Finally a mature hoof! What does that mean?

I’ve struggled with my young mare; her focus, reaction to external everything, etc. She’s 6 this year and things are improving. My farrier came yesterday and said her hooves looked the best they ever have, “Finally like a mature hoof” were his exact words. I should have asked for an explanation but I had to run to a meeting and was focused on getting my three horses done quickly.

I did a google search and didn’t find much about the growth and change in a hoof as the horse matures. Can anyone provide any insight?

Is there any correlation of maturing hoof with mind/body? Or am I grasping at straws?

When a horse is growing, everything is growing, yes even their feet. When their feet are first developed, they may not be very big, strong, etc., but as they get bigger and stronger, change should be a bit visible. Hope this helps, Good Luck!

Is the hoof wall thicker? Does the shape reach a certain point?

She has gorgeous feet and is barefoot while in solid work and going cross country. It was interesting to hear that something changed enough for my farrier to note the change. He’s done her feet since she came to my farm as a yearling so has watched her change over the past 5 years.

The hoof wall does get thicker and tougher. Shape is also a factor. Her hoof must grow enough for the farrier to be able to shape it properly so she can be balanced and even.

I have a feeling he was talking about the development of the digital cushion. It’s nothing but a lump of fat when first born, that is only strong enough to handle the weight of a foal, but as the foal continues to move, it develops into tough cartilage.
As a barefoot trimmer, there are two issues to deal with transitioning a horse. One is to get rid of the pathology and two, to develop the digital cushion for a strong hoof. Development that never got a chance to complete, due to shoes being added at 2. If the development is there, then the pathology wouldn’t be. If the digital cushion is fully developed, that hoof is strong, and laughing in the face of anything life can throw at it, for the rest of that horse’s life. If this is what he meant, then you and your farrier definitely should get a pat on the back!

After being away for a bit, I’m able to catch up with this thread. Thank you, missyclare! I’ll see him again in August and will confirm what he meant but that sounds great. I’ll do a bit of googling of the digital cushion, too.

Agree with missyclare. This is the paper that explains the development of the digital cushion & lateral cartilages: http://www.grayson-jockeyclub.org/newsimages/910103000186_sm.pdf