Finally figured out a better way to handle quarter cracks, but I'm still lost on one part

So I had this mare with a nasty quarter crack that just would not hold a patch. After trying a few things, I switched to using a bar shoe with some extra support, and it actually stayed put this time, which is a huge relief. The horse is moving way better now, and the owner was super happy. But here's the thing, I'm not totally sure why the bar shoe worked when nothing else did. I mean, I've read about pressure points and all, but seeing it in person has me thinking. Maybe it's about how the weight gets spread out? If anyone has run into this, I'd love to hear your thoughts, lol.

2 comments

2 Comments

grant8569h ago

A bar shoe works because it stops the hoof from spreading apart at the heel. That's what lets the crack finally sit still and heal. Spreading out the weight isn't the main point, it's about locking the mechanics of the back half of the hoof. If the heels can't move, the crack can't flex open.

jennifer_kelly184h ago

Locking the mechanics, huh, so that's grant856's fancy way of saying it finally quit wiggling.