Weather Cracks

[JoelBlum]

If a horse has multiple minor weather cracks on all four feet what would be the best way to treat it? I no the that the previous owner was a fella who lived in the hills and did all of his own trim jobs. I think this might be one reason for the problem. It was suggested to me that a rasp should be run across the top of the cracks to keep them from growing any longer but I've also been told that just weekens the hoofwall and may not stop the crack. Another method that was suggested was to burn a small hole at the top of the crack to stop it. My question is since the cracks are so minor would it be better off to just make sure the horse is properly trimmed on a regurlar regiment? Will that help the cracks go away?

Thanks
Joel

[Brian Purrington]

"Cracks" can vary from superficial to very deep and can be caused by a great number of things. There are as many or more treatments than there are types of cracks. If you have pics it would help us help you.

[caballus]

Ditto the request for photos. :)

--Gwen

[Red Amor]

There horses hooves not windscreans ;) never seen the cross scarfing or point burning work yet

diet , hoof suplinemts proper maintainence and hoof preps will help

[Thomas_Ride&Drive]

What are "weather cracks" ???

[Brian Purrington]

This sounds to me like brittle outer wall with cracks on the surface only, caused by a number of things, usually too much moisture and lack of proper hoof care. When the feet finally do dry out the outer portion of the wall starts looking like it's going to peel off. Usually there is viable wall underneath and dressing the wall will help astheticly but a good sealer is needed afterward.

I worked on a mare like this in south PA and had her feet "looking good" in one or two trims. Maybe we'll see some pics posted and then we'll see. I don't know if there is anything called "weather cracks" but this would be a good description because the wall looks sorta like old wood checked and cracked from exposure to weather.

[JoelBlum]

Thank you everybody for your help. Unforntunatly my digital camera has been missing for last couple of months and its looking like I might have to buy a new one. I'll try and see if maybe the owner or somebody else has a camera though and we can get some pictures posted. I know a couple of you were'nt sure if there was a such thing as a weather crack. There might not be but before I posted this I had seen some cracks described that way in a book and it seemed like the best way to describe what was going on in my current situation. Again thank you all very much for your help.

Joel

[goeslikestink]

if a horses feet are allowed to grow without regular trimmings from a farrier
then cracks will appear iam guessing your weather cracks as like mentioned above havent the foggist idea but can assume you me overgrown foot growth from not trimming as in letting thehorse go months in between each trim cycle
then the horn of foot can go flattish and extend to small cracks and chips around the hoof if its alllowed to contininue the small cracks then turn into splinters and the can devide the horn with a gap and small split going upwards into the hoof wall -- this inturn can widen and in turn can be sore fr the horse as the longer it goes up or the longer one allows the feet to be like that then the poor horse is the one that suffers -- in the end
it can create problems that then need vetinary care as well as farrier care
to me -- as by what you saying i think you wishing to rasp the cracks off yourself -- dont --- call a farrier out and get the horse addressed in the proprer manner saves you pennies in the long run
by having regualar trims every 6-8weeks by a farrier --- and your horse will be happy to and comfy

[Thomas_Ride&Drive]

I know a couple of you were'nt sure if there was a such thing as a weather crack. There might not be but before I posted this I had seen some cracks described that way in a book and it seemed like the best way to describe what was going on in my current situation.

Joel And what did this book say they were?? How were they supposed to be caused etc??

[Auventera]

I think weather cracks is another term for sand cracks. In other words, small, superficial cracks caused by too much moisture, not enough moisture, etc.

[Thomas_Ride&Drive]

Its news to me that Sand cracks are as you describe.

Here if a crack develops from the lower bearing surface of the wall and extends upwards, its known as a 'grasscrack' and if it develops at the coronary band and extends downwards its known as a 'sandcrack'. Isn't it the same there? I thought it was???

All cracks are created when hooves are not trimmed regularly, when they are naturally poorly formed eg after laminitis, when the coronary band is injured or when they have thin hoof walls or very dry brittle horn.

And sand cracks in particular as a result of injury to the coronary band so that the secretory function of the horn producing cells is impaired either temporarily or permanently.

'Brittle feet' is what we would use to describe multiple splits around the bottom of the hoof wall, particularly in the summer months and which might predispose the unshod horse to infection and the shod horse to losing shoes. Its believed that this might be because of damage to the periople which permits moisture to enter and leave the wall. And the other reason is if the feet has been allowed to grow too long and do such as overgrow shoes then it might well crack.

I'm still waiting for the OP to explain what 'weather cracks' are supposed to be.

[Brian Purrington]

You will probably keep waiting.... The OP vanished after being quizzed and asked for pics.... I actually wanted to see what we were talking about :D (although I've probably seen it already somewhere else) :eek:

[Gary Pfeiffer]

Thomas;
I think that is why the "Queen Mother" just came over to this side of the pond, to straighten this whole mess out about sand cracks.
She sure did make a big impression on us all over here.

We here in Wisconsin always referred to sand cracks, aka superficial cracks as minor cracks, only involving the surface layer of wall, not penetrating more than 1/3 thru the thickness of the wall. Caused by a nutritional imbalance, or constant wet, dry, wet, dry conditions. Some horses systems can handle the daily pasture in the swampy, muddy ground and the rest of the day in an area where the hoof dries out considerably, some cannot handle that and these cracks appear.
Whoever posted about it looking like an old piece of weathered board, used the right description. More a cosmetic thing to the Farrier.
Your sand crack may be what we call gravel, where an abscess breaks out at the coronary band horizontally. or maybe we are all just full of hagis.


Gary

[Thomas_Ride&Drive]

Thomas;
I think that is why the "Queen Mother" just came over to this side of the pond, to straighten this whole mess out about sand cracks. She'd have a heck of a job. She's been dead for nearly 5 years! :rolleyes:
It was the Queen that came - not her mum! ;) . And an extremely knowledgeable horse woman so I'm sure she'll have managed to straighten the mess

Your sand crack may be what we call gravel, nope and you'll never guess what we call gravel :o We call it ............. (drum roll) GRAVEL ;)

or maybe we are all just full of hagis. You might be right. We're just about to start the haggis hunting season here

[Gary Pfeiffer]

Thomas;
Thanks for clearing up my misunderstanding I was under the impression that she was now concidered the "Queen Mother" after her mother passed.
I guess we over on this side of the pond don't follow the line of royalty too well.

I had a fellow come and apprentice back in the early 90s, from Scottland and he told me about haggis. It didn't sound that appealing, but I would try it if someone offered. Cooked heart is ok but I wouldn't think that lungs would be appealing.

Gary

[Thomas_Ride&Drive]

Thomas;
Thanks for clearing up my misunderstanding I was under the impression that she was now concidered the "Queen Mother" after her mother passed. I'll try to type slowly ;) The Queen is the Sovereign ruler of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. The Queen Mother is well .... the Queen's mother. So if the Queen's mother dies, then that means the Queen Mother is dead. In the same way when my mother died I did not become the "Trainer's Mother" ;)

I guess we over on this side of the pond don't follow the line of royalty too well. Not so certain we all "follow" it. But we tend to know what it is.

I had a fellow come and apprentice back in the early 90s, from Scottland and he told me about haggis. It didn't sound that appealing, but I would try it if someone offered. Haggis is an extremely tastey dish indeed. It combines meats, spices and oatmeal to create a very rich, unusual, but none the less delicious feast. Its such a fine dish that it even has its own poem. On Burns night its served with ceremony at Suppers which follow very traditional formats - The night starts with the kilted host carrying the haggis aloft on a silver platter . He's led in by a piper and the host with great solemnity then recites the Haggis' very own poem:

Ode to a Haggis - Robert Burns
Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great Chieftan o' the Puddin'-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy of a grace
As lang's my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o' need,
While thro' your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.

His knife see Rustic-labour dight,
An' cut you up wi' ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like onie ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin, rich!

Then, horn for horn they stretch an' strive,
Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
Bethankit hums.

Is there that owre his French ragout,
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi' perfect sconner
Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view
On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As feckless as a wither'd rash,
His spindle shank a guid whip-lash,
His nieve a nit;
Thro' bluidy flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread,
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He'll mak it whissle;
An' legs, an' arms, an' heads will sned,
Like taps o' thrissle.

Ye Pow'rs, wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o' fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies;
But, if you wish her gratefu' pray'r,
Gie her a Haggis!

At the line, “an’ cut you up wi' ready slight”, the haggis is cut open with a sharp silver knife. It is customary to applaud when the speaker is finished the address and for the company to stand and toast the haggis with a glass of whisky.

Following is a more light hearted address to the women in the audiencecalled a "toast to the Lassies" . The tone should be respectful and humorous, building towards the high point at the end with the toast: “To the Lassies!”.

I'm sure as fluent English speakers, you will all of course be absolutely easily able to translate the Scottish dialect ;)

[Gary Hill]

You Brit's are fun, y'all make it dinner and a show! :D

[Rick Burten]

There are several reasons I like reading Robert Burns, two of which are:
1. " oh would some god the giftie gie us, to see oorselves as others see us"
2. Auld Lang Syne which has been so wonderfully sung at the conclusion of every AFA Convention by Don Gustafson.

[Thomas_Ride&Drive]

So nothing to do with the fact that he was a drunken womaniser?? ;)

Do you know his poem "Ballad on the American War"?

To me his greatest work is "For a' that and a' that", his cry for human equality.

There are several reasons I like reading Robert Burns, two of which are:
1. " oh would some god the giftie gie us, to see oorselves as others see us".
Is actually:
"O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!"

Rabbie Burns wasn't exactly known for being god-fearing!

[Rick Burten]

So nothing to do with the fact that he was a drunken womaniser?? ;)
Of course not. Not!:D
Do you know his poem "Ballad on the American War"?
I don't but I'll endeavor to aquaint myself with it ASAP.

[goeslikestink]

iam sure you guys if you ever met --rick/thomas i would love to be a fly on the wall--as i will see it as humour-- you two are so funny

you just crack me up at times

i could you two having a bear and a yarn deep in conversations
round a table then leaning upwards having a good crack at something you said

or saw --

[Rick Burten]

"O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!"
My apologies to both you and Bobbie( :D ) I was working from memory and sometimes memory fails me.
Rabbie Burns wasn't exactly known for being god-fearing!
Nor am i :)