What condition of the hooves is typically associated with strong pulsation of the digital artery?

The condition of the hooves that is typically associated with strong pulsation of the digital artery is laminitis. This condition is marked by inflammation of the laminae, which can severely affect the attachment of the hoof to the coffin bone. When laminitis occurs, increased blood flow and vascular changes lead to a stronger pulsation of the digital artery, highlighting the distress in the hoof.

This strong pulsation is often used as a clinical sign indicating the severity of the condition. In contrast, other conditions such as thrush or navicular disease do not typically exhibit this same level of pulsation. Thrush is primarily an infection that affects the frog of the hoof and does not correlate with such vascular changes. Navicular disease, while it does affect the hoof, usually involves chronic pain and does not present the same acute vascular response. Cracked hooves may indicate mechanical issues or imbalance, but like thrush, they don’t directly influence the digital artery's pulsation. Therefore, laminitis stands out as the condition most linked to the strong pulsation observed in the digital artery.