Quarter Crack
in the horse's hoof

Quarter crack: It can be a mild superficial sand crack, or a deep fissure that goes through the hoof wall into the sensitive laminae below. Bleeding, infection and lameness are all possible consequences.

Early recognition and correct treatment can save a lot of future trouble. What should you look for? What can you do to help prevent it? How can you treat it? Can you repair it? In the next pages: detailed close-up photos and images, farrier analysis, orthopaedic shoeing, natural balancing.

The quarters of the hoof include the areas between the heels and the front curve of the toe. The hoof wall tends to be thinner and weaker at the quarters, and thicker and stronger in the toe area.

A quarter-crack is a crack that appears in the wall of the hoof, in the area known as the quarter. It can:

• start at the base of the hoof and move up
  
• manifest in the hoof wall
  
• originate in the coronary band
  

  The cracks can be vertical -   going straight into the hoof wall;

 or irregular - including:

•   a double quartercrack - two    cracks running side by side;
  

•   a quarter crack that penetrates   the hoof wall at an   angle
  

• Thin hoof walls
  
• Contracted feet
  

External factors can also contribute to the development:

• Dry hooves and brittle hoof walls tend to split more easily than feet that are moist.
  
• A hoof that is overlong, unbalanced, or displaying 'flares' puts extra pressure on hoof walls.
  
• An injury to hoof or coronet can result in a 'weak spot'.
  

Sand crack is a wider term, used to describe any vertical crack in the horse's hoof. This crack can be a toe crack, a quarter crack, or a heel crack. Quarter cracks are the most common. (In everyday conversation, a heel crack is sometimes incorporated under the more general 'quarter crack'.)

Photo record of quarter crack work continues. To access the next pages, click on the links below. See our farrier pages on White line disease, and Principles of Horseshoeing. Full Site Index - menu bar.

Home Page

contact us

---

Just a reminder that all the photographs on this website are copyrighted. If you wish to reproduce a photograph from any page on this website, anywhere, in any form, consult our legal page, and contact us.

Copyright © 2005-2008 andalusians-for-you.com.

---

Page subjects are listed in the navigation buttons on the left. For a quick summary of what’s in each page, browse the site map at the bottom of the home page.
We invite your comments and queries. Just contact us

Copyright © 2005-2008 andalusians-for-you.com.
This internet site is protected by international copyright law. All rights reserved. For Copyright details, Disclaimer, Privacy Policy and Terms of Use see Legal page