Cracking hoof

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Littlemissmerlin

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Hi every one. As I can imagine with this weather, some of our horses and ponies have stuffed cracking and dry feet. Now.... As I'm a little out of practice as I haven't owned my own horse for quite a few years. And maybe a little over the top. Can you please help me with some info and advice with dealing with cracked hoofs. My gorgeous new horse (having him 6weeks) has not been blessed with the best feet anyways. We now have a cracked hoof. Exposing the nails. And a loose shoe. Is this common? How do you fix this? I use the Kevin bacon dressing on him most days. Since coming to me, I have been doing more riding. But only hacking (mostly walking, trotting a bit the last few rides) to get him fit. I'm probably panicking over nothing. But some advice would be great. Thanks guys. :-)
 
When was he last shod?
What does he eat? (healthy hooves and good horn quality comes from a good diet)
Could you post some photos of his hooves?
What do you mean by 'not blessed with the best feet' - what exactly is the problem with his hooves (poor hoof balance, flare, poor horn quality, ridges/growth rings, something else...)?
 
He was shod 3 weeks ago, I've booked in for evey 6weeks. He has quite flat feet. His previous owner showed me the vetting from when they bought him (3yrs ago) and the vet mentioned his bad quality of hoof. But since they bought him they have improved (my vet read the vetting) and they are not bad. He is fed hifi light with hoof and joint supp. He is out most of day then in for hour or so and a small Haynet of hay and haylage back out again. How can I post pics? I've tried too?
 
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ETA - it looks like a change of diet would help, but remember this will only help the new growth so it will take a few months to grow a full hoof capsule.

The hi-fi lite has molasses in it, so swap for a molasses free chaff (hi-fi do one - Dengie hi-fi molasses free). Basically you need to feed a low sugar and starch diet that is high in fibre.

What hoof supplement do you use?
 
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Ok. Thank you. I'm nearly finished the bag of hifi (seems to go on forever) so ill give that ago next. He only has a small handful to mixin the supp. Not sure which one ill have a look this morning. Biotin or something I think and naff superflex. He has only been on this since coming to me. In the last week I've been introducing him for a hour a day into a padock (strip) of lush grass. Unfortunaly it's not the best pasture as its clover and ryegrass but we can't re seed it until next spring. So Im dreading the outcome of the change to his diet. The farrier is coming this evening. Hopdfully he can give me advice too. He said most have had this problem as its been so dry.
 
Mg boy has rock solid feet, never usually is affected by weather at all but for the first time in 11 years his hooves have cracked ans he has a loose shoe. Looks similar to your boy where they've split by the nails. Everything is so dry at the moment I think this is a common problem
 
Your farrier looks as if he is setting the nails very low. That will increase the forces on the bottom of the foot and result in more loose shoes than if he had the clenches higher up.
 
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