A technique that does not penetrate the hoof wall
The photos shown present a technique used by Swiss farrier Aaron Gygax while he was working at Rood & Riddle’s Equine Podiatry Clinic (~2004 thru early 08). It is one of several techniques that can be successfully used to stabilize a crack and pre-supposes the crack is dry and no longer weeping or suppurating. This technique does not require the farrier to drill holes in the hoof wall in cases where the hoof wall is compromised & may not support the loads imposed by a conventional lacing process.
Conventional Lacing — Hoof wall drilled
Non-Penetrating Method — Bolster applied to wall
Hoof with original quarter crack repair shown. Crack is dry & not weeping or suppurating.
Start with braided Spectra or Poly-Vectran fabric and pieces of stainless welding rod or bar (~ 1/16 inch dia)
Saturate the fabric with standard acrylic adhesive, fold over the bar and apply to one side of the crack..
Stretch wrap the fabric bolster to hold it in place while the acrylic adhesive cures. Repeat this process to build a similar bolster on the other side of the crack. The foot can be placed on the ground during this cure period.
Remove the stretch wrap. You now have two “bolsters” that will distribute the suture tensile load over a large surface area on either side of the crack. In addition, you will drill holes for lacing behind & under the metal rod & bolster. The hoof wall is NOT penetrated.
Drill holes for the lacing sutures. A 1/16 inch diameter drill will be suitable. No risk to hoof wall.
Insert the suture wires using the backing plates.
Secure the sutures with a backing plate. It is not necessary to over-tighten as the wires are twisted in the center like a turn-buckle for accurate tension control.
Tension lacing sutures by twisting in the center likie a turnbuckle for accurate tension control
Once the sutures are accurately tightened, fill the center of the repair area between the bolsters to encapsulate the wires. A simple mixture of acrylic & fibers will secure the repair.
At the same time you are filling the center of the repair, apply a saturated layer of repair fabric to add strength. – CobraSox braid is shown here –Kevlar- Carbon Fiber.
Apply multiple layers of stretch-wrap over the repair to secure the work and accelerate the acrylic adhesive cure.
The acrylic adhesive is radiolucent and will allow radiographs to document the suture positioning.
Repair finished and shoe nailed on hoof.
Repair finished and shoe nailed on hoof.
Braided polymeric repair fabrics are available from Sound Horse
Stainless Steel Sutures and backing plates are available from Sound Horse Technologies
