两千多年来，对于马而言，优质的马蹄铁是唯一值得信赖的鞋子。但是，一家奥地利公司准备“让马摆脱铁器时代”，推出世界首款马蹄专用跑鞋，取名为Megasus Horserunners。

　　Charly Forstner, the founder of Megasus, used to work as an animal welfare inspector for horses in Austria. He learned that over 50% of horses that needed to be put down suffered from severe hoof and leg problems. 20 years ago, he decided to dedicate his life to coming up with a better alternative to the iron horseshoe.

　　Megasus公司的创始人查理.福斯特纳曾经是奥地利的一名动物健康检查员，专门负责马的健康检查。他了解到，超过50%的马因患有严重的马蹄和腿部疾病而不得不被安乐死。20年前，他决定终身致力于为马设计一种更好的鞋，取代马蹄铁。

　　Over the last two decades, he invented various hoof protection products made of plastic, like the ‘Dynamix’ or the ‘Easywalker’, but he recently unveiled something truly revolutionary – clip-on running shoes for horses. Forstener claims that they combine the qualities of both the common horseshoe and the hoof boot to offer horses the protection and freedom of movement that they require.

　　过去20年间，他设计了各种塑料马蹄保护产品，比如Dynamix和Easywalker，但是，最近他推出一款真正具有革命性的产品——夹式马蹄专用跑鞋。福斯特纳表示，该跑鞋结合了普通马蹄铁和马蹄靴的特质，在需要时给马提供保护，让它们可以自由奔跑。

　　While the iron horseshoe is known for its durability and adjustability, it also has some serious flaws – it’s heavy, restricts movement, has no shock absorption, channels heat and cold to the inner hoof, and the need for nailing can destroy the hoof horn. The hoof boot, on the other hand, has long been the go-to solution for barefoot horse owners, with companies like Cavallo and Easy Boot offering a variety of equine footwear. But finding hoof boots that don’t rub on a horse’s leg and hoof, are easy to put on and remove, and stay on all kinds of terrain can be a real struggle. The Megasus Horserunners claim to incorporate all the qualities of both option, while eliminating the downsides.

　　众所周知，马蹄铁持久耐用，可调节性高，但是也存在严重的缺点——马蹄铁笨重，限制运动，没有减震功能，既不耐热也不耐冷，而且需要在马蹄上钉钉子，这会损坏蹄角质。而马蹄靴一直以来都是赤脚马主人的首选，Cavallo和Easy Boot等公司推出了各式各样的马靴。但是，要想找到一双马靴，容易穿戴和拆卸且不会磨伤马腿和马蹄，并且可以让马在各种地形上奔跑，这绝非易事。Megasus Horserunners不仅融合了马蹄铁和马蹄靴的特质，而且摒弃了二者的缺点。

　　“The innovative Megasus Horserunners offer many advantages over the traditional products such as they are lightweight (less than half a pound), can be adjusted individually, easy to put on, and offer protection without permanence,” a Megasus press release states.

　　一篇Megasus的新闻稿写道：“与传统的产品相比，这款创新型的Megasus Horserunners具有许多优势，比如轻巧（比传统马掌轻了半磅），可单个调节，容易穿戴，具有保护作用，而且不是永久性的。”

　　“It can also stay put in all kinds of terrain including mud and water plus it allows the hoof to be flexible. The product is also designed to protect the sole from bruising, cracking and other injuries by offering shock absorption. It does not accumulate snow, dirt or mud and is easy to clean.”

　　“这款马蹄专用跑鞋适用于所有地形，泥泞不堪的路和有水坑的路也适用。此外，它还可以保持马蹄的灵活性。Megasus Horserunners的减震功能可以防止蹄底擦伤、破裂和其他伤病。它也不会积雪、积灰或积泥，便于清洁。”

　　Instead of using dangerous iron nails, the Megasus Horserunners simply clip-on to the horse’s hooves, thanks to an improved velcro system. Two large strips of strong velcro tape (called Meg-Log Tape) stick on to each hoof, to which the Horserunners clip on with individually adjustable side clips.

　　Megasus Horserunners采用改良的尼龙搭扣系统，不需要使用具有危险性的铁钉，而是只需夹在马蹄上。两大排尼龙搭扣带可以粘到每只马蹄上，每只跑鞋侧面的夹扣都可以调节。

　　“The Mega-Lock tape remains approximately 3 weeks on the hoof and is protected with a protection foil during the time the hoof goes bare. The foil has a sealing lip similar to swimming goggles, so that the Mega-Lock tape is prevented from water and dirt intrusion,” Megasus claims.

　　Megasus公司称：“Mega-Lock 胶带可以在马蹄上维持三周左右，没有装马掌的时候，Mega-Lock 胶带上的保护箔可以起到保护作用。保护箔上有类似于泳镜密封圈的东西，可以防水、耐脏。”

　　The Austrian company ensures horse owners that the clip-on system is so strong that the Horserunners will stay on the hoof in any terrain.

　　这家奥地利公司向马主人保证，这些夹扣设计很牢固，马穿着跑鞋在各种地形上奔跑都不会掉。

　　“The time is ripe for healthy and comfortable hoof protection for horses,” Charly Forstner said. “In 1998, I already proved with a wedge test that the hoof moves on the vertical plane 1-2cm, almost 10 times more than horizontally, and without affecting the overlying joint. This means that the hoof works jointly and compensates for ground irregularities such as stones and ground waves. A rigid fixation of the hoof capsule by a horseshoe is, therefore, very close to plastering it. Horseshoes immobilize ligaments and tendons; hence, it makes the blood flow becomes weaker.” Apparently, the Megasus Horserunners change all that.

　　“推出健康舒适的马蹄护具的时机已经成熟，”查理.福斯特纳说，“1998年，我做了锤击韧性试验，已经证明马蹄护具可以在1到2厘米的垂直平面上运动，厚度几乎是水平面的10倍，而且不会影响到马蹄的关节。这说明，马蹄护具和马蹄之间可以相互协作，缓解石子和地面凹凸不平等给马蹄带来的冲击。而马蹄铁会将马蹄匣牢牢固定住，相当于粘在了上面，让马的韧带和肌腱无法活动，不利于血液流通。” 显然，Megasus Horserunners改变了这一切。

　　After successfully testing the prototype for their horse running shoes, Megasus sought to raise some money for production through crowdfunding. They launched a campaign on Kickstarter in October, asking for EURO100,00, and by the time the campaign ended, they managed to raise EURO169,136. The first Megasus Horserunners are scheduled to be shipped in July 2017.

　　在马蹄专用“跑鞋”的原模型测试成功后，Megasus公司便试图通过众筹募资来获得生产资金。十月，他们在Kickstarter众筹网站上进行了宣传，初衷是募集1万欧元，截止到宣传活动结束，他们成功募集到了16万9136欧元。首批Megasus Horserunners预计在2017年7月上市。