07/07/2022
I see a lot of posts on social media of horse owners worried about hoof cracks, and often wondering if they can do something to help.
So what are some causes of hoof cracks?:
✴️A diet issue or imbalance - poor wall quality due to low levels of (or imbalanced levels of) minor minerals, poor amino acid profile or low protein in diet, high sugar/starch, etc can lead to poor wall quality that breaks or cracks easily.
✴️Hoof balance issues - excess pressure and load on a certain area or a hoof imbalance can overextend an already weak area of the wall and perpetuate wall cracks.
✴️Laminae issues - a weak laminae connection lends more susceptibility to flaring and excess leverage that can lead to cracking.
✴️Metabolic issues- on a similar vein to the last comment, metabolic issues, especially if undiagnosed or unregulated, can lead to a weakened wall and weak laminae connection. That includes PPID or EMS/IR.
✴️Toe crena/P3 bone loss or remodeling - if the coffin bone (P3) has an area of bone damage, whether congenital or due to pathology over time, the corium around that area can be damaged, making healthy wall production difficult and cause that area to be susceptible to a crack (see The Horse article with Paige Poss on wall cracks and what's underneath them!).
✴️Trim cycle - a cycle that is too long for the individual horse, especially one with weaker walls due to the problems above, can lead to wall cracking issues that are hard to get on top of if the cycle isn't shortened.
✴️Bacteria/microbial issue - sometimes, microbes can invade a weaker area of wall and eat away at the tissue underneath, perpetuating wall quality issues. This can often take topical treatment, sometimes exposing these areas to air to make anaerobic bacteria less willing to "stick around," and a better mineral balanced diet can really help build quality wall that can better withstand these pathogens.
✴️An old injury - some wall cracks stem from a scar from an injury just above the hairline that involved the coronary band. These will usually grow out to a superficial line if properly addressed.
Some horses with hoof wall cracking might need a diet adjustment, some might need a different cycle length, and some might need even need a different approach to their trim. Talk to your hoofcare provider if you're concerned, and see if there's anything you can do to work on growing them out!
