My horses hoofs are cracking and chipping what do i do?

Question

i called a fairier and he just took off her shoes and just told us to water the ground but he didnt even trim them and when i looked at them they have a little crack going half way up the hoof. When i pick her hoofs it flakes white stuff off and chunks fall out:*( idk what to do ill take any advice

Answer 1

Use a farrier.  If there are large cracks and are causeing pain, there is a product that some farriers use that works like bog and helps the crack grow out.  To help prevent cracking in the future, you can use hoof oil a fue times a week.  Also there are heaps of suplements on the market that can help streangthing the hoof from the inside out, this however will take a wile for you to see the results as the new hoof will take some time to grow though.

good luck

Answer 2

How bad are the cracks? Definatly have a farrier come out, we cannot tell what kind of shape they are in. so have a farrier come out.

Otherwise for cracking/chipping i use 'tuff stuff' and its done wonders with the little chipping and cracks on my horses feet.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Pr...

but before using that, have a farrier come out and evaluate them

Answer 3

You need to have a farrier come out and do a trim. they can put a mark across the top of the crack to stop it from going any further up.

You can add a supplement to her feed - biotin or something that contains biotin like Farrier's Formula and paint the hooves with Cornucresine.

Answer 4

They are probably in need of a trim.  Cracking and chipping  and even some wall separation can occur when the trimming schedule is over due.  Should be able to correct in a few trims.  Make sure he has good nutrition and give his feet time to grow.  I presume he is barefoot so he needs a good balanced barefoot trim.    Otherwise, all you can do is be patient.  good luck.

Answer 5

Do see a farrier at once - if the crack keeps getting bigger, you will need professional help to get it closed, before it gets wide enough to cause pain or permanent damage.

There is a very good hoof ointment called Cornucrescine which is a long-term remedy and most tack retailers sell it. It was recommended by my farrier, helps dry and brittle hooves, and I recommend you get a jar today. Rub the coronet and the whole hoof daily for the first week or so, then just the coronet. After a month or so, you can settle for once a week.

Answer 6

I agree totally with gallopal.  Get a new farrier.  I can't believe he didn't do trim when he removed the shoes or even file them.  He should of noticed the cracks and did something.  Use a brush to clean its hoofs.  Don't make the white part fall off more.   Keep them clean and call another farrier ASAP.

Answer 7

go to a feed store and ask for advice or call your vet and ask him i have 2 horses and that is what i would do there is a guy at the basin co op where i live and he is very horse savvy i hope i helped you

Answer 8

file them

Answer 9

First..he should have trimmed the hooves after removing the shoes.

Time to get a new farrier no doubt!

Second:  The cracks may be superficial.  My filly has horrible feet and cracks all over the place.  My gelding gets them sometimes but I have nipped the problem in the bud.

It sounds like you live in a dry area.  What that farrier suggested is what I do.  I soak the area around the water tub so that it's muddy.  This way when they want a drink they have all 4 feet in the mud.

I only do this during our dry months.

Third:

I also oil their hooves every couple of days.  Top , bottom, around the coronary band, and heel bulb.

Fourth:

On top of that I make sure to give a supplement with Biotin in it (Horseshoers Secret-Omegatin-etc..) as this does remarkable work at strengthening the hoof and keeping it healthy.

Just because there are cracks does not mean you need to put shoes on.  Get a new farrier (one that is certified) and get a better opinion.

Answer 10

call up a farrier. and get it some shoes. poor horse:[ good luck with it:]

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?...

Answer 11

Make it stand in 4 bowls of Palmolive dishwashing liquid.  LOL.  Its the only image I'm getting.  

But you should call a farrier.  They would fix it up.

Answer 12

if you wont to what you do go to thats web

http://www.jeffersequine.com/ssc/product...

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Answer 13

Get them filed and shod. If it has been raining this happens to msot horses that arent shod. We had to shoe my thoroughbred when i started trail riding him and we got a lot of rain this winter which struck some problems.

The best thing to do is get your farrier out and have him suggest some ideas probably being filing them and getting them shod. Also we have this stuff called hoof aid and we apply twice a week and it hardens the hooves.

Goodluck

Answer 14

Why didn't he trim the hooves?  Sounds like you could use a new farrier?

Answer 15

try a different farrier and put some effol hoof stuff on them after squirting them with water ans allowing it to soak in and that will keep the mouiture in

Answer 16

get a different farrier.

we used to have the same problem.

SHOES ON!, they'll protect the bottom of the hoof, and stop them from cracking.

go and get some hoof-moisturiser, you can get it anywhere horsey.

good luckk

Answer 17

Call a farrier. And you could also but hoof conditioner at a feed store.

Answer 18

Minor cracking and chipping is pretty normal for a horse who just had his shoes pulled, especially if the farrier didn't trim him when the shoes came off. What was your reasoning for taking the shoes off anyway?

First, get him trimmed regularly - every 5 to 6 weeks. Second, apply a hoof conditioner to the hoof wall & sole regularly. Third, put your horse on a hoof supplement - anything with biotin in it should help.

If  the cracking gets worse, the hoof is getting too short, or the horse is going lame, then you need to put the shoes back on.

Answer 19

cracks are common, but you need to get them fixed. cracking is usually due to hard ground, and the horse stomping bc of the flies. you can use fly spray to reduce them. get the farrier to look at them, or a new farrier. i recommend using TUFF STUFF. its a bonding formula for the hooves. it works great.

Answer 20

First thing that you need to do is call up your farrier and ask if he has acrylic that he can use to patch up the foot where the cracks are bad. If you horse doesn't wear shoes he may need them. Second thing you need to do is go to your local tack store and get some kind of hoof treatment, I would suggest hoof heal or Rainmaker, I have used both on my horse whose feet constantly crack and chip and it has really turned his feet around. You should also get your horse on a really good hoof supplement that has lots of l-lysine, dl-methionine, biotin,  sulfur/msm, etc... The supplement won't give you immediate results because it has to build up in his system but it will help you a lot in the long term. It also helps to soak their feet for a min or two because the moisture keeps their feet soft and supple so that they don't crack. After you soak them its a good time to put the hoof heal or rainmaker product on. It also helps to ride a lot because riding and running helps increase blood flow to the hoof which helps to promote growth.