Posted by Ray Miller on July 04, 2003 at 22:27:18:
In Reply to: Vertical Cracks from Toe almost to Coronary - both front hooves posted by Sandy on July 03, 2003 at 22:36:57:
: Hello:
: My now 16.3h 5yr-old Hano gelding has big (#3), well-balanced, very hard white hooves. He has been shoeless most of his life and naturally wears his hooves very evenly all the way around.
: At age 4 he was sent away for his 60 days of initial undersaddle work and returned with vertical hairline cracks in both front hooves from toe to about 3/4" below hairline. Not sure what they were caused from - change in nutrition or increased work or the footing. He has no other cracks and hardly ever a chip even though we have fairly rocky ground. I put front shoes on him for the better part of last year in an attempt to have the cracks grow out, but no change. With no improvement, I've pulled the shoes again last fall. Now with all this wet weather, it seems like they are a bit wider than before.
: Any suggestions for getting rid of these cracks - they seemed to be purely cosmetic before, but I'd like to get rid of them if possible. I saw an article somewhere where a method was suggested to make a small circular "brand" at the top of the crack to help it from spreading - not sure about that though.
: My farrier is quite experienced, but I havn't pressed him on resolving this. Will speak to him for suggestions on his next visit.
: Thanks!!
It is a true crack? Is there seperation in the horn? IF so how deep and how wide?
In some case if it is just a line up the center of the hoof, In my 45 years around horses. I have seen a few thousand that have a line up the hoof wall, very seldom dose anything become of it. They tend to show up more in the light color hooves, because you see the dirt.
Just my thinking.
Ray Miller