Cracked Hooves - Best treatment?

[chesnutty]

We have a horse, is around 15 years old. He has cracks in 3 of his hooves - 2 small crack but one has a very large crack.

What is the best treatment for this?

 

[Pinkvboots]

Is he shod or barefoot? How often is a farrier doing his feet? Quite often bad feet are due to diet or lack of a balanced diet.

 

[chesnutty]

He's shod, every 6 weeks.

He is hunting once or twice a week. Fed twice a day on; calm and condition, alpha A, sugar beet and working mix. In at night with haylage and turned out during the day.

 

[LucyPriory]

Where are the cracks can you describe in more detail or post photos?

 

[chesnutty]

I have photos, will post them later this evening - if I can work out how!

 

[maccachic]

Quick guess with no photos - balance of the feet in incorrect and your diet may also need a dressing.

 

[chesnutty]

Hopefully the pictures are there.

He's not been with us long, and was very head shy and wary when he first came - so would not be surprised if he was mistreated in the past. Would also explain why nothing has been done about the cracks.

 

[LucyPriory]

It would appear that angle of growth is not maintained. Coupled with event lines suggests diet and/or metabolic issues. The outer hoof wall has been heavily rasped in places and this will only make the cracking worse.

Even though the horse is shod a barefoot friendly diet might help. Also check for any other signs of metabolic issues.

 

[chesnutty]

It would appear that angle of growth is not maintained. Coupled with event lines suggests diet and/or metabolic issues. The outer hoof wall has been heavily rasped in places and this will only make the cracking worse.

Even though the horse is shod a barefoot friendly diet might help. Also check for any other signs of metabolic issues.

Thank you Lucy, any suggestions diet wise?

 

[LucyPriory]

Thank you Lucy, any suggestions diet wise?

Low sugar low starch base. Combined they should be under 10% try an unmolassed beet such as Kwik Beet from most horse food shops with micronised linseed made by Charnwood Milling buy direct or GJ Titmuss and a good mineral mix such as Forage Plus Winter Hoof or Pro Balance Pro Hoof. These have to be bought online. All horses are different and you may have to try a few things out to find what suits yours. Many horses reject a low sugar feed to start with. Persistence is vital.

 

[wench]

An arcequine helped a permanent crack in my horses hoof...