HOOF cracks, in the wall of the horse’s foot, can range from a cosmetic blemish to a serious cause of lameness and pain. They can run vertically or horizontally (parallel to the coronary band).
A vertical crack that begins at the coronary band is called a sand crack, whereas one that appears to originate from the bottom of the hoof wall is known as a grass crack.
Knowing how the hoof wall grows and how it is structured helps in understanding the significance of hoof cracks.