Posted by Rick Burten on April 25, 2001 at 23:48:48:
In Reply to: Re: NAVICULAR & QUARTER CRACKS posted by MEG OLIVER on April 25, 2001 at 10:10:20:
: : : : I AM TO SHOE A HORSE (NEW CUSTOMER) THIS WEEK WHO HAS BEEN RADIOGRAPHED AND DIAGNOSED BY THE VET AS HAVING NAVICULAR. THE HORSE ALSO HAS A BLEEDING QUARTER CRACK THAT TRAVELS VERTICALLY FROM THE CORONET HALFWAY DOWN THE HOOF BUT DOES NOT REACH THE GROUND. IS THERE A CORRELATION BETWEEN NAVICULAR AND QUARTER CRACKS? I PLAN TO USE TFT NAVICULAR SHOES AND QUARTER CRACK STAPLES TO STABILIZE THE CRACK. ANY SUGGESTIONS? MEG
: : : Meg, you might look at a suggestion I made April 24, on the Farriers Helping Horse Owners With Cracking and Chipping Hoof Problems Bulletin Board. The crack you describe beginning at the coronet, running down, and bleeding sounds like a classic quarter crack, that is caused by pressure, resulting in something having to give, that being the hoof wall at the coronet. If it is not infected, there is a very good chance it will become so. The treatment I detailed is not that hard to do, and done correctly, gives excellent results. Good luck, Jack Hammonds
: : Jack is correct in that there is pressure that must be relieved somehow. Typically, this undo pressure is a result of the toes being too long for too long. Make sure that breakover is set 1/4 inch in front of the tip of p-3 radiographically (being navicular, you did get radiographs right?). Once this is accomplished, the pressure should be greatly reduced and the crack should begin its descent. The crack will need some doctoring to prevent infection however. Sometimes, in these cases, additional sole support is also very beneficial in relieving strain upon the crack. Impression material works great for this. Since he's navicular anyway, I would go with EDSS as this will optimize breakover, give sole support, allow circulation to help prevent further degeneration, and will stand the horse at an optimal level to minimize pain and discomfort.
: : Todd
: THANKS TO JACK AND TODD FOR YOUR INPUT...THIS IS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO GET HELP LIKE THIS. YES,THEY DID GET X-RAYS, BUT I HAVE NOT YET SEEN THEM. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY IMPRESSION MATERIAL? MEG
Meg
If you have not worked on many quarter cracks, you might want to ask another farrier who has, to assist you on this case. This horse presents several issues, but the most important things for you to do will be to properly balance the hoof, provide relief (floating) to the hoof wall, properly support the hoof wall and capsule(I prefer a clipped bar shoe with correct breakover and heel support)and quite possibly/probably, posterior support either by using impression material, or something similar such as Equithane's Hoof -Pak. While there is an excellent description of the "floating patch" quarter crack repair, I think you should not attempt this at this time. If you get the foot balanced, supported and relieved, the crack should stablilize on its own and begin to heal. I would suggest to the owners that this horse not be worked until at least 3/8 inch of solid hoof wall has grown down from the coronary band. This will indicate that your trimming and shoeing protocol is correct, and at that time, you could attempt to further patch the crack. All the patches in the world will do no good if you do not first resolve the issues that caused the crack in the first place. Personally, I feel that the staples or any other method that only has a two point attachment across the crack are useless. The lacing protocol that Jack explains is the only one that I feel has any chance of success, and even then, only if the other issues have been addressed.
Rick
p.s.: Typing all in CAPS is considered shouting on the internet and should be saved for 911 situations. Rick