A hoof question - vertical cracks in hoof wall

biggingerpony

biggingerpony

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Hi,

For those of you that don't know the big ginger pony is barefoot TB, well more unshod then barefoot as the farrier trims her as opposed to a BFP.

All has been going marvelously these past few months since moving yards. She has become 95% rock crunching only being slightly tentative if she steps on a really big stone (A shod horse would do the same). But all the same I'm seriously chuffed.

She is on retirement livery so I do not see her daily but I still hack her about once a week for a gentle plod with some road work.

She is currently deep littered yard in a herd 24/7 which suits her brilliantly as she is a stressy moo when it comes to being stabled. But will be out in the field 24/7 in the next few days.

She is being fed twice daily - lucie nuts, high fibre cubes and linseed and adlib hay.

Anyway enough of the background. She has recently developed these cracks... Am I right in thinking that they are sand cracks?

Fronts:
2013-01-04142450_zps1a93dd7e.jpg


Hind:
2013-01-04142422_zps81ff328d.jpg


She started getting them after her last trim in early December. She is not lame on them in any way.

The thing that worries me is dirt getting stuck in them and causing abcesses. I have been scrubbing them with diluted tea tree oil. I have been recommended Kevin Bacon but I'm not sure.

Any ideas on what's causing this? Should I be worried? Is it OK to ride?

ETA - she has them on all four hooves. But worse on the hinds - which is interesting as they have always been better than the fronts?
I'm at a bit of a loss - HM chocolate cake for all those who read my ramblings!
 
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I think these are the same as my yo old horse has who is barefoot and lives out 24/7. I'm not 100% sure but they may be caused by wet ground? I know that the farrier has asked her to take her off wet ground as much as possible(difficult!) so she stands in during the day. Likewise with abscesses etc, she had to have one of the deeper ones filled up and there was still a chance of an abscess occurring but thankfully hasn't.
 
The bevel needs to be renewed and maintained. This is not a moisture problem, as the hoof has its own waxes and oils to maintain hoof integrity, but excessive wetness can weaken a hoof. The problem is torque. These hooves are going through transition and are still slightly flared forward. The heels and quarters are long as well. When being used by the horse, the heel is being pushed forward into the toe. The torque on breakover at the pillars (10 and 2 o'clock) is where the 2 cracks started on the hind. The heel needs to be shortened, P3 brought ground parallel, the wall brought down even with the sole or 1/16th" above the sole and bevelled all the way around. When the wall is taller than the sole, its like bending your fingernail back and walking on it. It also causes the hoof to be loaded peripherally just like a shoe. It also causes flaring and cracking.

In short, the trim needs to be proactive and timely and better balanced.

If you look just below the band, you'll see a tighter hoof coming in. What's below it is old flare. If the bevel is not maintained, then the torque is right back on, pulling forward again....pulling old into new growth as well. The high heels are like putting her in high heels. Notice the steepness of the pastern coming into the foot. That's coming down hard on the toe.
With the heels shortened, pulled back under her descending weight, quarters cleared and bevel insuring a smooth flowing lift off, she'll have a heel first landing and pastern will relax to the proper angle and this will stop. A proactive trim, with better balance and bevel and maintained in a timely fashion will see her move forward and "arrive".

Also look into the diet. Fed minerals with copper and zinc, 20mg of biotin/day and flax as well. You'd be surprised how much hoof health can come from good nutrition.

Hope this helps....
 
Thanks, I didn't actually think the wet ground was a possibility but you could be right - she doesn't have any access to hard standing at all. But I don't know how I'm going to compromise as she cannot be stabled??
 
The cracks look superficial to me so may be due to the wet. Are the hooves rasped on the wall much? It's just that rasping through the outer hoof wall can expose the inner wall which is much less resistant to environmental effects as it's much more hydrated. Perhaps the outer wall is thin? I haven't had these sort of cracks to deal with so am guessing/musing I'm afraid.
Second having a good roll on the base of the wall.
 
amandap said:
The cracks look superficial to me so may be due to the wet. Are the hooves rasped on the wall much? It's just that rasping through the outer hoof wall can expose the inner wall which is much less resistant to environmental effects as it's much more hydrated. Perhaps the outer wall is thin? I haven't had these sort of cracks to deal with so am guessing/musing I'm afraid.
Second having a good roll on the base of the wall.
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Hi Amandap thanks for your reply. I'm glad you think they are superficial it has made me feels lots better. The yard shes in at the mo is quite muddy as deep littered and no hard standing. But she should be out in the fields over the next few days.

No farrier does not rasp outer wall - no way would I let him! So I don't think it is that.

Farrier is due again in a few weeks so if they are still there will ask his advice. Or if they get worse will give him a ring.

Do you think it will be OK to ride? we mainly do road work and sandy/gravelly tracks in this weather!
 
missyclare said:
The bevel needs to be renewed and maintained. This is not a moisture problem, as the hoof has its own waxes and oils to maintain hoof integrity, but excessive wetness can weaken a hoof. The problem is torque. These hooves are going through transition and are still slightly flared forward. The heels and quarters are long as well. When being used by the horse, the heel is being pushed forward into the toe. The torque on breakover at the pillars (10 and 2 o'clock) is where the 2 cracks started on the hind. The heel needs to be shortened, P3 brought ground parallel, the wall brought down even with the sole or 1/16th" above the sole and bevelled all the way around. When the wall is taller than the sole, its like bending your fingernail back and walking on it. It also causes the hoof to be loaded peripherally just like a shoe. It also causes flaring and cracking.

In short, the trim needs to be proactive and timely and better balanced.

If you look just below the band, you'll see a tighter hoof coming in. What's below it is old flare. If the bevel is not maintained, then the torque is right back on, pulling forward again....pulling old into new growth as well. The high heels are like putting her in high heels. Notice the steepness of the pastern coming into the foot. That's coming down hard on the toe.
With the heels shortened, pulled back under her descending weight, quarters cleared and bevel insuring a smooth flowing lift off, she'll have a heel first landing and pastern will relax to the proper angle and this will stop. A proactive trim, with better balance and bevel and maintained in a timely fashion will see her move forward and "arrive".
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No-one is in a position to give this level of detailed instruction as to what to do with this horse from seeing a few badly angled photos, least of all someone who isn't even on this continent and has no idea whatsoever what a British winter is like on horses' feet.

Biggingerpony they look like typical superficial cracks caused by constant wet weather and mud to me as well, though you could possibly do with some diet adjustments, as they aren't "correct" although not uncommon. What are you feeding?
 
ChristmasPTrees said:
No-one is in a position to give this level of detailed instruction as to what to do with this horse from seeing a few badly angled photos, least of all someone who isn't even on this continent and has no idea whatsoever what a British winter is like on horses' feet.

Biggingerpony they look like typical superficial cracks caused by constant wet weather and mud to me as well, though you could possibly do with some diet adjustments, as they aren't "correct" although not uncommon. What are you feeding?
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At last a decent reply!
 
biggingerpony said:
Do you think it will be OK to ride? we mainly do road work and sandy/gravelly tracks in this weather!
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Imo no reason why not unless she's not sound.

missyclare said:
If you look just below the band, you'll see a tighter hoof coming in. What's below it is old flare.
Click to expand...
Just wondering what the angle change is in response to? What happened/changed two - three months ago? I personally wouldn't worry too much unless the cracking develops in the new growth at the top 3/4 inch ish of the hoof, that coincides with the angle change. The crack in the second pic does look a bit deeper, if that doesn't start to grow out then there might be fungal complications/dietary/balance issues.

As has been said attention to diet is always helpful for hooves. Low sugar starch and good mineral levels.
 
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ChristmasPTrees I completely agree with you I thought exactly the same about the previous comment. But I am asking peoples opinions so I do really appreciate people taking the time to reply whatever their point of view :)

She is being fed Lucie nuts, linseed and spillers high fibre cubes & ad lib hay.

Do you think more exercise on varying surfaces will help?
 
BGP apart from the cracks your horse's feet look greatly improved to me as far as I can see from the photos, so you are doing a lot right.

I think I have heard of people having problems with some horses and lucerne, just like many have problems with alfalfa. Anyone else on here think the same? (later - I have just googled it and lucerne IS alfalfa. LOTS of barefooters have problems with alfalfa)

If so, it might be a good idea to drop the lucie nuts and feed more of the high fibre ones if you need to.

I'm not sure that more work would do anything for those cracks, but feel free to ride her as much as you can if she's happy :)

You are absolutely right to keep them disinfected, by the way. I rate sudocrem for that job, it waterproofs and disinfects.
 
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I'd consider dropping the lucie nuts too. A decent balancer such as Pro Hoof wont go amis either. Is it micronised linseed you're feeding or oil? I'd feed the micronised.
 
Holly Hocks said:
CPT - re the sudocreme, do you just put it in the collateral grooves, or all over the hoof? Thanks
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I have used it in a number of ways, not all at once :D

I cleared some similar vertical cracks by cleaning them out and then daily using sudocrem just on/in the crack.

I've cleared thrush in the central sulcus a couple of times with it.

I've fixed three sheared heels using it on cotton wool stuffed into the shear.

The one place I don't think I've ever used it is in the collateral grooves :p
 
ChristmasPTrees said:
I have used it in a number of ways, not all at once :D

I cleared some similar vertical cracks by cleaning them out and then daily using sudocrem just on/in the crack.

I've cleared thrush in the central sulcus a couple of times with it.

I've fixed three sheared heels using it on cotton wool stuffed into the shear.

The one place I don't think I've ever used it is in the collateral grooves :p
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Well in that case, as Blue has a couple of very very minor vertical cracks, I might clean them out later and put some in there. I love sudocrem - seems to work on most thing! :)
 
ChristmasPTrees said:
No-one is in a position to give this level of detailed instruction as to what to do with this horse from seeing a few badly angled photos, least of all someone who isn't even on this continent and has no idea whatsoever what a British winter is like on horses' feet.

Biggingerpony they look like typical superficial cracks caused by constant wet weather and mud to me as well, though you could possibly do with some diet adjustments, as they aren't "correct" although not uncommon. What are you feeding?
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x 2

I do think they need more of a roll though to help protect the edges, rather than the thin pointy edge you've got going on. Farrier needs to be doing a roll not a pasture trim.

The spillers hi fibre cubes do contain a little molasses but unless she is hyper sensitive to sugar it should be ok. Agree with losing the alfalfa and adding Pro Balance.
 
Holly Hocks said:
Well in that case, as Blue has a couple of very very minor vertical cracks, I might clean them out later and put some in there. I love sudocrem - seems to work on most thing! :)
Click to expand...

I spotted it said "excema" on the side a few months ago and it has totally cured some that my husband has had, with red thick skin, for over 25 years!!!

I love the stuff, especially the smell :D
 
Sorry i and missyclare bothered to even give our opinions!

why dont you ask your farrier, he/she is the only qualified person who can tell you what is wrong and should also know your horses feet, not people on a forum who are only going by photos.

The problem with this forum is if someone disagrees with your opinion thats it, you get shouted down, when in fact at the end of the day, who the hell knows the absolute truth in anything.
 
putasocinit said:
Sorry i and missyclare bothered to even give our opinions!

why dont you ask your farrier, he/she is the only qualified person who can tell you what is wrong and should also know your horses feet, not people on a forum who are only going by photos.

The problem with this forum is if someone disagrees with your opinion thats it, you get shouted down, when in fact at the end of the day, who the hell knows the absolute truth in anything.
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Did you get out of bed the wrong side?

No-one has commented about what you posted at all, never mind shouting you down.

As for missyclare, I stand by my comment on that one. Giving that kind of trimming advice on a forum from a couple of photos is dangerous as you point out yourself.
 
I think you need more of a roll on these hooves too. Perhaps keep it up yourself on a regular basis between trims.
 
As a matter of interest, none of the rehabs at Rockley Farm have a mustang roll applied, and I have stopped doing it to my horses as well, I let them make whatever roll they want and just rasp off any chips (hardly ever needed).
 
OP - apologies not read all the replies. Just to say that IME that type of crack can indicate a mineral shortage and with a decent min mix (and a suitably low sugar/starch diet) they will grow out in their own time.

I would second the thoughts that alfalfa can be unhelpful in some cases.
 
No expert but my old boy was out 24/7 and the hooves as far as I remember did change with the weather(just as our nails would if left in water etc). Sand cracks mine would get in very dry weather my farrier would tell me not to worry and I trusted him. He would rasp them lightly(more cosmetic rasp). Also he would take chunks out of the walls tanking around and hitting the flint in the ground I would worry about that too! But I am guessing due to the excessive wet weather they are taking a bit more water on. My old boys definitely seemed more swollen and absorbant in the wet. The only person that could advise you would be your farrier.
 
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