Hoof Plates is one of the craftable items in the game. Users in the Blacksmithing stream can produce it using aluminum.

Course Article

Treating Toe Cracks

Toe cracks are a common hoof wall defect that can occur in horses. There are many possible causes of quarter cracks, including coronet injuries, poor farriery, poor quality hoof wall, white line disease or hoof capsule distortion. Hoof capsule distortion is the most common cause, because it leads to abnormal strain on certain areas of the foot leading to wall failure. Distortion may be caused by poor farriery, but could also be related to limb conformation.

Toe cracks are cracks that occur directly in the middle of the hoof wall, on the front side of the foot. They can range from small, less severe cracks, to cracks that extend all the way from the ground surface to the coronet band. Severe cracks can take up to a year to grow out completely.

Toe crack management starts with determining and correcting the underlying cause of the crack if possible. This can be done by balancing the foot appropriately. Then, the farrier will attempt to stabilize the hoof wall to prevent the hoof from cracking further as the hoof grows. The cracked area should also be washed with iodine to help dry out the crack and prevent infection.

Stabilizing toe cracks is primarily done using hoof plates, which are long aluminum plates that can span across the toe crack. These plates are then screwed into the hoof wall using very short screws. By using this metal plate, the hoof is stabilized and the crack is preventing from spreading upwards towards the coronet band.

One major downside of using metal plates to treat toe cracks is the creation of other holes in the hoof wall, which can potentially lead to further cracking. Therefore, the hoof should be maintained with proper trimming and proper nutrition throughout the treatment process as a preventative measure.

In Oxer to Oxer, applying hoof plates to a horse diagnosed with a toe crack will reduce their recovery time by half. This product is crafted by users in the Blacksmithing stream using three aluminum ingots.

1. Pleasant, R.S., O'Grady, S.E., McKinlay, I. Farriery for Hoof Wall Defects: Quarter Cracks and Toe Cracks. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice 2012;28:393-406.