|
This particular case involves the
problem of “Quarter Cracks”. The term quarter crack comes from
the general area that is affected in the foot itself. The crack that
is seen in this picture is what is known as the quarter area of the
foot. Quarter cracks are usually caused by stress to that specific
area of the foot. Too small a shoe for the size of the foot can also
be a contributing factor and once that there is a quarter crack it
must be maintained correctly or it will reappear and the need to
repair again will have to be accomplished.
 The
term quarter crack comes from the general area that is affected in
the foot itself. The crack that is seen in this picture is what is
known as the quarter area of the foot. Quarter cracks are usually
caused by stress to that specific area of the foot. Too small a shoe
for the size of the foot can also be a contributing factor and once
that there is a quarter crack it must be maintained correctly or it
will reappear and the need to repair again will have to be
accomplished.
In
this situation both of the front feet are affected and are both
located on the inside quarters of the feet and have started at the
hairline and worked their way down to the ground bearing surface of
the foot (the part that actually touches the ground and helps to
support the weight of the entire leg).
In this report we will
start with working on the left front foot and continue to do so
until that is complete and then move onto the right front foot. In
order to relieve the pressure of the two sides of the crack rubbing
together and flexing in a manner that will continue to make the
quarter worse and more painful for the horse the crack area itself
has to be removed. This has been accomplished in the next photograph
with the use of a rotary tool. A great amount of care has to be used
here not to expose any sensitive tissues inside of the foot and not
to open any areas around the hairline of the horse. Doing either
will complicate to overall procedure and heeling curve of the
project. Once again the area that is within the circle is the area
that I am discussing at this time.
A quarter crack will also
start to determinate the quality of the sole tissue as well as the
wall. Comparing the two sides of the foot you will notice that the
area that has been affected by the quarter crack has begun to draw
inward and has also flattened out and does not have the same
symmetrical shape that the other side of the foot has.
Also
noticeable is that one of the heels has also been drawn inwards
(towards the frog of the foot) due to the inability of this part of
the foot to properly support it.
 This
next photo shows how the same foot looks from the rear and has
affected the entire right side of the foot. Not only has the heel of
the foot turned inward and is unable to properly support itself, but
the upper structure of the same side of the foot has changed to take
some of the support load and placed it to the internal parts of the
foot. This throws the entire structure and balance of that foot and
front end of the horse out of its proper alignment.
With
the drawing inward of the heel has made the foot operate in a manner
that allows the foot to roll over to the right rather than at the
front of the foot affecting the stride and flight pattern of the
foot and leg.
What
has to be accomplished is to allow for all of the changes that have
happened to the foot and allow these same problems to be allowed to
be corrected and put back to as close to normal as can be
accomplished. It was the actions of mankind that created this
problem; this is not a problem that would have happened to a horse
if it had been allowed to run free and barefooted. So it is our
responsibility to put it back the way it should be.
What
has to be accomplished first is the relieving of all stress that has
caused the quarter crack to happen and progress to this point.
Initially lose and dying tissue of the wall was removed along with
all evidence of the crack. Next we need to accomplish what is
referred to as “Floating the Heel” of the foot. Doing this will
remove all weight to that specific area of the foot. If there is no
pressure and or stress to that specific area of the foot the crack
will not progress and hopefully start to regress.
Once that the heel has been floated it needs to be able to
properly support the weight and allow for the removal of stress from
the foot itself. This is accomplished through the use of a straight
bar shoe. This particular shoe allows the placement of the nail
holes where they are needed to properly attach the shoe to the foot
and have the nail holes where they are needed. Notice that the
inside nail holes, where the heel has been floated, are all towards
the toe of the foot. This is due to the fact that past that point
there is no foot touching the shoe and therefore there is nothing to
nail to. Also notice that bulbs of the foot have been drawn to one
side due to the stress that has been placed on the foot. In
addition, the frog has been drawn out of line and also curves toward
the quarter crack due to the stress.
 Once
that the foot is placed on the ground it appears that a great amount
of shoe has been left exposed and the possibility of the horse
stepping on it and pulling off the shoe will result. That is an
excuse; the shoe has been placed on the foot in a manner that shows
what the proper shape of the foot should be. It is important here to
realize that horses feet grow to pressure points. The foot was draw
inward and under itself with pressure and it can also be brought
back to its proper place and balance with the control of the
pressure. This will also aid in the support of the foot in a manner
that will stop the rolling under of the foot and specifically the
area of the heel.
Looking
at the back of the foot it can be seen that the foot is better
supported as well as the additional support that is realized with
the aid of the shoe.
The
next photo shows the amount of space that was created through the
floating of the heel.
With
the use of this specific shoe the redistribution of the weight of
the affected area of the foot has been transferred to the entire
shoe and the principles of the weight being absorbed by the circular
design of the shoe.
Once
that the foot is placed on the ground and the horse is allowed to
try it out and start to support their weight properly they \adjust
very quickly and start to realize that there is comfort in what is
being accomplished.
 
Once that the required
farrier work is accomplished it is time to look at the balance of
the foot that has been accomplished. The hairline is not properly
balanced and will not be for a period of time, it has been a victim
of the internal stress and needs time to readjust to the proper
position that is now being accomplished. This will change with time
and redistribution of the weight to its proper point.
This
photo shows the same foot once that the acrylic based filler was
applied and allowed to set up. Doing this will allow for a better
looking finished job and will also aid in the supporting of the
weakened tissues of the hoof wall.
The
use of acrylic fillers should only be used when there is no exposed
cuts or weeping areas that could become infected and abscess under
the acrylic material. Those situations need to drain and breath,
The
other foot was treated and trimmed, shod and supported in the same
manner. I feel that there is no need to go through and rehash the
process that we have already covered, but there is a picture of the
two feet in their finished condition.
|
