I'm all Cracked Up!
Written by Pat Hall
Warm weather is finally here and we all evaluate how our horse looks after the winter. Times they are a changing. Hair is slicked and our horse seems a little less broke. Strange, I rode just 7 months ago. We look at the horse's feet and notice they seem to be cracked. Hopefully my head being cracked is not the reason I am looking down.
Hoof cracks happen for a variety of reasons. The direction and location of the crack can tell you what is going on. Horizontal cracks can happen with inflammation at the coronet band. This could happen if the horse bumped the coronet band stepping over a log or jump. The horse might have had an abcess release at the coronet band. Inflammation can interrupt the growth pattern and create an imperfection in the hoof wall. The good news is that in a year it the crack will grow out and seldom cause any lameness.
Vertical cracks are more varied in cause and severity. Superficial cracks can be called "sand cracks" are easily removed with a rasp. They are more visible in light colored hooves but, don't cause lameness. Quarter and toe cracks refer to the location on the hoof wall. The depth of the crack will determine the severity. Some will go through the outer hoof or "horn" and my bleed. In most cases the coronet band will be pushed up over the top of the quarter crack. You may see the crack separate when the horse loads the hoof. These are more severe. Some treatments used involve floating the area with or without shoes, coronary band grooving or securing steel plates to stabilize the crack. Ask your farrier which technique best fits your situation.
Nutrition, maintenance, conformation, injury and weather conditions all affect quality of hooves. Healthy feet with regular maintenance are less likely to crack. Conformation can affect the load on the hoof and increase risk of cracks. An injury though the coronet band will leave a permanent scar that will need constant attention. Lastly, wet and dry weather patterns will expand and contract feet leaving them cracked and brittle.
What do we do? Topical dressings can help the problem. Be careful to use a product that is non-petroleum based. Petroleum may make the foot too soft leaving you and your farrier less than happy. Good nutrition, movement, frequent maintenance and consistent moisture content will be the keys to strong and durable hooves with a limited number of cracks. Feel free to give us a call if you have any questions.
Bee good and bee happy.
Pat Hall, CJF
