Help with Cracked Feet

[Redsox]

My TB (aged 5) has a crack completely up one of his front foot (slightly to the side) and another developing on his other (in the middle) - any suggestions to what I can do to help repair both hoofs? in feed/applying directly to the hoof etc. preferably easy to obtain. I have been applying cornicresene (spelling!?!) without much progress - getting very worried now (my farrier wants to avoid stapling). Thanks

 

[dom09]

I've used Topspec Healthy hoof for my horse, he has rubbish feet. You could actually see a new line of healthy hoof growing within weeks of using it.Another thing my farrier did for cracks it to file the top of it to try stop it going further. Are your horses feet dry?If so Carr, Day and Martin Hoof moist is also very good or Kevin Bacon hoof care. Hope that is some help?!?

 

[brightmount]

Formula 4 Feet as a supplement, and Kevin Bacon Liquid Hoof dressing applied to the hooves. Both are available from Surrey Equestrian:

http://www.surreyequestrian.co.uk/formula-4-feet-7kg.html
http://www.surreyequestrian.co.uk/kevin-bacon-liquid-hoof-dressing-500ml.html

 

[Araminta]

Try Hoof Heal

 

[kellyeaton]

feed biotion and seweed and apply either hoof moist or effol to the hoof!

 

[K27]

You could try a hoof supplement, if they do work, it can take from 6-9 months to notice a difference in the strength.

I have been using the Balanced horse feeds Hoof Booster on my horse, you can get a huge tub for about 28.00, its very concentrated stuff -and they will post it to you, my horse has been on it 8 months and with good shoeing too, they are looking so much better and stronger. I've also looked at my horses diet too.

Also if the crack gets bad, the Farrier can use clips either side to stabilise it if its a vertical crack or sometimes a filler can be used.

 

[Kallibear]

Cracking is usually due to poor foot balance and flare - a flared or unbalanced walls pushs one section of the hoof up and it splits.

A good foot supplement will help but not if the root cause of the crack isn't sorted. Assess the foot from directly infornt, looking for a change in hoof wall angle, or asymetry. The farrier should be doing it automatically but some are pretty rubbish!

 

[amandap]

Agree here also I believe bacteria and fungus tend to get in and cause problems with the crack growing out. Brushing out the cracks well spraying with Milton solution daily till they are healed helps keep this under control.