Ridges on hooves

[Cat]

Are ridges on hooves always bad?

Rascal has a very prominent ridge on all 4 hooves. However, this one seems a little different than many of the laminitic ridges I've seen in the past and I wonder if it just has to do with his change in care. Remember - I got him a little over 2 months ago and he was in poor condition. I tried to take pictures but none of them turned out.

Well about 1 of my finger widths down there is a ridge. Above the ridge the wall seems a bit darker in color and is "tighter" in that it likes flush with the cornet band. Below this ridge it is lighter in color and the wall is flush with the "top" part of the ridge down to the ground. Not sure if I am explaining that part clearly. Also his hooves crack easily right now. There is no heat and he is sound.

Is there a chance that I am feeding him too rich of food, or since that top part is flush with the cornet is it just indicating he is finally getting the nutrients and care he needs?

[WashingtonBay]

I would fully expect to see a ridge that would have shown up in the hoof that has grown since you got him. We saw a significant ridge in Cyn's feet that represented the change when we bought her.

Any significant change can cause a ridge, even if they were not in a neglect situation before. I've used in the past that the hoof grows 1/4 to 1/2 an inch a month, and generally the whole hoof will grow out to the ground in a year. So depending on your fingers, that may be 2 months easily.

It's too bad the pics didn't turn out because it would help show if it's really abnormal.

Abnormal and good to worry about is if the ridge/ridges are not growing down the hoof evenly and parallel to the coronary band. If they seem 'bunched up' at the toe and further apart at the heel, for example, that can indicate previous a founder situation, or a club foot.

Below is Cyn's ridge about half grown out. And it's about 6 months after we got her.

[Cat]

Thanks WB! I will try to get new pics today if it stops raining .

[WashingtonBay]

I edited and added a pic, to see. I don't have one that shows it real clear, but I found that. Just one big ridge.

[AUEquine]

Ridges are normal, they show any change in your horses care. Change in feed, adding removing a supplement, change in location, etc.

[westmanfarrier]

So long as the ridges are parallel and fairly straight, no worries.

We do not like it when they are tighter in one spot and spaced more in others. If the rings are very close together at the toe and drop at the heel or are spaced apart more, that is an indicator that you are growing heel and not toe, which can be big problems.

[Dakota Sunrise]

I didn't know horses could get hoof ridges just from a change in care/diet. Learn something new every day!

Beauty has a ridge type deal thingy on her front right hoof. It's from that abscess she had back in February that blew out at the coronary band. It's growing out, slowly. I wish it would hurry up because her hooves look horrible right now. She's always had weak hooves that chip easyly, and having that big ridge with the slit in it is making the cracks and chips so much worse. The farrier comes next Monday, the 26th. Hopefully she'll behave herself for him this time. She's been doing great for me. But then I think she likes me better than she likes the farrier. He's a nice guy though, hopefully she'll learn to like him.

[natisha]

I didn't know horses could get hoof ridges just from a change in care/diet. Learn something new every day!

Beauty has a ridge type deal thingy on her front right hoof. It's from that abscess she had back in February that blew out at the coronary band. It's growing out, slowly. I wish it would hurry up because her hooves look horrible right now. She's always had weak hooves that chip easyly, and having that big ridge with the slit in it is making the cracks and chips so much worse. The farrier comes next Monday, the 26th. Hopefully she'll behave herself for him this time. She's been doing great for me. But then I think she likes me better than she likes the farrier. He's a nice guy though, hopefully she'll learn to like him.Beauty doesn't need to like him, she needs to respect him & obey him & you. That's what all your hard work has been about. According to my shoer her lameness comes from that area on her right hoof, hope your farrier addresses that.

[Dakota Sunrise]

Beauty doesn't need to like him, she needs to respect him & obey him & you. That's what all your hard work has been about. According to my shoer her lameness comes from that area on her right hoof, hope your farrier addresses that.

You're right, I should have worded that differently. I don't need her to like him, just respect him without being afraid. That's my goal. Nothing he does should surprise her now, I've done just about everything the farrier will do with her hooves and she's been awesome for me. But you know that, you've seen the videos.:p

I'm sure your farrier is right and her soundness issues all are from that front right hoof. I figured that out myself. I'm hoping when the abscess grows out all the way it won't chip as much and her hooves will improve.