Does anyone know anything about grooving a horses hooves

[CKC]

This is concerning my yearling QH however, I think it would be educational for all.

The vet was just out. My new horse came with a line dug into each one of his hooves. I did research on it before my vet came and came across grooving. She agrees that's what it looks like, but she is going to do some research. I have a farrier coming this week so hopefully, he can shed some light as well. My vet said she has seen this done to stop cracks. This isn't the case here. All four hooves have been grooved.

I will try to get a picture on here. We are a muddy mess right now and I don't know if I can take good pictures of it. It looks like if someone took a large nail and made a groove all the way around the hoof. I've never seen anything like this. These are not founder rings. Someone has intentionlly done this. What scares me is the original owners aren't answering my e-mails asking for information about him.

 

[Boinky]

yes grooving is just what you researched. You take the file and make a horizontal groove into the hoof in he fresh wall above a crack to keep it from cracking up intot he coronary band where it's very difficult to fix. the grove disperses the pressure causing the crack once it hits that groove. anyhow it's very possible it could be grooving if the vet felt it was..but if there wasn't a crack there then mabye it IS there for another reason. another thougth is, i've seen some absesse's that have busted through the coronary band and grown down the hoof that look alot like grooving... but it would be odd in myoppinion to have one in each hoof (if it was in the same spot anyhow).

 

[DebiM]

Rob, your Vet's experience with grooving is the extent of mine. One of our Quarter Horses had a crack going up one hoof when we got him. Our farrier grooved it until it completely grew out of the toe. I'd also be interested in why it was done if there aren't any cracks evident.

 

[CKC]

I just got a hold of my farrier and he explained that it could be because of cracks however, it's also, an old school way of working with the hoof formation. Don't quote me on the wording. He said so much and I can't remember a lot of it. I will get better information when he comes out.

I just got the number from his first owner( I bought him from the 2nd owner) off the coggins. He is a vet. I hope he calls me back and lets me know.

Kim

 

[whitney]

There is a whole chapter in the book "Well Shod" it is a method of getting the hoof to spread if it is done on the sole.