Delaminating Hooves! Help!

[Tranquillity]

My 6 year old gelding has hooves that are delaminating. Basically everyday big pieces of his hoof are falling off. He's in perfect condition and every hoof except his left back one is in perfect shape with the occasional tiny split. How can I prevent his hoof from becoming more damaged? Do I get him shod? Help! I don't know what to do! :(

[ponyvet]

I'd certainly ask a farrier to take a look, but shoeing may or may not help depending on how the cracks are forming. The farrier will be able to fill the cracks and may be able to bridge them to stabilise them. If they are forming from the ground upwards a bar shoe will help hold the hoof in place, but what you need to do is find out why the cracks are forming. There are a few reasons why, one being nutritional, as a result of a niotin deficiency. You could try feeding farriers formula to combat this. Another reason may be that he just has very dry hooves, and they become very flaky. Farriers formula will also help this, so would applying hoof oil daily.

A hoof probelm like this needs a long time to recover, so expect it to take up to a year or more, as it takes 9 months for the hoof to grow from top to bottom, and anything you start today will take at least that long to show up.

[Wally]

Get the farrier!

There are some glue on shoes which can be used if the horn cannot take nails.

Are you in a dry environment?

What breed?

Keratex Hoof hardner is good, I've used this with good results.