White line disease is a smoldering problem that hides in your horse’s foot until it breaks free, causing the hoof wall to break down and your horse to become sore.
The disease actually starts in front of the white line, which is the soft inner layer of the hoof wall. The process begins after something else causes the hoof wall to start separating from deeper tissues — anything that changes the hoof’s shape or function. This allows bacteria and fungal organisms to invade and set up house.
Affected horses aren’t lame at first — only when tissue damage has progressed. Your farrier may be the first to notice a problem.
Treatment of white line disease centers on removing the detached hoof material and keeping the foot dry and clean until it heals. It requires diligent veterinary and farrier care — and lots of patience on your part.