Hi everyone, my pony is unshod because i dont ride him and he stays in the pasture. I'm very into natural horsemanship.
He's developed a vertical crack in his front hoof, and i'm concerned. I try to keep it moisturized and all. I've noticed that it's started to grow out just a little bit but idk what to do to keep it from spreading further apart.
Its very cold and dry around here as the ground is frozen so i know that cant help. Does anyone have any suggestions for natural remedies to promote healing and growth while preventing infection?
Thanks.
PS, i'm not looking for "call the farrier" answers, im looking for ideas on what i could try in the meantime. Thanks
Do you have a photo to give everyone a better idea of how large and deep the crack is? I won't be any help, but a photo will probably be helpful to the hoof experts
I had trouble posting photos at first too lol, you have to upload the photo to a photo hosting site like photobucket and then use the "direct link" to up load the photo, i hope that helped, i'm getting a little tired so i may not have been clear lol
If you have a facebook account or a photobucket account you can upload them there. Once your picture is up on the internet, get the picture location-- if it's on photobucket you can just click the "direct link" text box underneath it. If it's on facebook, right click it and click "copy image location".
Then, oh horseforum, click the little icon above the text box that looks like a little picture of mountains. copy the image link in it, and there you go!
Hi,
As leaving walls too long is one major cause of cracks, and keeping them regularly & well trimmed is one of the necessary ingredients in treating them, unless you are looking for 'learn to trim yourself' answers, I'm afraid you won't get far without good farriery.
I wouldn't bother about 'moisturising' and cold, dry ground is not a problem, except in considering that if the walls are overlong, the harder the ground, the more leverage forces will be acting against the disconnected wall.
Good hoof care is a rather holistic affair and diet is about the biggest single factor. 'Natural remedies' include good, well balanced nutrition, low-cal, low starch diet, ensuring the horse isn't allowed to become fat and keeping him well exercised. Booted or otherwise protecting his feet, so he can *comfortably* use his feet *correctly*(eg heel first impacts) & therefore develop their health & strength. Oh, and especially if there are cracks/separation, contracted frogs, etc, etc, regular treatment/ preventative measures against infection are also important, as it can eat the healthy tissue as fast as it grows & perpetuate cracks, sensitivity, etc.
hoofrehab.com is one great, comprehensive site, with a heap of info & links on other factors of hoof health aside from farriery. barehoofcare.com & barefoothorse.com are 2 of many other good sites to get you started learning about hoof function & health.
I have seen farriers make a horizontal groove in the hoof at the top of the crack to stop it from spreading upward. About an 8th of an inch deep. an inch wide. If that works or not , I dont know.
My horse had a pretty significant vertical crack, about halfway up his hoof. We made a small horizontal groove above the crack as posted about before, and that didn't help, so I wouldn't bother with that.
It took about 4-5 months for the crack to grow out entirely. Apart from keeping it moisturized regularily when the weather became hot and dry, regular trimming is all I had done. My horse has never been shod, either.
A picture would probably help us to diagnose it. I'd post one of my horse, but they're all on the old computer. I'll see what I can do.
Horizontal cuts don't generally work. For them to be at all effective, you need to cut through the entire thickness of the hoof wall, which is not a desirable thing to do. BTW, as far as pics go, I've never bothered with that photobucket or any such. Just in the 'advanced' reply form, under the text block there is an option for 'manage attachments' and you click on that, find whatever pic off your computer & upload it into the post. Easy as pie!
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Horizontal cuts don't generally work. For them to be at all effective, you need to cut through the entire thickness of the hoof wall, which is not a desirable thing to do.
I agree w/ this. The only way for it to work is to burn the groove/cut in and it has to go completely (or almost) straum externum (outer wall).
I have a tool made for this, but only use in extreme cases.
Good trimming can do alot to correct your situation.
If the crack is severe, DO NOT call a farrier.
This said, you will however need to, at a minumum, order some casting material. and learn to apply it. You may even need to get a pair of shoes. You won't need nails,(or the expiriance to use them) if you order extra casting material.:wink:
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