How horse hooves grow – and why this is important for all horse owners

 

Did you ever look at a horse hoof and wonder about how horse hooves grow?
If you are like most of us horse owners, probably not.  😉

Usually, we just call our hoof care specialist when the hooves are looking too long, or if there is a problem. Like a lost shoe, or a crack, or some pieces that have chipped off.

However: because of the way horse hooves grow, there is a time delay between what you do now, and the result of that.
This time delay can be weeks and even months – in some cases it can be almost a year.

That long waiting time between change and result is something every horse and pony owner should be aware of – so you can make the best hoof care decisions for your horse.

 

Simple hoof anatomy

There are more things going on, of course, but to make it very simple:
A hoof grows from the top down.
That is why, for example, it used to be recommended for hoof oils to be rubbed into the coronet band. (The coronet band is the soft area between the top of the hard hoof and the hairy skin.)

The growth rate of horse hooves is about 1 centimeter per month.

Hoof growth can be influenced by several things. For example, during spring and summer hooves usually grow faster than during winter.

Exercise makes a difference: more movement means more blood supply to the hooves, and therefore often also better growth.

And, of course, horses need a good supply of vitamins and minerals. (Just like in humans – it’s hard to keep your skin, nails and hair in good condition if you only ever eat junk food.)

 

What does this mean for my horse?

The fact that the hoof grows downwards from the top down and at a rate of about 1 centimeter per month, means this:

If you make any change in your horse’s routines that has an influence on the hooves, you will most likely not see the full result of that change until several months later.

To be clear: we are talking about changes that have an impact on the hooves. So, most likely not something like a new saddle or a new blanket.
But there are many changes that will influence both the shape and growth rate of the hooves, and also the quality of the hoof horn. Such as:

• A change in hoof care specialist (a new hoof trimmer/farrier)
• New type of trim, or shoe/shoeing
• Starting to feed a different type of hay, or a new type of concentrated food
• Starting or stopping with a supplement, vitamins or such;
• Moving stables (for example, because the horse moves less or more, or gets different food)
• Medical treatments, medications, box rest
• Illness (such as a bout of laminitis, or a hoof abscess, for example)
• And, of course: putting shoes on, or taking them off.

 

Where change will be visible first

If there is a change in any of such things now – today, or this week – you will not be able to see the effect of this change on the hooves until several weeks or even months from now.

And that change will then first be visible at the top of the hoof.

Say, for example, that your horse has hooves with a bad horn quality.
The hooves are chipping and splitting, the shoes are falling off all the time, and so on. So you start giving your horse a supplement that is supposed to improve hoof quality.

That supplement will only make a difference on the quality of the new hoof horn (not on the ‘old’ hoof that is already there).

Considering that hooves grow about 1 centimeter per month, you will start to see the new, better-quality hoof horn appearing at the top of the hooves after about 1 or two months.
And then, if you continue to give that supplement, the better-quality hoof horn will grow down the hoof in the months after that.

 

Size does not matter in horse hoof growth, but…

The size of a horse does not make a difference in how fast the hooves grow. The growth rate is the same for a small Shetland pony as for a very large horse.
It’s still about 1 centimeter per month, with some variations due to season, food, movement etc.

BUT: Using the same example as above (starting to give a hoof supplement), that means that a little pony much quicker will have a ‘whole new hoof’ than a big horse.
In horses with large hooves, it will take longer for any change to grow down the whole hoof – just because there is more hoof.

So, if the supplement is doing its work and improving hoof quality, it depends on the size of your horse’s hooves when that new, better and stronger hoof will have grown all the way down.

If you own a little pony, it might take a few months.
If you own a horse with large hooves, it might take almost a year. And all that time, the hooves might still be chipping and cracking at the bottom, because that area will be the last to improve.

 

Plan ahead and be patient

Are you thinking about taking the shoes off your horse?
Please keep this time delay in mind.

Letting your horse go barefoot can have enormous positive effects. Both on your horse’s health, and on his hoof quality. But those effects often only become visible after some time.

In other words, after taking the shoes off, it might take several months before your horse’s stronger, better hooves have grown all the way down.

Don’t give up too soon! Just keep in mind that this is part of the transition, and things will improve after a while. And if you want to support your horse, for example by giving a good hoof supplement, start as soon as possible and give it enough time to make a difference.

 

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