Quarter Crack in Arizona

[buzzratley]

my 7 year old 16.1H, Quarter Horse I just got 6 weeks ago has a significant quarter crack on the front inside right hoof. The Crack was small when we first got him. and when the VET Stress Tested him it began to bleed - A very little bit. So he cleaned it and stapled it. We got a farrier out and he trimed hooves that were Very Poorly maintained before I got the horse. THe horse was kept at a stables where there was a sand turnout. The horse spooked on somethign and pulled out one of the staples and aggravated the crack, and again when we brought him home two weeks ago he re agravated geting in the trailer. He has been on HoofRite / Biotin formula for about 5 weeks now and I really have not seen any improvement. I was told before that it was ok to ride him but have since decided not to ride till I see at least 1/2 inch growth from the coronet. Yet the crack seems to go up in to the corenet itself.
How here is my question - A trainer recommended that I use Reducine on the coronet to stimulate regrowth then a Coronet Ointment (corona) to assist in growth once the Reducine has done it's trick on the blistering. Has any one heard of this before and / or have any experience in this method. ??? By the way, the horse is not lame, and shows no signs of being so. Nor has he ever been lame in the past to our knowledge. THe Farrier has since put Set of Shoes # 2 on him with a White Plactic Pad . The special shoesare designed to bring up the Heels on the front feet. Additionally he has trimmed up on the hoof wall on the bottom so there is no stress on the area around where the crack is. I love my farrier and think he is doing all the right things, so along with the staples and the special pads and shoes AM I doing the right thing to try the Reducine?
Any body?

[Rick Burten]

The staples are a waste of time. If the crack does not appear to be healing then the foot is not balanced correctly. The Reducine is a counter irritant and while it may stimulate growth, if the cause of the crack has not been removed then nothing you do will help.

I'm not sure what the pad being used is going to do, but if the frog and commissures have not been supported and the entire wall under the crack relieved(floated), then , once again, you are not going to see progress.

I agree that not riding this horse until there is new , uncracked growth evident is a good idea. And, when he is turned out, I'd keep bell boots on him to protect that area from an inadvertent strike from the other foot.

If that crack is still bleeding then don't let any one talk you into using any acrylic over it unless the crack is first thoroughly debrided and a drain is set in the crack under any acrylic patch or variant there of.

Rick

[buzzratley]

Thanks Rick - I too think my farrier is Priceless like your quote- worth his weight in gold and then some.
Yes, he did raise the hoof at the bottom so it does not touch the "pad". The pad is a white lucite type plastic thing with what looks like a Frog in Plastic on the bottom of it. covers the entire hoof under the metal shoe.
You can tell from my replies that I am 1: a new horse owner and 2: definatly not a farrier. But I love my horse and want the best for him.
I am just anxious and want full recovery for my "Big Baby". I did take the boot off to do the Reucine treatment - but will definatly put it back as soon as I have completed that - Probally takes about less than a week from what I have heard and read.
Thanks Again.
Buzzratley (ratley as in desert rat in Arizona)

[Dave Purves]

Rick is right, I'd like to mention that your hoof suplement will not show any evidence of working for about 8 or 9 months. It takes the hoof wall approx. 1 year to grow from coronary to ground. So a good 6 months from ground to half way down. If the foot is 3 and 1/2 inches long trimmed, than 1/2 inch of growth will take about 3 months. Supplements are not a quick fix. and if they work you made a life long commitment to them, cause you just found out your pasture, hay or grain is defficeint in something that your supplement has.
Good luck
Dave Purves CF

[buzzratley]

I thought I would post some pics for your all - I am very pleased with the progress this is what we have done
1 -get a good farrier. most important of all I believe.
we trimed up under the crack carved it out some to relieve any stress on the area
he inserted a White Plastic Pad with a frog on it to put more pressure on the heals (I think that is what it is) and he carved out that some too to relieve the pressure more
2 - Suppliments and good diet. I have him on Hoofrite. Yes I used the brand name - and since September here are the pictures of what we have.
3 - Excercise, In the beginning I hand walked him for about 6 weeks. to keep the circulation going in the hoof. but lately I have been riding him - nothing on Hard Ground more than a walk and trotting in a sand arena and only recently cantering in the arena as well.
so here it is proof is in the Hoof.

[smitty88]

I thought I would post some pics for your all - I am very pleased with the progress this is what we have done
1 -get a good farrier. most important of all I believe.
we trimed up under the crack carved it out some to relieve any stress on the area
he inserted a White Plastic Pad with a frog on it to put more pressure on the heals (I think that is what it is) and he carved out that some too to relieve the pressure more
2 - Suppliments and good diet. I have him on Hoofrite. Yes I used the brand name - and since September here are the pictures of what we have.
3 - Excercise, In the beginning I hand walked him for about 6 weeks. to keep the circulation going in the hoof. but lately I have been riding him - nothing on Hard Ground more than a walk and trotting in a sand arena and only recently cantering in the arena as well.
so here it is proof is in the Hoof.


buzz
any chance of an update on your horses foot
a photo would be good