Hoof: White Line
This is a very, very basic look at white line and its importance.
This hoof has the progression, so it was a good example to use.
This whole topic is a little confusing. The “White Line” is actually yellow in colour. The “Waterline” is actually white in colour. There are different variations that people call different things like Seedy Toe, White Line Disease, Hoof Wall Separation, etc. .
So lets just get down to the very, very basic.
The hoof wall is connected by the White Line. Ideally, you want this to be a “tight white line”. When it’s healthy like that, it is impervious. You can’t open it up with your hoof pick, thrush can’t get a handle on it, etc. . This is shown by the white line in the toe of this hoof. Strong, with good, tight connection.
Then we move over and see where thrush has begun to get a hold and invade. By the time we get to the quarters, you can see where the thrush is eating away at the hoof and there is a separation between the wall and sole. You can also see how the thrush is continuing to work it’s way up that wall, in between, looking like thin, black cracks. Those were under huge chunks of black thrush.
Suffice to say: tight white line is good. Separation is bad.
Simple enough? 😁
