Posted by emily on 6/7/2007 on emily's blogThe farrier came yesterday--Belle was a pretty good girl, but Baleno's hoofs are a mess. He's got a massive quarter crack running down the outside left. He's had them since I bought him at the auction, but they just keep recurring and changing positions. A couple of years ago we fought one on the inside left. Now the outside left and the inside right have developed them. It's making me a bit crazy--he's not lame, but I fear he will be someday. We've floated them, and now we're going to put eggbars on the fronts for support. Farriery is something I wish I knew more about. I always feel kind of helpless when the shoer comes--trusting them to do what's best. ANd I have good shoers, it's just that I wish I knew more about how to help him.
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Jo Fanelli says:
I remember someone telling me that they cured a quarter crack by saturating the hoof in a product called Hoof Alive (or something like that- I have seen it in a yellow can at the feed store.) After they put that stuff on it, they kept the hoof in a hoof boot. I don't know how long they treated the hoof, I would imagine a year to regrow a hoof. Don't know if that would work or not for you, but I did have very good luck improving the quality of hoof on my mare, Tess, by feeding her Farrier's Formula.
Happy Trails, er, in your case Happy Trials,
Jo
emily says:
I use that stuff on my lips. Really.
I'll try it--it can't hurt.
-E
Kaylen says:
You can use a hose clamp. Get the smallest one they make. Make sure it is good quality. Cut it on the side that does not have the screw that tightens it. Then open it flat. You will need a dremal to put a hole in each side. Then you will need to use the dremal to drill a hole about 1/8 inch deep in the hoof wall about a 1/2 away from the crack on each side. Go slow and do not go into the tissue that is under the hoof wall,not too deep. Use stainless steel screws that are flat head. They need to have large threads but very short. You can use a counter-sunk washer if the screw is a bit too long. Then place the hose clamp holes over your pre-drilled holes (hoof holes should be slightly smaller than screws.) Then place your washer and then screw in the screw. Go slow and watch any sign from the horse that he feels the screw. Apply lock tight to the tightening screw on the hose clamp. That is a glue used to make screws stay tight and not back out. Then slowly tighten the hose clamp. Once the crack is pulled closed stop. If you keep going you will strip the screw.
Our horse works and shows with this. Jumping 5' jumps and galloping. As long as you keep the dirt out and keep it tight the crack will grow out. We keep one on the area, even when the crack is gone just to be sure it doesn't come back. Make sure the farrier has relieved the hoof in the area of the crack. That is he needs to cut away some hoof between the hoof and the shoe behind the crack. This will keep the stress of the area while it heals.
Feed her farriers formula and have her wear a bell boot while she has the hose clamp on. It keeps moisture in and helps to keep the hose clamp from getting damaged.
It sound difficult, but once you do it a few times, it is no big deal. The tough part is knowing how deep to go with the screws. The farrier can help you with that.
Good Luck
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