Sandcracks
These are vertical cracks that develop in the hoof wall.They either start at ground level and extend upwards to the coronary band, or, more seriously, start at the coronary band and grow downwards towards the bearing surface of the hoof wall.
Cause
Sandcracks which originate from the coronary band are generally caused by a defect in the band which results from a wound to that point.
Large wounds, infection or bruises breaking out at the coronary band cause a horizontal crack which extends partway round the circumference of the hoof wall.
Cracks that extend from the ground surface upwards are caused by an unbalanced or overgrown foot. The unequal forces acting on the foot cause separation of the horn tubules, which extends up the foot until the bond between tubules is stronger than the separation force.
Symptoms
Many horses develop superficial sandcracks and never become lame. Nevertheless, sandcracks can reach into the sensitive layers of the hoof wall or extend into the coronary band, and in these more serious cases, infection can develop, resulting in acute lameness.
Full thickness quarter cracks, occuring generally on the lateral quarter of the hoof wall, weaken the structural integrity of the hoof. Movement between the two sections of hoof causes pain and inflammation of that foot.
Treatment
-An infected sandcrack must be trimmed out, and all evidence of infection removed.
-Antibiotic treatment will probably be needed.
-Once the horse is sound, the defect can be stabilised by different methods of fixation.
-Sandcracks coming from the ground surface generally respond to regular foot trimming and balancing.
