Has anyone ever heard of this? Strange vet suggestion to increase hoof growth.

I’d never be rubbing a heating gel on my horses cornet bands. If her diet is good maybe you just need to give it time before you see results. My horses hooves grow slow always have they get plenty of movement running on 180 acres. I only need trimmer out 3 to 4 times a year…that’s just fine with me. I’m not going to feed for faster hoof growth that’s for sure.

Both are barefoot sound on all surfaces,so why mess with what works for the horse.

The research article on using a counter-irritant was published in 1986. That doesn’t make it invalid, necessarily. But if there is no further research making the same or a related point in the past 31 years, I’d tend to be sceptical.

The counter-irritant theory is old school, but is also the theory behind how menthol and peppermint and in general tingly body lotions work on both horses and humans, to ease stiffness by drawing blood to the area.

IME, if a horse has poor hoof growth due to a deficiency in the diet, then improving nutrition, includng biotin, calcium, and protein, should help. I would look at that before moving to a topical treatment.

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My farrier seemed to think there was a difference when I had been using Gro N Win for about 9 months.

I remember my old BO using Reducine or Venice of Turpintine to promote growth.

I know several people who use Cornucrescine and/or Reducine on the coronary band. Rub it in gently as it may blister. Vets say it promotes hoof growth.

I’ve never heard of it, but it sounds like the same concept as growth balms and scalp massage for human hair.
The theory is that they stimulate bloodflow which increases hair growth. Growth balms/oils have all kinds of counterirritant compounds like menthol, cayenne, etc, so I can see how that would do it. It’s not exactly the same, but I can also see how that analogy might apply to hooves (in my very vague, unscientific way of thinking, lol.)

Could be that they had a sulfur deficiency.

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I’d go with biotin, methionine, and zinc.

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Cornucrescine is not irritant. I apply it with my bare hands. And my nails grow longer too :smiley:

I second the use of reducine. It was hard to find for a while because non horse people and horse people were able to melt it down for I think some sort of illegal drug. So I’m not sure if it’s readily available since I last used it about 6 years ago! I used it on coronet bands and bulbs of the heel on a thin skinned chestnut. I used it 3-4x a week and didn’t run into blistering. It worked very well! Recommend by a track farrier! I no longer use it on my current horse, but I’ve noticed a huge improvement in a proper diet and the use of renew gold. That’s what works for him. So a diet change might be an option too!

Tell him to use an angle grinder. I use a Makita 4-inch, with the 36-grit pad. Even the hardest, rock-crushing hoof is easily trimmed with it. Out of the 69 horses I work on each month, only 4 need the manual rasp.

I believe it does work. I remember years ago trying to get one hoof to grow out a quarter crack and used it. That foot had more growth than the other foot

Thank you SO much - I will follow this lead .

  • I thank you and my herd thanks you !!!

Wow ! - I realize I am sounding like Gomer Pyle’s sister :lol: but I really needed this information and actually so does my ‘young’ trimmer :winkgrin:.

  • ChocoMare - any update on your ‘admirer’ ?

Jingles for your Happiness !

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The grinder has saved my back and allows me to trim even the most senior, arthritic horse and ones with bad stringhalt. No need to put the leg between your knees, you can keep a hoof low to the ground and it’s MUCH quicker. I recommend anyone wanting to use a grinder to first practice on a log. This way you get the feel of the machine and learn how to take just a hair’s breath off with each swipe.

Admirer and I are better friends :wink: Thanks for asking sweetie!!