I justlooked at an 18 yo Belgian Mare for my daughter. Her feet were tender (unshod) to cleaning with a blunt hoof pic and they were even tender using my fingers to clean. I also noticed her hooves cracked laterally from top to bottom; cracks appeared to be lifting. My farrier is out of town and I live in a very small community. . . any suggestions? My daughter really wants this mare but I can not sink this kind of money into an animal who may be damanged permanently.

If the horse is so sore that it gives to finger pressure, there is probably more going on than just cracks. I would suggest that you take this horse to a vet for a soundness exam before purchasing, or at the very least, wait for your farrier to return.