Hoof crack

[Emmangel]

My gelding developed a huge crack in his off side fore hoof last year (from coronet band to the floor), which eventually - after many months - grew out. Low and behold another one has developed, this time on his near side fore. I am guessing that as his mane hardly grows, this is also linked and I am guessing is predominantly due to genetics (he is a PRE).

My farrier recommended a biotin supplement and bar shoes to help stabilise the crack. I used Robust Hoof which contains correct levels and percentages of Biotin, Methionine, Zinc, Calcium and Sulphur. I also applied cornucrescine around the coronet band.

He hated the bar shoe and it made his stride shorten, so now back to normal shoes. I have switched to farriers formula because the previous supplement did not appear to help despite prolonged use. I have also bought Camrosa ointment and Kevin Bacon dressing.

His hooves seem quite soft in texture. He is fed grass/hay/hi fi/high fibre nuts plus a calmer.

Any other ideas as I'm running out ?? Or will he always be predisposed to this condition ?? Thank you x

 

[Casey76]

Hoof cracks are usually a sign of imbalance, the best way to help them grow out is to relieve the pressure at the ground (taking the shoes off is the best way to start here).

What are the exact ingredients of the Robust Hoof, if it contains things such as "wheat feed/middlings" or any type of sugar you should ditch it in favour of a mineral/vitamin mix only

Cornucrescine isn't going to help grow good feet. It is a blister, so while the hoof wall may appear to grow faster, it is also weaker.

Check the diet, anything which has added sugar should be replaced with a no sugar alternative (a good barefoot diet is actually just a good diet )

 

[Goldenstar]

I would give the forage plus winter performance balancer a go .

 

[stencilface]

Our farrier has stuck pins across hoof cracks, or rasped a dent above it to stop it spreading. I would also look up pro hoof and pro balance to use as a hoof supplement, or equimins.

What time of year did the crack appear, spring? I think grass cracks can appear as a result of too much sugar. Is he out at grass in the summer? It's possible it's too rich for him as I think PREs can be sensitive to sugars. This summer I kept my half luso off the grass a few days a week during daytime and it stopped his grass bloat and helped his feet.

 

[PoppyAnderson]

The usual. Shoes off, hoof boots as a temporary measure if necessary, re-think your diet (everything you're feeding is preventing good hoof growth, rather than supporting it) and feed a recommended supplement (equimins, pro earth or forage plus). Get a recommended barefoot trimmer on board but leave the feet to grow first for a good few months. Movement, diet and trimming (self trimming is the holy grail) is the golden triangle.

 

[doodle]

I am feeding formula4feet with huge success. I also found that Kevin bacon made his feet softer, too soft so stopped that.

 

[Antw23uk]

The usual. Shoes off, hoof boots as a temporary measure if necessary, re-think your diet (everything you're feeding is preventing good hoof growth, rather than supporting it) and feed a recommended supplement (equimins, pro earth or forage plus). Get a recommended barefoot trimmer on board but leave the feet to grow first for a good few months. Movement, diet and trimming (self trimming is the holy grail) is the golden triangle.

Sound advise

 

[Emmangel]

Thanks all.

He doesn't manage well without shoes - he gets very foot sore. I would say the crack has been there 3 months, so appeared around August time. PRE's can be sensitive to sugar - however our grazing is quite poor....... I think I am going to ask my farrier about putting a pin across it......

Robust hoof is a supplement containing Biotin, Methionine, Zinc, Calcium and Sulphur but I have now switched to farriers formula. It's not a feed mix.

PoppyAnderson -not sure about the part everything I'm feeding is preventing hoof growth. He only gets hifi (which only contains alfafa, vitamins and minerals) and pony nuts so why would that hinder growth ?? What actual feed would you recommend ??? Thanks in advance.

 

[PoppyAnderson]

Him getting foot sore tells you that whatever it is you're doing isn't working. Diet is crucial and even small amounts of sugar can have a big effect. I didn't say your feed is 'preventing' hoof growth but it won't be optimising it either.

 

[PoppyAnderson]

I feed something 'wet' (fast fibre, speedibeet or pink mash), a non molassed chaff (Agrobs, Thunderbrooks), micronised linseed and a hoof supplement (equimins, forage plus or pro earth).

Follow this for 6 -9 months, plus what I said above and you will have a transformed horse.

 

[Emmangel]

Thank you. I'll research into your suggestions and speak to my yard manager so we can find a solution. I'll let you know what transpires. 😁

 

[wild at hoof]

Cracks are very rarely the true problem and are usually just a symptom.

You can get cracks from mechanical forces, ie if the hoof wall flares, or too much pressure is on one point of the hoof wall.

The main cause of cracks I see is infection, some people think this is secondary, but until you fix the infection the cracks don't go. Incidentally mechanical cracks can get infected, so even if you fix the imbalance that caused the initial crack you then need to fight the infection.

Cracks in the toe are normally seedy toe (infection), cracks to the quarters are usually mechanical.

Proper trims to achieve and maintain balance (yes even if shod). Removing infected horn from around the crack. Infection control (tea tree oil). And good diet, low sugar low starch. High protein and a good balancer (healthy guts can make their own biotin ... so aim for healthy gut and save money on feeding biotin!) To put that into context my 18months old and my 22yr old both get. Copra coolstance, dried grass and a balancer for breakfast and dinner.

Cracks are my 'thing' ... my old girl had terrible hoof cracks that were once drilled and plated to hold together (it didn't work), it was also been pinned and resined (also didn't work) this went on for 12yrs. Then I studied to become and equine podiatrist... fixed hoof balance and it went.

Have fixed many hoof cracks since so hopefully my advice can help you

 

[Emmangel]

Thanks for your reply...... I need to talk to my farrier. I think it could also stem from the fact his feet used to be quite upright (as it common in Spain) and now they are trimmed more in keeping with tradition in the UK (they have not changed substantially). It's possible that if his feet are now flatter that the structure of the hoof has become unstable. My farrier wants to put a heartbar shoe which in theory I agree with, but my horse went very short last time we tried this method.

Would it be obvious if there was an infection as there is certainly no outward visible signs of this ??

I will aim to cut out all sugar from his diet. I am moving yards on Saturday and I will ask what sugar free chaff options they have.

Thanks for your help.

 

[ester]

Do be aware that some so called sugar free chaffs are not quite so, especially those coated with moglo

 

[Emmangel]

Thanks - will bear that in mind

 

[ponypatters]

Hi there, I have a horse with a big crack at the front (who was shod and is now barefoot) that is now FINALLY growing out. I am now about 7 months on from starting the new diet and I did some major research as I was literally at the end of my tether with foot problems. He is now barefoot, on linseed, speedi beat and balancer plus hoof supplement and is much much better. Foot is growing through lovely and crack is slowly growing out. You will probably think we are all nuts telling you to change your horses diet, but it really does help and I have living proof of this, it just takes a good few months !! Putting pins in won't stop whatever is causing the crack I am afraid - the diet will help good quality hoof grow down so the crack stays away. Hoping to get mine out hunting very soon - barefoot an'all !! And I wrote a blog a while ago about this which may help point you in the right direction: http://www.ponypatters.com/blog/category/barefoot-horse