Yann
I should of course have included infection as something that can change things quite fast.
However with the flaring I have an observation/ question. The hoof horn material that has flared wasn't metabolically synthesised recently, well certainly little of it. Much of it was laid down a while ago and has been slowly coming down as the hoof wall grows from the top. Exactly how do you propose that recent metabolic changes have weakened it when this material really isn't metabolically very active? Just what changes in its structure do you think have suddenly been induced?
Either it was poorly lain down months ago due to nutriton then (and also thats perhaps where some of the genetic problems of thoroghbreds may be being expressed), but didn't buckle or degrade in the interim or it has weakened due to a prolonged period of environmental insult as it has grown down, finally showing itself as weakened horn when it is close to the bearing surface.
I do realise that it isn't strictly either or, these are complex multifactorial situations which will probably never have a unique cause and effect relationship established. However recent metabolic changes being the primary active in an essentially metabolically inactive tissue doesn't seem likely.
Additionally, whilst I have reservations about Keratex because it makes things brittle it does make hooves hard, and hard hooves rarely flare, except if there are multiple cracks and then lumps tend to chip off rather than the classic flare. The rational behind Keratex, ie cross linking of Horn, preventing some of the adverse effects of prolonged exposure to water is I think essentially correct. It's just that I think circa 5% formaldehyde solution (ie Keratex) isn't the best way of doing this.
I should of course have included infection as something that can change things quite fast.
However with the flaring I have an observation/ question. The hoof horn material that has flared wasn't metabolically synthesised recently, well certainly little of it. Much of it was laid down a while ago and has been slowly coming down as the hoof wall grows from the top. Exactly how do you propose that recent metabolic changes have weakened it when this material really isn't metabolically very active? Just what changes in its structure do you think have suddenly been induced?
Either it was poorly lain down months ago due to nutriton then (and also thats perhaps where some of the genetic problems of thoroghbreds may be being expressed), but didn't buckle or degrade in the interim or it has weakened due to a prolonged period of environmental insult as it has grown down, finally showing itself as weakened horn when it is close to the bearing surface.
I do realise that it isn't strictly either or, these are complex multifactorial situations which will probably never have a unique cause and effect relationship established. However recent metabolic changes being the primary active in an essentially metabolically inactive tissue doesn't seem likely.
Additionally, whilst I have reservations about Keratex because it makes things brittle it does make hooves hard, and hard hooves rarely flare, except if there are multiple cracks and then lumps tend to chip off rather than the classic flare. The rational behind Keratex, ie cross linking of Horn, preventing some of the adverse effects of prolonged exposure to water is I think essentially correct. It's just that I think circa 5% formaldehyde solution (ie Keratex) isn't the best way of doing this.