toe cracks

I have a Vet referral for Friday. Older STB mare, possible cushings/but no test, center toe cracks 3/4 the way up with bell shaped hooves. The owner said, he was told a pair of shoes would "fix" this situation. I mentioned my reluctance to say "I could fix it" to the new client and he seem troubled. Whereas I appreciate the faith the Vet has in my magic abilities; I wish it would have been a little under sold.

So far, with 40 plus years of experience, I have yet to have one of these broodmares, ever live long enough, to get this type of crack to grow ALL the way out.
I've heartbarred, straight barred, multiply clipped, laced, strapped & screwed, crossed nailed and fabriced and glued. I've gathered alot of hooves up, reduced the width of scores of cracks, dealt with wld and made alot of these old broads comfortable enough for another foal. But never been able to get these crack to go away forever. Possible?

Open for answers

I'm with you Brian. I have had both successes and failures with these. I think it depends on how long the crack has been there. There is one TB I do that has had a crack off and on for 10 years. Never lame. I too have " heartbarred, straight barred, multiply clipped, laced, strapped & screwed, crossed nailed and fabriced and glued." on him. You forgot to include "debrided", which I'm sure you've done. I can get the crack to go away with a couple of cycles of equicast, equi-pak and shoe after a white lightning soak, but once the equicast comes off, in a couple of cycles the crack comes back. I think there is a defect in the lamina on some of these guys, and the crack grows with the horn.

I'm interested in hearing others thoughts as well.

Regards

"debrided" was forgotten but it is always at the beginning.
My most successful qrt crack repairs always seem to happen when they come to me really lame. This mare for friday isn't lame now; maybe I should cripple her first??? lol

Brian I found a good trim and put iron were it needs to be does well, I found a bar shoe works well, I have before and after pics if it helps

John, you've managed to get these nagging toe cracks to be gone for good, on broodmares, with all their issues? I'm all ears, Sir, waiting to be schooled...

Again a good trim and and a well fitted bar shoe has given me some good results

Brian, you need to find some younger broodmares.

"Some good results". On all of them, some of them, a few of them, most of them? What exactly are you claiming?

Regards

my point was, just because I've managed to "fix" some of them in the past doesn't mean I can always do it or that they will stay fixed; too many variables.

I thought you said you havent had a brood mare live long enough to see a crack grow all the way out

younger horses with fewer issues yes. older horses lots of issues no.

regular clients=adequate care=no problems. referral clients=poor or infrequent care=major problems and they expect everything to come around and be perfect after 2-3 visits.

Well, what a non issue today's referral turned out to be. I had a conference with the attending Vet & owner and laid out costs, possible procedures and likely prognosis after viewing the xrays. When they brought the old broad out of the stall, the cracks weren't 3/4 up the hoofwall but 3/4" tall; with more than 1" to trim off. I was able to get almost all the flair removed and found a very small amount of seedly toe ( less than 1/4" diameter) which was debrided and treated with oxine, with a follow up of Durasole. Absolutely no drama and a comfortable horse jogging out on the gravel driveway. Probably more trotting, by the old horse, in a very long time.
I'm not sure who exagerated more the Vet or the owner; I shouldn't have believed either one and only relied on my own lying eyes.