037] In different particular embodiments of this method, each having its particular advantages and capable of numerous possible technical combinations: This digital image is obtained in the visible or infrared range or by radiation of electromagnetic waves or particles.

[0038] For purely illustrative purposes, this digital image can be obtained by means of an image sensor such as a charge-coupled device (CCD), a CMOS sensor or a charge injection device (CID), an infrared, X-ray, ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device or even positron emission tomography.

[0039] This image can also be presented in the form of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional point cloud.

[0040] In a first embodiment, a digital image of at least a portion of said hoof to be shod is visualized and acquired, a portion of the underside of the foot whose hoof is to be shod being at least partly visible. Alternatively, a trace is made of at least a portion of the underside of the foot whose hoof is to be shod and a digital image of this trace thus made is acquired, for example by means of an image sensor.

[0041] Alternatively, and prior to step a), this digital image is obtained by superimposing at least two distinct digital images so as to assist the user in defining the horseshoe. The digital image thus obtained presents a combination of information that may prove useful to the user in determining the parameters of the custom horseshoe.

[0042] For example, it may involve a superposition by blending two digital images of the same part of the horse's foot to be shod, the first of these digital images being obtained in the visible range and the other being obtained in the infrared range. It is thus possible to superimpose a snapshot obtained by an image sensor and a thermal image obtained by an infrared detector. at least one second digital image is displayed separately from said digital image of at least one part of a hoof to be shoed, said second digital image being an image of another anatomical part of said horse to assist the user in defining said horseshoe.

[0043] The software, such as image processing software, making it possible to implement the steps of this method being installed on a workstation comprising a display screen, it is possible to display said images thus superimposed in step a) in a main window, or display space, and this second digital image in a secondary window.

[0044] For purely illustrative purposes, this second digital image may be an image of at least one part of the leg corresponding to the foot to be shod, which may provide, for example, additional information on the positioning of an area of ​​inflammation and / or at least one area of ​​reduced blood circulation, in particular in a third dimension, such as along a z axis parallel or substantially parallel to the horse's leg.

[0045] Preferably, at least one of these digital images is a part of a frozen video frame. In this video produced for example in the visible or infrared range, the horse may be stationary or moving. Advantageously, it may also be possible for the operator to change this digital image by moving the video forward or backward.

[0046] Viewing a video of a horse in motion can provide important additional information when creating a custom shoe. prior to or after step c), a transmission of at least the image resulting from the superposition of said images in step a), the latter having been possibly modified in step b) and / or in step c), is carried out by means of an internet network or a communications network.

[0047] The transmission of this image or these images to a remote operator allows the latter to access the information useful for the definition of the custom horseshoe. This remote operator can then remotely send its recommendations regarding the parameters of the custom shoe to be made for this specific foot or even approve or modify the parameters determined by the user directly processing the displayed images by means of suitable software. This transmission can implement a cellular access network comprising a set of cellular access points to which a terminal used to transmit this or these images connects. The cellular access network can be of several types (2G, 3G, 4G), each type of network being accessible according to several cellular access technologies (2G: EDGE, GPRS, 3G: UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA, HSPA+, 4G: LTE).Alternatively, it may be an internet network, for example a network comprising non-cellular wireless access points such as a WLAN network, for example Wi-Fi or WiMAX, or a Li-Fi network. For purely illustrative purposes, simultaneously with the transmission of the image resulting from the superposition of the images in step a), the latter having possibly been modified in step b), a digital image of another anatomical part of the horse may be transmitted. an additional step is carried out, this step consisting of determining a reference line of said horseshoe from which the position of at least one finishing element of said horseshoe will be determined.

[0048] Preferably, this reference line is chosen from the outer and inner edges of the selected horseshoe.

[0049] Advantageously, having determined the outer circumference of the wall of the hoof to be shod, the dimensions and / or shape of said horseshoe are adjusted, in step b), so that the outer edge of said selected horseshoe coincides or substantially coincides with said circumference.

[0050] This adjustment is advantageously carried out automatically by image processing software, said outer perimeter of the hoof wall being determined for example by contrast on the digitized image.

[0051] Advantageously, and in order to facilitate the user's work, at least said reference line is segmented by control points, each of these control points being displayed to allow a local modification of the shape of said corresponding line. These control points, which have a regular or irregular pitch, allow a precise adjustment of the shape of this horseshoe.

[0052] Preferably, this segmentation of the reference line is carried out during a segmentation step, which includes the prior determination of the number of control points and possibly the pitch between each control point thus displayed. having determined a reference line of said horseshoe, a theoretical center of the hoof to be shod is determined and one or more finishing elements are added to said selected horseshoe, the position of each finishing element being calculated in relation to said reference line and said center thus determined.

[0053] This pre-positioning of one or more finishing elements can advantageously be carried out automatically by image processing software from previously recorded data. For example, from a set of recorded data relating to the same horse, the average number, the predominant type of finishing elements added and their positioning in previously made shoes are determined. Alternatively, the said proposed parameters can be displayed with a request for validation or modification by the user. The user then only has to validate these proposed finishing elements or, on the contrary, modify their type, adjust their position, adapt their size before final validation of the horseshoe parameters.

[0054] For purely illustrative purposes, each finishing element is chosen from the group comprising a clip, an adjustment, a stamping, a notch, a counterbore, a rolling, a mortise, a damping plate whose shape of its perimeter and dimensions are identical or substantially identical to those of the horseshoe defined following step c).

[0055] For purely illustrative purposes, this damping plate can be made from a polymer material such as an elastomer, cork or leather. the positioning, dimensions and / or shape of at least one of said finishing elements thus added is adjusted.

[0056] Advantageously, said horseshoe comprising several units of the same finishing element, each of them is modified simultaneously with the modification of one of them by the user. the following additional steps are carried out: transmission of the final data of the horseshoe thus selected to a CAD / CAM system, generation in the CAD / CAM system of a three-dimensional horseshoe corresponding to the selected horseshoe;said horseshoe thus generated being adapted and adjusted in three dimensions in the CAD / CAM system according to the determined size and / or shape, said horseshoe possibly comprising at least one finishing element, said horseshoe thus generated defining a set of parameters of said horseshoe in three dimensions in the CAD / CAM system, and machining a horseshoe from a block of material according to the set of parameters of the horseshoe in three dimensions thus generated in the CAD / CAM system for said selected iron or three-dimensional printing of said iron from the set of parameters of the horseshoe in three dimensions thus generated in the CAD / CAM system for said selected iron. ;

[0057] Advantageously, a “G-Code” tool path is generated before the machining step.

[0058] Three-dimensional printing can advantageously be carried out on site, directly after determining the final parameters of the custom-made fitting (step c) using an on-board or mobile 3D printer, or subsequently, on a production site for said custom-made horseshoes. in step a), the image of said horseshoe being chosen from a data library, said data library also comprises a set of data comprising at least one identifier of said horse, an identifier of said hoof to be shod and final parameters of one or more horseshoes previously made for said hoof to be shod. After identification of said horse and said hoof to be shod, a subset of parameters determining the shape and / or the number of at least certain finishing elements for said horseshoe is generated, said parameters being determined from the corresponding parameters chosen for custom-made shoes previously made, said horseshoe being made of or comprising a metal part, said metal part is produced by a three-dimensional creation process of the laser fusion type.

[0059] Alternatively, this metal part can be obtained by cutting a metal plate, which may have been previously machined before cutting to define the holes, the associated stampings and / or the bevel of the adjustment, for example.

[0060] More generally, the horseshoe comprises one or more layers, at least one of these layers is obtained by a three-dimensional printing manufacturing process.

[0061] The resulting layer can be metallic (aluminum, iron, titanium, etc.) or polymer. For example, it can be obtained from an agglomerable metal powder, also called "sinterable powder". the external surface of said metal part is previously marked with one or more identifiers to allow its identification.

[0062] Generally speaking, and especially when batch processing metal parts, it is necessary to be able to identify the metal part that has been custom-made for a specific horse's foot. The identifier(s) that are made on the metal part must be able to remain visible after the shoe has been treated, particularly after its color has been finished.

[0063] Preferably, this marking is carried out by removing material from the external surface of said metal part. Advantageously, this removal of material is obtained by laser treatment.

[0064] Alternatively, the marking could be carried out by depositing material on the external surface of said metal part. Preferably, such deposition of material would then be carried out after polishing the metal part.

[0065] For purely illustrative purposes, this marking may include a repeated portion for each of the metal parts produced for a specific horse and a portion allowing one of these metal parts to be associated with the foot of this horse for which it is intended.

[0066] The present invention also relates to a computer program comprising instructions adapted to the implementation of each of the steps of the method as described previously, when said program is executed on a computer.

[0067] This computer can be a fixed or mobile workstation, or a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone, for example a smartphone, or a portable touchscreen tablet.

[0068] The present invention also relates to a recording medium on which the computer program as described above is stored.

[0069] The present invention also relates to a workstation comprising a graphical user interface, a processor and a computer storage unit containing a data library comprising digitized records belonging to a horse to be shod as well as data on different horseshoes, for example type, shape, ...; and their finishing elements such as a clip, a stamp, a notch, a counterbore, a rolling, a mortise, ...

[0070] According to the invention, said digitized recordings comprise one or more images of a hoof to be shod and said workstation comprises a set of software instructions constituting graphical / user interface tools by means of which said user can generate a custom horseshoe for said hoof to be shod, said software instructions belonging to said computer program as described above.

[0071] Preferably, this workstation comprises a chassis equipped with mobility means such as wheels or casters and possibly an autonomous power supply source to supply power to the various electrical devices or appliances of said station.

[0072] Advantageously, this workstation comprises one or more elements chosen from the group comprising an image sensor, an infrared detector, an X-ray imaging device, an ultrasound device, a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data stored on said storage unit, a wireless communication device (bluetooth, NFC, Zigbee, RFID, GSM, 2G, 3G, 4G, internet communication systems including Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, Li-Fi, ...) for transmitting and receiving data as well as one or more USB interfaces. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0073] Other advantages, aims and particular characteristics of the present invention will emerge from the description which follows, given, for explanatory and in no way limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: there Figure 1 schematically represents a preliminary step of transmitting a digital image of the underside of the foot of a horse to be shod, acquired by means of an image sensor, to a workstation to define the final parameters of a custom-made shoe for the hoof of a specific horse to be shod according to a particular embodiment of the present invention; the Figure 2 is a schematic view of the on-screen display of the workstation of the Figure 1 , in which an image of an iron is transparently superimposed on the image acquired by means of said image sensor; Figure 3is a schematic view showing the calculation carried out by a computer program enabling the steps of the manufacturing process of a custom-made iron to be carried out, for the positioning of a clip on the external edge line of the iron; Figure 4 shows a custom horseshoe obtained by the method of the present invention; the Figure 5 shows a step of a method of manufacturing a horseshoe according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which step a horseshoe blank is selected; the Figure 6 shows another step in the process of making a horseshoe illustrated in the Fig. 5 , in which an image of the foot to be shod is visualized to determine a possible correction to be made to said horseshoe; the Figure 7 shows another step in the process of making a horseshoe illustrated in the Fig. 5 , in which clips are added to said custom horseshoe being made; the Figure 8 shows another step in the process of making a horseshoe illustrated in the Fig. 5 , in which the presence or absence of finishing elements (mortises, etc.) is determined; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0074] First of all, note that the figures are not to scale.

[0075] THE Figures 1 and 2 schematically represent an operational assembly for implementing a method of manufacturing a custom horseshoe according to a particular embodiment of the present invention.

[0076] This operational set includes an image sensor 10, a mobile workstation 11 and a 3D printer (not shown).

[0077] The 10 image sensor allows the acquisition of a digital image of the hoof to be shod, this image showing the underside of the horse's foot, prior to determining the parameters of the custom shoe.

[0078] This image sensor 10 comprises a two-dimensional matrix of pixels for transforming the optical information acquired by this sensor into electrical signals, which are then received by and stored on a storage unit (not shown) of said workstation 11.

[0079] For example, this data can be transferred from the image sensor 10 to the workstation 11 via a wired connection, via data transmission means using short-range wireless communication signals (Bluetooth, NFC, etc.) or via an internet network such as a Wi-Fi network to which the image sensor 10 is connected. In the latter case, this image sensor 10 can also be controlled remotely, directly from the terminal equipping the workstation 11.

[0080] The digital image of the underside of the foot to be shod thus acquired is then displayed in a display space on a screen 12 of this terminal. This terminal also includes a keyboard 13 which may be a touch screen keyboard.

[0081] The operator superimposes on this first digital image 14, and by means of suitable software, an image of a draft 15 of a horseshoe whose dimensions and / or shape are to be adapted so that it matches the shape of the hoof for which this custom-made shoe is made while taking into account certain criteria such as physical parameters of the horse and / or the activity envisaged for this horse and the possible existence of pathology such as at least one area of ​​inflammation and / or at least one area of ​​reduced blood circulation in the foot of the horse whose hoof is intended to receive the custom-made shoe being made.

[0082] As shown in the Figure 2, this blank 15 of iron is presented here in the form of a solid band having a substantially U shape. Of course, and depending on the specific horse for which this shoeing is made, this blank 15 could be more complex and have an already predefined shape.

[0083] Similarly, the horseshoe blank 15 is introduced into the image of the underside of the foot so that the latter remains largely visible in the background to facilitate the operator's work. In other words, the superposition of the two images is carried out with a transparency effect. Of course, the operator could decide that the horseshoe blank 15 appears in a non-transparent manner, that is to say by partially masking the digital image of the underside of the foot, nevertheless resulting in a loss of certain information.

[0084] Then the operator here adjusts the dimensions of the horseshoe blank 15 in this image to the hoof to be shod so that the curved line of the outer edge 16 fits the outer wall of the hoof. Such an adjustment being carried out automatically by the processing software, the operator retains the possibility of modifying this adjustment according to his needs and expectations.

[0085] The operator then adapts the dimensions and adjusts the shape of the horseshoe blank 15 in the image, taking into account in particular the physical parameters of the horse, the activity envisaged for this horse, once shod, and the possible existence of at least one area of ​​inflammation and / or at least one area of ​​reduced blood circulation in the foot of the horse whose hoof is intended to receive said shoe.

[0086] All of these modifications made to the 15-piece shoe draft for the creation of a custom-made shoe ensure greater comfort for the horse, in particular by taking into account the morphology of the foot whose hoof is to be shod but also any associated pathologies.

[0087] When the shape and dimensions of the custom iron are validated, the operator can add one or more finishing elements 17 chosen from the group given for purely illustrative and non-limiting purposes, including clip, stamp, notch, counterbore, rolling, mortise, etc.

[0088] These operations are therefore carried out here by modifying a representation, or image, of a rough sketch of a horseshoe that the operator views on the screen superimposed on a digital image of the underside of the foot to be shod. This results in great simplicity and speed of work for the operator in order to determine the final parameters of a custom-made shoe for shoeing a horse's hoof.

[0089] Once the various parameters of the custom horseshoe have been defined, the corresponding data is conveniently recorded for machining the horseshoe or for its three-dimensional printing.

[0090] As shown in the Fig. 3, the addition of finishing elements, here a clip 17, during the development of the custom-made shoe may require special processing by the software in order to allow such an addition. Thus, this processing software advantageously avoids a possible reworking of the custom-made shoe by the farrier to introduce one or more finishing elements 17 which could not have been added during the definition of the custom-made shoe. The manufacturing time and the associated cost of the custom-made horseshoe are significantly reduced.

[0091] Each clip 17 is placed on the iron being edited by the operator by positioning a point P on the outer edge 16 of this iron. Visual continuity between the outer edge 16 of the iron which is curved and the base of the clip 17 which is a straight line, is advantageously ensured by the processing software.

[0092] For this, several processing steps are carried out by the computer program implemented to carry out the steps of the process of manufacturing a custom iron when it is executed on a computer.

[0093] First, let n1 and n2 be the straight lines with direction vectors normal to the curve at P and translated along the tangent t to the curve at P by a distance d, previously determined.

[0094] Let P1 and P2 be the respective points of intersection between line n1 and tangent t on the one hand and line n2 and tangent t on the other hand.

[0095] Let P1' and P2' be the points of intersection, closest to P1 and P2, between the outer edge of the horseshoe and the lines n1 and n2. Finally, let P3 be the point P translated by a distance d2 previously determined along its normal.

[0096] The final display of pin 17 is a cubic Bézier curve having: * For starting point: point P1, if the distance between points P1 and P1' is greater than a predefined threshold value, here 5 mm, or if P1' does not exist, point P'1 otherwise. * point P3 as first and second control point, * For arrival point: point P2 if the distance between points P2 and P2' is greater than a predefined threshold value, here 5 mm, or if point P2' does not exist, point P2' otherwise.

[0097] If points P1' and / or P2' exist and are not used then lines P1P1' and / or P2P2' are drawn.

Claims

1. A method for defining the parameters of a custom horseshoe for its manufacture, characterised in that having obtained a digital image (14) of at least part of a hoof to be shoed, the following steps are carried out: a) superimposing an image of a horseshoe (15) and said digital image (14) to insert the image of said horseshoe into said digital image (14), b) adapting the dimensions and / or shape of said horseshoe in said image to said hoof to be shoed, and c) adjusting the dimensions and / or shape of said horseshoe in said image taking into account at least physical parameters of the horse and / or the activity considered for this horse and the possible existence of at least one pathology such as an area of inflammation and / or at least one area of reduced blood circulation, of the foot of the horse whose hoof is intended to receive said shoe.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that said digital image (14) is obtained in the visible or infrared range or by radiation of electromagnetic waves or particles.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that prior to step a), said digital image (14) is obtained by superimposing at least two digital images so as to assist the user in defining said horseshoe.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that at least one second digital image (14) is displayed separately from said digital image (14) of at least one part of a hoof to be shoed, said second digital image (14) being an image of another anatomical part of said horse to assist the user in defining said horseshoe.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterised in that at least one of said digital images is a part of a frozen video frame.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that prior to step c), a transmission of at least the image resulting from the superposition of said images in step a), is carried out by means of an internet network or a communications network.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that an additional step is carried out, said step consisting in determining a reference line of said horseshoe from which the position of at least one finishing element (17) of said horseshoe will be determined.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterised in that said reference line is chosen from the external and internal rims (16) of said selected horseshoe.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that having determined the external perimeter of the wall of the hoof to be shoed, the dimensions and / or the shape of said horseshoe are adjusted, in step b), so that the external rim (16) of said selected horseshoe coincides or substantially coincides with said perimeter.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that having determined a reference line of said horseshoe, a theoretical centre of the hoof to be shoed is determined and one or more finishing elements (17) are added to said selected horseshoe, the position of each finishing element (17) being calculated relative to said reference line and said centre thus determined.

11. A method for manufacturing a custom horseshoe, said method comprising the method according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the following additional steps are carried out: - transmitting the final data of the horseshoe thus selected to a CAD / CAM system, - generating in the CAD / CAM system a three-dimensional horseshoe corresponding to the selected horseshoe; said horseshoe thus generated being adapted and adjusted in three dimensions in the CAD / CAM system according to the determined size and / or shape, said horseshoe possibly including at least one finishing element (17), said horseshoe thus generated defining a set of parameters of said horseshoe in three dimensions in the CAD / CAM system, - machining a horseshoe from a block of material based on the set of parameters of the three-dimensional horseshoe thus generated in the CAD / CAM system for said selected horse or three-dimensional printing of said horse from the set of parameters of the three-dimensional horseshoe thus generated in the CAD / CAM system for said selected horse.

12. The method according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that in step a), the image of said horseshoe being chosen from a data library, said data library also includes a set of data comprising at least one identifier of said horse, one identifier of said hoof to be shoed and final parameters of one or more horseshoes previously made for said hoof to be shoed and in that after identification of said horse and said hoof to be shoed, a subset of parameters determining the shape and / or the number of at least certain finishing elements for said horseshoe is generated, said parameters being determined from the corresponding parameters chosen for custom shoes previously made.

13. A computer program comprising instructions adapted to the implementation of each of the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 and 7 to 12, when said program is executed on a computer.

14. A recording medium on which the computer program according to claim 13 is stored.

15. A workstation comprising a graphical user interface, a processor and a computer storage unit containing a data library comprising digitised records belonging to a horse to be shoed as well as data on different horseshoes and their finishing elements, characterised in that said digitised records comprise one or more images (14) of a hoof to be shoed and said workstation (11) comprises a set of software instructions constituting graphical / user interface tools by means of which said user can generate a custom horseshoe for said hoof to be shoed, said software instructions belonging to said computer program according to claim 13.