Q. I was told my horse has a quarter crack. Can you tell me what this is? I have never heard of it.
I really doubt your horse has a true quarter crack. A true quarter crack comes from an injury to the coronary band. The injury causes a lack of hoof growth in the damaged area. This results in a "crack" that goes all of the way through the outer hoof wall, they generally spread and get wider as they grow out. A horse that has this problem is usually unsound to some degree. Quarter cracks can be alleviated to a degree and many times a GOOD farrier can make it to where the horse moves soundly. A true quarter crack can generally never be cured as the damaged coronet will not grow new hoof. Shoes, clips, and staples become a part of their life.
Q. Have you had experience with this kind of thing and what is your background?
Almost 57 years practical experience as a farrier. I have shod stock horses, race horses, pleasure horses, and all kinds of gaited horses. I am a graduate of Cal Poly farrier college and have been licensed to shoe on racetracks in at least 8 states.
Q. I was told to I should use bell boots and treat with 3 in 1 ointment. What is your opinion? Thanks.
What I feel your horse has are moisture cracks, very much like if you
leave a board stand in water until it is saturated it looks fine, until
it gets out in the sun, then it cracks. Much the same thing happens to
some horses over the winter, they gather a lot of moisture, then crack
when they dry out. These are surface cracks and are usually of no consequence.
I can see no reason for the use of bell boots. Any good moisturizing ointment
would help. I use Corona salve, Bag Balm, Hooflex, and in a pinch, hog
lard!
Bob Blackwell, (Licensed Farrier, Retired)