Thirty-Two Weeks of Oral Supplementation with LinPro™ Increases Hoof Growth in Healthy Mares.

The study indicates that the use of LinPro™, a commercial dietary supplement, significantly increased hoof growth rates in healthy mares over 32 weeks, compared to the non-supplemented controls.

Hypothesis and Methodology

• This research was conducted on the premise that LinPro™ (LP), a commercial dietary supplement, could boost the growth rate of horse hooves. Thus, researchers aimed to analyze the validity of this claim by using a control group for comparison.
• Ten mature, non-pregnant Quarter Horse mares were selected for this study. These horses had no existing issues with hoof quality.
• The mares were divided into two groups: those receiving the LP supplementation and the control group that received no supplementation.
• 113 grams of LP was given daily to the test group mares for 32 weeks.
• The horses’ hooves were trimmed at the beginning of the experiment and then every 8 weeks. A mark was made on the hoof wall surface 2.5 cm below the junction of the hoof wall and coronary band, and the distance from this mark to the coronary band was measured at each trimming.

Results and Conclusion

• Horses receiving LP showed greater overall hoof growth over the 32-week period compared to the control group. They also displayed a trend towards higher growth per 8-week trimming cycle.
• Additionally, these horses had higher plasma biotin concentrations, an important vitamin for hoof health and growth, and higher proportions of erucic acid in hoof tissue, a fatty acid also considered beneficial for hoof health.
• The most abundant fatty acids in hoof tissue were stearic, palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids. This suggests that the LP supplement had a substantial effect on the fatty acid content in the hoof tissue, which may have contributed to the increased growth rates.
• In summary, the study concludes that LinPro™ may be an effective supplement to enhance hoof growth rates in horses with no existing hoof health issues.