Posted 2022-08-25 10:31 AM Subject: Quarter Crack nightmare
Veteran
Posts: 287
I need you guys experience/input on anything and everything that worked/didn't work in getting a horse through having quarter crack. It is the result of a severely cut heel bulb that went from the cartlidge into the coronary band, right front foot. The heel is completely unstable and he's currently in a bar shoe which is making the lameness worse. I've been through two farriers so far, one wanted to ignore it and slap a shoe on, consider it good, the second one put this bar shoe on and won't come back to reset it. Had the vet out to try to cut some heel up off the shoe, didn't help. The vet does farrier work as well and I'm on his non-emergency list to come back and put a pad under it, he said he's had success with that on other horses. So what have you guys experienced? How long does it take to get it stable once the load is off of it? Any residual issues? Hoping this last question is a no because I don't think my pocket book can stand much more of this! Thanks in advance for your time!
Quarter cracks are usually due to uneven loading on the hoof. The crack forms in the weakest (scar) place to try to adjust the load. They need to be "floated" to keep the pressure off of them. Sometimes a bar shoe is used along with the float. With aggressive, dedicated management, most of them can be grown out. X-rays are necessarily to make sure mediolateral balance is correct.
You're not far from Sammy Pittman , he's a vet and farrier. I'd see if he could help.