Cracked Hoof

[Countess Seafire]

Okay, I just got a mare yesterday from a good family friend that I'm free leasing. She's a 4 YO TB mare. Her hoof has a pretty good sized crack. She doesn't limp on it or anything, but before I even think of riding her or progressing on with her ground training I want to fix it.

I've become quite accustomed to trimming my own horses' hooves with the help of my dad and the advice of a guy in town that's been doing it for quite some time.

For Tonaya though, I was thinking of having a farrier work on it the first time at least to get it going on the right track. I have a picture of it, and I want to know if you guys think we should work on it or leave to an actual farrier to fix. If you think we should fix it, do you have any ideas on how to do it? We'd planned on just trimming off the part that's cracking off, rasping, and balancing out the whole hoof.

Before Trim -
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v325/countessseafire/tonaya/tony16.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v325/countessseafire/tonaya/tony17.jpg

After Trim -
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v325/countessseafire/tonaya/tony27.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v325/countessseafire/tonaya/tony28.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v325/countessseafire/tonaya/tony26.jpg
*Red dot is how far up the crack extends.

People at another forum are all urging me to call a farrier because she may have an infection. Do you guys think me properly trimming this, taking pictures and getting advice will be good enough, or should I really call a farrier? They're all concerned she may have an infection.
I know you can't make the decision for me, but put in my position what would you do?
I wouldn't hesitate to call a farrier if I didn't live where I live. I live in a small town of 300 people, with the closest large town 60 miles away. To call a farrier means to have to pay for their gas and whatever they decide to charge me. And the one that makes a routine trip out here just came a week or so ago, so it'll be awhile before he comes back. So if I can fix this myself I most definately want to. I don't have much extra money to call a farrier but it can be done if necessary.

So basically I want to know how seriously this is, or could be. Tomorrow I'm going to put a groove in the hoof above the crack so it hopefully won't crack any further. How deep should this groove be? I'm also going to take some off her heel so it'll hopefully take pressure off the crack. Not to mention rasping off the flares on the hoof. We may consider putting on a shoe with a bar in the back to add support until the hoof is grown out.

Do you think this is a good plan of action?

[John Barney]

You should definately have a professional out unless you have expirence with quarter cracks. It will need dremeled out and laced, stapled or what ever method the farrier uses to stablelize the crack. As well as possibly a bar shoe with clips and floating the heel. I can't tell the conformation by the picture, but the hoof seems stumpy, or high in the heel. I think paying a good farrier will save you in the long run.

JB

[Ronald Aalders]

I does not seem to be too bad, but you need a competent shoer here. Who may feel veterinarian assistance is needed. Get one, pay the price and have your horse worked on.

This problem will not fix itself!


Ronald Aalders

[Countess Seafire]

I thank you guys for your replies and concerns.

I most likely WILL call a professional out as soon as possible.

Note- I hadn't expected the problem to fix itself, I have a plan of action for trimming should I choose to follow through with it. Which did include taking some off the heels.

[J.H. shoeing]

Countess

If you can't get the Farrier out there, can you haul to the Farrier? It doesn't look to bad to me either, but it is easy to get into something that may be over your skill level. If the problem is not addressed correctly it could get worse.

Jeff

[Countess Seafire]

Unfortunately I don't have a horse trailer yet.

I will do my best on getting a farrier out.

[Rick Burten]

I agree with everyone else-- that crack needs professional attention.

One other thing. The red dot is not at the top of the crack. That crack extends all the way to the coronary band. Though the upper part may not be 'open' at this time, it is, none the less, involved.

Rick

[Phil Armitage]

I was going to say the Same thing, this crack extends past the dot. It appears that the corronary tissue in that area was injured and the new horn growth is also weak. You did a great job trimming and dressing the area, I believe this helps a lot to remove stress until you can get a Farrier out there to examine the foot and determine what else to do. I would hold off working her, until you stableize the foot. A crack like that could end up damageing soft tissue and then lead to an abcess or infection and become very sore. This would only sour your horse and set you back in your training and progress with her.

[Countess Seafire]

Hey everyone! Just figured I'd give an update on Tonaya's hooves.

Here's a photo diary:

I put her on BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds) and Hooflex to improve hoof growth. This is 40 days after the "After Trim" pictures:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v325/countessseafire/tonaya/tony71.jpg
First picture is 40 days later, the second picture is the "After Trim" from 40 days before.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v325/countessseafire/tonaya/hooves03.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v325/countessseafire/tonaya/hooves02.jpg
Now, after I had her hooves trimmed.

[Rick Burten]

I tried to view the photos but kept getting an "bandwidth exceeded" message, and no photos.

Rick

[Gary_Miller]

I tried to view the photos but kept getting an "bandwidth exceeded" message, and no photos.

Rick

Same problem as rick.

Gary

[Countess Seafire]

Yes, I'm sorry about that. You should be able to view them June 1st.