Australian scientists have reportedly unveiled for the first time new horse shoes that will cut down the weight of a racehorse's normal footwear by half, in a bid to break horse-racing records around the world.
Experts have reportedly predicted that the thoroughbreds can race down the track like super-charged rockets if the new shoes, made of 3D printing titanium, are widely adopted as they should weigh 50 per cent less than standard-cast aluminium horse shoes, which weigh about one kilogram each.
According to News.com.au, the process involved experts from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) scanning each of the hooves of a racehorse used for experimenting and then 3D printing its shoes to its exact specifications.
The report mentioned that shoes, which cost about 600 dollars, take just a few hours to print, which offers another key advantage over standard cast aluminium versions.
However, Australian blacksmiths are worried that cost of manufacturing titanium may be one of the main barriers to limit the market, the report added.