So big browns hoof is hurt?

Question

I dont think he has good chances he could possibly have to be euthanized on spot if something bad goes wrong... if u havent seen the pic of his hoof its pretty F'n bad.... I really hope nothin bad happens as much as I wanna see him win the crown I dont think hes gonna now........ kinda sad!

Answer 1

I agree that the pictures look bad.  When I heard quarter crack, I expected just a little crack down the hoof... my horse has had them before... but that thing on Big Brown's hoof is like a slice.

However, I have to believe that they have it under control.  The best hoof specialists in the world are working on it.  He's getting a patch done on the hoof on Friday.  He worked yesterday in an excellent 5 furlong workout in 1 minute... he galloped well and went on his correct leads.  It looked like he didn't even know that anything was wrong with his hoof.

The hoof will grow back.  Even if the horse broke off half of his hoof, he wouldn't be euthanized on the track.  It would have to be much more serious than that.  No matter what, Big Brown would leave the track alive.

If you want to see a triple crown winner, disregard the hoof, and root for Big Brown.  Quarter cracks are pretty common and horses probably run on them every day without any publicity at all.

For those who haven't seen the picture: http://sports.yahoo.com/rah/photo?slug=9...

look at the back of the left hoof and notice the steel sutchers that are pulling the hoof together

Answer 2

That quarter crack does look bad, I hadn't seen the picture before.  Thanks to knmmiamisax for linking it.  

I used to breed ponies - one of my broodmares had a recurrent quarter crack that looked a little worse than that.  As nasty as they look, quarter cracks will not kill them or cause them to break a bone or whatever.  

But I have to agree with the guy who said it will be an issue in a long race.  Not injury wise, but I think it will slow him down a bit, but maybe not enough to get him beat.

Big Brown had glued on shoes in the Kentucky Derby, his hoof wasn't glued.  His hooves were healthy in the Derby, he didn't have a quarter crack or anything else wrong then.

Answer 3

As much as that horse is worth, you know the owner will not chance him getting hurt.But then aging a horse with bad feet, may not be what the breeder will pay high breeding fees for.

Answer 4

yeah it looks bad. the acrylic patch will hopefully hold, right? but, no hoof no horse.

Answer 5

I agree with you.  A Triple Crown is not worth the life of a horse.  They're just a business to some of the owners.  The Belmont is a mile and a half, lots of stress on that left front.  I'm disgusted!

Answer 6

This is a mile and a half race. I think it will be a factor.  

I like Denis of Cork this time.

Answer 7

Quarter Cracks are fairly common and usually can be managed without taking the horse out of training.  The problem is the Abscess.  I don't like the fact that Dutrow and Ian Mckinlay have changed the timeline for progress so many times.  

First they said it was no problem and they would patch it and he would work on Thursday or Friday.

Second they put that off and announced that they had increased the strength of the treatment for the abscess.  I can not figure out a single logical reason to increase the strenth of a treatment after the first week of treatment!  To me it says that the Abscess is not healing as well as they had hoped for.  But why not use the strong treatment in the first place.

Then they were going to patch the crack and work him on Monday.

Then they were going to patch the crack and work him on Tuesday.

They decided to work him on Tuesday but wait to patch the Crack to let it drain more!

That is too many red flags for me.  This is not a life threatening thing, but it does seem to compromise his chances of being himself in a grueling mile and a half race!

Answer 8

He has always had problems with his hoof.   Back in the Kentucky Derby, it was said that they had to "glue" his hoof back together.   This is not new news.    Big Brown has always had problems with his hoof throughout his career and people have been continuously worried about it.   This has not affected him in any race yet and his works today looked really strong.   Do not believe this is going to change anything about the race this Saturday.