Permanent hoof crack

[KathyShack]

I’m putting this in the endurance group looking for feedback from anyone who’s has experience doing races with a horse with a permanent hoof crack. Was there anything preventative you did or hoofcare you did different? Any issues with vet checks?

I have a mustang that came with a permanent crack (probably hit his coronet as some point) and he hasn’t had any soundness issues. His crack is on the inside of his hind foot, in the quarter area, so not affecting the toe or heel. I did ~5 mile group ride without boots and it ended up being rockier than planned; he long trotted happily throughout and had some wall chips but not sore. I’m getting him fitted for easyboots now to take on trails and if I get into longer distances consistently glue on shoes, but in our hard ground of the pasture he has no issues. I do apply hoof armor once a month as well.

[Klevie]

Disclaimer, I’m not an Endurance rider, but I swear by Hoof Armour/Guard to fill in any cracks and it provides an extra layer of protection to the hoof. The instructions on the bottle are super easy to follow and I usually apply it every other day since my horse lives out 24/7. Good luck!

[tabula_rashah]

My older Morgan mare has permanent damage to her hoof that will never fill in (long story). She is also missing part of her coffin bone in that hoof. For just regular riding, she goes in Easy Boot Gloves. When we were still doing endurance and CTR, she went in Easy Care glue ons. She reacts very strongly to traditional shoes being nailed on, so we don’t do that. I’ve never had a problem with it cracking more because of doing an endurance ride.

[OzarksRider]

I don’t do endurance, but I do trail ride over very rocky ground. My horse has a persistent crack in one of his front toes, likely the result of damage to the laminae from a laminitis episode ten years ago. I diligently keep his hooves trimmed and apply White Line B Gone about once a week or so to prevent seedy toe and abscesses. In ten years he’s had only one abscess, and that was before I started using White Line B Gone. He’s perfectly sound and lives barefoot. I ride with Scoot Boots front and back and he travels like a tank.