Hoof horn abnormalities in Lipizzaner horses and the effect of dietary biotin on macroscopic aspects of hoof horn quality

Summary This study involved a macroscopic evaluation of hoof quality in 152 Lipizzaner horses (130 from Austria and 22 from other countries) and a controlled double blind trial of the effects of biotin on hoof horn growth and quality over 19 months in 42 stallions from the Spanish Riding School (SRS) in Vienna. Using a grading system that incorporated evaluation of horn wall, white line, sole and frog, the macroscopic study revealed the following: 90% of the Austrian Lipizzaners had soft white lines and crumbling, fissured horn at the bearing border of the walls; 39% of the stallions of the SRS, >4-years-old, had medium to severe hoof horn changes. Daily administration of 20 mg biotin to a test group of horses (n=26) and a placebo to a control group (n=16) showed that after 9 months the test group had significantly improved compared to the beginning of the trial and the placebo group (P 1000 ng/l. It was concluded that continuous dietary supplementation with biotin at a daily dose of 20 mg is indicated to improve and maintain hoof horn quality in horses with less than optimum quality hoof.