Welcome to the home of the dorsal wall lifting theory

a new insight into equine laminitis based on hoof capsule distortion

New research paper

Review of data on hoof growth in normal and laminitic equines suggests a new aetiology for acute laminitis, by Tom Ryan FWCF

This paper is based on hoof growth measurements taken by Tom and is the basis for many of the extended concepts presented on this website. The paper is not copyrighted and can be downloaded and shared.

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A new and powerful concept for equine laminitis

One frequently over-looked aspect of laminitis is abnormal hoof growth, but recently hoof growth has been attracting a lot more interest. In his PhD thesis Ramzi Al-Agele(1) observed while conducting in vitro experiments on horn producing keratin cells extracted from different areas of equine coronary band tissue, cells from the quarter region divided more rapidly when exposed to higher levels of insulin, while the same cells from the front of the hoof were not affected in the same way.

Combining Ramzi Al-Agele’s observations with a greater understanding of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) which is known to have an undefined relationship with laminitis, raises an interesting possibility, could EMS be affecting how the hoof capsule grows?

...hoof distortion is not the result of laminitis, it's the cause. Tom Ryan FWCF

The Dorsal Wall Lifting model for equine laminitis proposes that laminitis is induced when hoof growth at the quarters abnormally accelerates, which subsequently induces the hoof capsule to distort. This distortion will induce pain in the underlying laminal bond, signalling the start of the acute phase.

The severity of a particular laminitis case will depend on the shape & strength of the hoof capsule combined with the rate of acceleration of hoof growth at the quarters, the stronger the hoof capsule the more severe the case. More >

The idea that the dermal laminae are being destroyed by hoof capsule distortion has never been considered before. The factors known to cause laminitis may be altering the way hoof is grown and not directly insulting the dermal laminae.

In short – the laminae are innocent victims of abnormal hoof growth which causes hoof capsule distortion.

(1) Al-Agele, Ramzi. Histopathological and ultrastructural characterization of equine hoof shape deformities. PhD Thesis, Nottingham, UK: University of Nottingham, 2018.

What you will learn about equine laminitis:

Follow the links for more information:-

A new insight into laminitis

Dorsal Wall Lifting Theory - Explained

Grooving

Vertical grooving for laminitis explained.

Laminitis Basics

Click here for background information

Additional information

Updated: 15/03/2024