Answer

By Your Horse

Vet Malene Jørgensen replies:

The cause of cracks in the hoof wall is still, to an extent, unknown, but there are
a few factors involved, including:
● Weak, brittle hoof wall.
● Rough ground.
● Too long an interval between trims.
● Poor diet.
● Overuse.
● Selenium toxicity.
● Hoof imbalance.
● Inappropriate shoeing.In your horse’s case,
I suspect his hooves are not symmetrical and flat to the ground. This can indicate farriery problems, as the sole of the foot must be completely level to make an even impact on the ground. If this is not the case, the hoof wall, which hits the ground first, suffers the full impact. This can cause damage to the wall, sole, laminae and coronary band, resulting in a crack. Keep your horse in dry conditions to avoid complicating matters.If he has low, under-slung heels, long toes, flat soles or an unbalanced foot, this can cause a crack. Problems higher up his leg can also cause difficulties – toe in (carpal varus) can cause lateral quarter cracks, and toe out (carpal valgus) can cause medial quarter cracks.Bleeding from the cracks can indicate damage to the coronary band, which might require suturing, although the area should be left open if there’s a possibility of infection. There has been a lot of controversy about going barefoot.
A shoe will always compromise the natural hoof mechanism, but the barefoot programme involves more than just taking off the shoes. If your vet is experienced in this area, he should be able to advise you about the full programme and tailor it for your horse.