THIS CONTINUING series features farriers commenting on a question sent in by an American Farriers Journal reader. If you have a question, we’d like to pass it on to our panel. Send it to American Farriers Journal, P.O. Box 624, Brookfield, WI 53008-0624 or fax: (414) 782-1252 or e-mail: (info@lesspub.com).

Q:

“ How do you deal with quarter cracks on horses that can’t take time off and need to be used for competition, such as racehorses?”

—California farrier

A:

“ “First, remember there is no such thing as a horse that can’t take time off. Not all horses will respond to the treatment of a quarter crack and become 100-percent sound.

“A quarter crack is a relatively minor soundness problem that, if dealt with properly, will be completely remedied within months in most cases. However, if the horse is made to perform with the crack still bothering it, the result can be much greater soundness problems.

“It’s the farrier’s responsibility to recognize when a horse’s condition will require time off and let the owner know.

“When dealing with quarter cracks, the first job is to get the hoof balanced and landing flat on the ground. Once you have accomplished that and a few days have passed without the horse being sound, the crack may need a patch placed to keep it from moving. I use fiberglass and acrylic.

“Make sure the area is very clean and always add a drain in case an infection occurs. I like to…