Many times when cracks begin, it is because the hoof wall is too long. Since you are noticing cracks in rear feet, this suggests that the horse might be forging as a result of a toe that is too long. Cracks and chipping are nature's way of reducing the impact being put onto the hoof to release pressure. Typically, the weather conditions do not contribute to cracking; however, this may be a secondary cause related to hoof length. Very few hoof cracks penetrate the white line or other internal structures. Most are surface cracks, even though they look bad.
We recommend that you contact your farrier for an on-site evaluation and to establish a regular trimming schedule. If it has been a while since your horse was trimmed, then you may need more frequent service at first.
Find out more about the rate of hoof growth at How a Horse's Hoof Grows, and use this rate to estimate how fast the crack will grow out. Since the crack is two-thirds the way up the hoof, it will take quite some time for it to grow out. However, stabilizing the crack with a shoe will prevent it from growing further up the hoof and requiring more time to grow out. The average hoof grows one-fourth to three-eighths of an inch per month. Since the average hoof is 3 to 4 inches in length, the horse grows a new hoof every year. If you measure the length of the crack, you can calculate approximately how long it will take to grow out based on how fast a hoof grows. If the crack is 1 inch long, it will take about four months to grow out based on the hoof growing ΒΌ-inch per month.
