Had a horse with chronic quarter cracks finally hold a shoe after switching to a heart bar

This gelding at the barn in Springfield had quarter cracks on both fronts for like 8 months, and nothing we tried kept a shoe on for more than 3 weeks. Last month, the vet and I decided to try a heart bar shoe with some acrylic filler. Just saw him yesterday, and it's been a solid 6 weeks with no issues and the hoof wall is finally growing down smooth. Anyone else had a tough case turn around with a specific shoeing change?

3 comments

3 Comments

samf953mo ago

Heart bars are a game changer for that exact problem. Seen it work on a few tough feet when nothing else would hold. The extra support from the bar takes pressure off the cracked wall. Really glad to hear your guy is finally getting some solid growth.

jenkins.alice1mo ago

Read a study that said heart bars distribute weight way more evenly across the hoof.

hannah_price793mo ago

Sounds a bit over the top for a cracked hoof, honestly.