horizontal cracks

[rides2far@juno.com (Angela C. McGhee)]

 By the time he was 6 he was developing 
>=
>the odd
>horizontal cracks across the front of the hooves, though he was sound 

The horizontal cracks sound exactly like what I've seen as a result of
giving a horse too much Selenium, that's not to say the other stuff isn't
what messed up the horse.  However, I noticed our horses' hoof quality
went down while supplementing selenium, then another friend who was
heavily dosing his horse got the horizontal cracks thing.  Have since
noticed quite a few endurance horses who show signs of this.  Since I
don't have a horse with a history of tying up, I only give selenium at
times when I think he's at the greatest risk...after a few days off, in
competition, etc.  That may not be smart, but it feels right.  

When I was a kid I was an avid trailrider.  Got my cousin to go with me
on her really super Appaloosa show horse which had also set a track
record at 440 in Pompano.  She got a little ticked off that our horses
handled the mountain better and wanted to show us up.  She passed us WIDE
OPEN on the pavement.  The mare broke a coffin bone and guess who got
blamed for talking her into taking such a valuable horse on a trail ride.
 

Angie

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