Large hoof crack: Here’s a really good example of how adjusting the environmentals can help the hoof heal itself…
This mare has had problems with hoof cracks for a while, and the owner was very concerned about the crack on this hoof which had got a lot worse over the winter.
Here’s the crack at its worst..(12 Apr)
When I saw the hooves, I realised that they were beyond my stage of learning, so I took advice from the excellent Sally Bell of Hoof-Help Bristol and asked her to come and see them. We also discussed with the owner what could be done whilst waiting for the appointment. So over the last three weeks the owner has:
– moved the horse onto drier pasture
– soaked the hooves in a milton solution twice a week
– packed the cracks with artimud (a topical antifungal/antibacterial paste)
– and removed a hoof supplement from the diet, which, coupled with the balancer was over delivering copper..
Heres the photo from the first trim that Sally did…..
There is only 20 days difference between these two shots!
What surprised us is that there was no seedy toe or white line disease, so it appears that the hoof infection was in the outer wall only, and now its been given the opportunity too, it’s healing pretty rapidly.
And now here’s the hoof at its second trim, about 5 weeks later….
The owners has been diligently packing with Artimud & the depth of the crack is reducing nicely – especially compared to the first piccie. The best thing is, is that the top of the crack is now nowhere near the coronary band.. happy days!!
Heres the most recent photo…taking in late September, so thats 51/2 months later… not bad eh?
