Sand cracks?

[littlen]

Hi,
Wondering if any of you have any experience of this.

My friend has just bought a new horse, a big lad at 18hhs. He is about 15 years old and wasnt the best looked after previously, long feet and bad teeth etc.

The first thing we noticed is his feet are covered in what look like sand cracks, but I would say about 5 or 6 in each foot running right up near the corenet band, it might not be sand cracks but they are very thin lines running up the hoof.
Horse not lame at all and was bought as a chance/impulse buy so not vetted.

Any ideas what they are and how to treat (farrier is out monday but I am just interested )

 

[Shysmum]

I think a good farrier and a good diet are the key. It's very common for such huge horses to have cracks in their hooves, simply because of the load they're carrying, but I would go with your farrier's advice.

i know i keep suggesting it, but the book Feet First by Nic barker will really help with the diet side of things, even tho you probably won't be going barefoot. It made the world of difference to Shy, who had terrible overgrown feet, cracks, and severe thrush.

Hope that helps - and please can we have pics ???

 

[littlen]

Hi,

Not my horse but I will certainly try and get some pics for you all tonight ( I have no experience of this as my barefoot arab has fab feet, one good thing about him lol!)

The horse in question is barefoot, and has huge dinner plate feet! Pretty bad condition...actually but the whole horse is in bad condition (muscle wastage, thin and scrawny looking despite his size!)

Farrier is out on tuesday, I expect he will suggest shoes.

 

[Shysmum]

I'm sure that once he gets on the right diet, things will improve. If he is barefoot, maybe he can stay that way, but it sounds like he needs the support of shoes tbh.

Poor boy.

 

[LucyPriory]

I'm sure that once he gets on the right diet, things will improve. If he is barefoot, maybe he can stay that way, but it sounds like he needs the support of shoes tbh.

Poor boy.

Um - never understood the 'support' of shoes theory. Doesn't make engineering sense. My dear late father, an outstanding engineer could have discussed this much more clearly than I could ever hope to. But he never got the 'support' claims either and he came from a long line of horsemen, so could see both sides.

Sort the problem rather than try and cover up the symptoms. Cheaper, kinder and more effective in the long run.

However have cleared up a fair few cracks in my time, some of which were unresolveable in shoes. All it took was a well balanced trim, appropriate diet and exercise and where necessary a bit of salt water.