Hoof growth spurt?

[Ron Oldenbeuving]

I do a regular run out to a few country towns every 8 weeks (all trims, no shoeings). At one of my customers yesterday, I saw a 12hh welsh pony that had a laminitc episode when I was last there. This little bugger lives in a paddock which appears to have virtually no grazing whatsoever, is fed no other feed aside from what it can scrounge, but gains weight at the drop of a hat. He has a prior history of laminitis. Last time I was there, I trimmed him up pretty much as normal and suggested it was time he went into the pig-pen (stall) again till he lost weight. When I arrived yesterday, he had been out in the paddock for only a week (yes, he had lost weight), but he had grown about 1 1/2" of hoof. The owner stated that most of this growth had occured in the first 3 weeks after my previous visit. Your thoughts please.

[George Geist]

Ron,
I know our seasons are opposite which is it down there now spring or summer?

In rainy sping especially but also in summer horses hooves do grow faster. As you know in winter it the protiens in their bodies go to growing hair. In the warm months it goes to growing hoof.

Diet and excercise have a lot to do with it too as well as heartbeat OOPS! thats an AFA certification question! Forget you all heard that, we all know correct answers are forbidden to be known! lol

Anyway has diet, excercise or climate changed recently?
George

[Ron Oldenbeuving]

Ron,
I know our seasons are opposite which is it down there now spring or summer?

In rainy sping especially but also in summer horses hooves do grow faster. As you know in winter it the protiens in their bodies go to growing hair. In the warm months it goes to growing hoof.

Diet and excercise have a lot to do with it too as well as heartbeat OOPS! thats an AFA certification question! Forget you all heard that, we all know correct answers are forbidden to be known! lol

Anyway has diet, excercise or climate changed recently?
GeorgeIts early summer here, but winter was very dry this year (about 1/3 normal rainfall) so officially we are in drought. Its gotten very hot very early, so looks to be a very long hot summer. Horse was actually put on restricted rations to reduce weight, which it did.

[George Geist]

Ron,
Might it be a cushing's syndrome case?
George

[THamilton]

From my experience, I have noticed that laminitic horses/ponies grow faster than "normal".- is there such a thing? :rolleyes: It might not be growth but distortion that we/you are seeing in these cycles.. I have noticed this on horses that are dry lotted and on reduced rations. What type of rations is this pony on? It might be nutrient rich which might be some of the issue. Even if it is losing weight, and still on a grain of sorts, that could be the cause. But who knows??? :D

Good day,
Tony

[LoriKayR]

I do many foundered ponies and several horses and yes most do grow faster than normal also the heat has a lot to do with hoof growth rate, as a very wise older farrier explained to me circulation increases and pores open up to help cool the body and so more circulation to hoof growth Lori