Hoof cracks are a common occurrence in the feet of many domesticated horses, and they can range in severity from a minor blemish to a cause of serious lameness. Causative factors can vary widely, ranging from injury to imbalance of the foot. Generally speaking, minor hoof cracks are of little concern to the owner, farrier, and veterinarian, while serious cracks can compromise the horse’s ability to perform. Of course, there is always the danger that a minor crack can turn into a severe one if it is not dealt with quickly.

Crucial to good hoof health and prevention of cracks is foot balance that allows the hoof to strike the ground evenly, says Lee McKinney, of Riverton, Wyo., who is currently celebrating her 25th anniversary as a farrier. (McKinney is a graduate of the Montana State Horseshoeing School in Bozeman and has written farrier articles for Western Horseman.)

“Many cracks are caused by imbalanced feet,” she says. When that is believed to be the cause, the important thing is to deal with the root of the problem and get the foot back into proper balance.

“Sometimes it involves something as simple as trimming or rasping off flared out edges of hoof that have caused the foot to be out of balance, and sometimes it involves proper shoeing,” she says