Crack on the crown of the hoof
A horse's hooves need to be well cared for because it cannot walk on bad or diseased hooves. Avoid cracking the hoof by getting a blacksmith to do his job on a regular basis. Hoof ulcers, which can also emerge on the hoof crown, can usually be avoided in this way.
A healthy hoof is the basis for a smooth movement
Any horse, no matter how good, is only as good as its worst hoof allows it to be. Healthy, well-groomed hooves are the basis for the entire range of motion, uncorrected misalignments can cause serious problems.
- A healthy hoof grows evenly from top to bottom, there are neither cracks on the hoof crown nor dents, notches or depressions on the surface.
- It becomes evenly wider towards the bottom so that the weight can be distributed over a larger area. The front hoof in particular, which bears the main burden, has a larger, round shape. Seen from below, the rear hoof is rather slightly V-shaped because the thrust comes from the Hindquarters comes and a hoof shaped in this way finds hold on the ground more easily without slipping get.
- Heel, frog and pads should be healthy and strong and be on a level with direct contact with the ground.
- The sole is of course slightly arched without a blacksmith having to lend a hand.
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Cracks on the hoof crown are usually caused by ulcers
- There is always a reason for cracks on the hoof crown, in the rarest of cases the horse has injured itself there.
- Such cracks are very often caused by foci of pus lying on the edge, so-called hoof ulcers.
- Uneven and incorrect pressure conditions within the hoof cause these ulcers to develop, as inflammation occurs within the hoof.
- This pus seeks its way into the open air, this also often happens via the edge of the hoof crown.
- Once the pus has drained, the hoof usually grows back without any problems, the self-healing process of the hoof is enormous.
What to watch out for with hooves
- Cracks on the hoof crown should be prevented if possible. You can do this if you have the hooves regularly checked and trimmed by a specialist. Not every farrier knows his craft equally well, so be careful and critical when choosing your blacksmith.
- A hoof ulcer usually announces itself. The horse becomes extremely sensitive to pain, the pulsation at the coffin joint is greatly accelerated. This is due to the increased blood flow to reduce the ulcer. Many Horses get a fever or lose weight during this phase. These are all red flags that you should act upon when they occur. Call your hoof specialist and let them assess the situation. He may open the ulcer to drain the pus. The horse would be instantly relieved. But it may also be that he would like to give the ulcer the opportunity to independently find its way into the open in order to avoid unnecessarily large cracks on the edge of the crown or on the sole of the hoof. He will then water the hoof and possibly use a pulling ointment.
It is very important that you react to the slightest sign of such an ulcer and contact the hoof specialist or call the vet, because this is the only way your horse can be helped without damage such as cracks to the hoof crown.
