Hoof Growth

Hoof growth often becomes a common topic while I am working under a horse. How fast? How much? And especially coming into winter, many people ask if it is true that hoof growth slows during the winter months. Personally, I think there are other factors involved that make it appear as though the hoof is growing slower.
But first let me mention a few ideas concerning hoof growth in general. A typical hoof will grow about an inch every 3 – 4 months. (That’s typically a new hoof per year) Of course, if a horse is barefoot and on a hard surface this amount of growth is normally not observed because it is wearing off as it grows. “They” say the more a horse is exercised the faster the hoof will tend to grow. This theory is based on the idea that the frog is put into play and pumps blood and increases the growth. Over the years I have observed an increase in hoof growth in the fall. My theory is that the horse is growing a winter coat and since the hair and hoof seem to be related in nutrition (i.e. what is good for the hair coat is good for the hoof), whatever tells the horse to grow more hair in preparation for winter is, at the same time, growing more hoof. I would be interested to hear if others think this is true and if in the warmer climates the hoof tends to have no significant hoof growth change at any time.
As far as people thinking the horse hoof grows slower in the winter, I think, it is a little bit of a misconception. Possibly: 1) the horse is not being used as much, 2) the shoes are pulled and the ground is hard thus wearing the hoof as it grows, and 3) the last time the horse was trimmed in the fall there was an excess amount of growth to compare to when trimming the horse the next time during the winter.
Keep in mind, I am just a dumb shoer, most of my blogs consist of thoughts I’ve had over the 25+ years of working with my head below my butt…and now for my theory about Global Warming…….