Why horses founder

Laminitis in horses can be caused by a number of things, the most common being grain overload, followed closely by the ingestion of too much green grass and sudden feed changes. Other causes are the horse being ridden too hard, especially in an over weight or out of condition horse. Horse founder can also be caused by repeated hard concussion…. Giving a hot sweaty horse cold water before cooling the horse down can cause laminitis.

Equine founder can be associated with uterine infections after foaling, pneumonia and toxemia related to drug overdoses. The good news about equine founder is that it can easily be prevented in the first place, and can have good outcome with proper care. You can avoid grain overload by introducing your horse to grain slowly and never feeding more that 1. Grain overload is an emergency.

Grain overload can quickly cause the bone in the hoses foot to rotate. If you suspect your horse has eaten too much grain, get them to a vet immediately. Introduce your horse slowly to green grasses. Start out grazing your horse on green grass minutes per day for a few days, and then increase that amount by 15 minute increments every few days until the animal can graze for 2 hours without consequence. It is especially important to keep an eye on horses that are solely pasture fed.

If you notice your horse getting grass fat, developing a crest neck, and generally out of condition…pull them off that pasture. Those conditions are the ideal setup for laminitis in horses. Ponies are particularly susceptible to equine founder.

Some horses can get so bad that they are never able to eat green grass or pasture again, ever! Horses that have suffered a grain overload and are taken to a veterinarian are given large quantities of mineral oil via a stomach tube. This is to prevent the digestion of the grain to prevent founder and colic. Antihistamines are often given with care not to cause toxicity.

Over weight horses and ponies that have suffered equine founder are put on a weight loss diet. Quarter Horse Markings and Color Genetics. American Quarter Horse Conformation Chart. Color the Quarter Horses. Activity Book for Horse-Loving Kids. How to Build a Mounting Block. Barn Scavenger Hunt. Hens and Horses: Perfect Pasture Pals. Preparing for a Horse Show. Horse Trailer Loading Tips. Riding Lessons with Richard Shrake. How to Tie a Haynet.

How to Tie a Rope Halter. Saddling a Horse. Laminitis Treatment. Orphan Foal Care. Showmanship Basics. Horse Wound Care Tips. Tying the Mecate. American Quarter Horse Anatomy. Young Horse Joint Health. Roping Basics. Halter Breaking Your Foal.

Horse Clipping Tips. Horse Race Tip: Speed Ratings. Barn Aisle Exercises. Mare Care: Breeding Tips. Horse Colic. How to Make a Rope Halter. Tips for Photographing Foals. Competitive Horse Judging Manual. Horse Breeding: Older Maiden Mares. Longeing a Horse.

Caring for Horses in Winter. Hunt Seat Equitation Patterns. Buyers Guide to an American Quarter Horse. Management The key to a successful outcome is early diagnosis and an aggressive approach to treatment, together with a good relationship between you, your vet and your farrier: First, remove the cause.

Horses which have developed laminitis as a result of over-feeding need to be removed from the food source immediately. Mares with retained placenta constitute a medical emergency — your veterinarian will need to remove any remaining placenta, flush the uterus with saline and start appropriate medical treatment.

Horses with a septicaemic condition will similarly need aggressive medical treatment by your veterinarian Anti-inflammatories are the cornerstone of therapy. Alternatively a sand yard can be used, however it is crucial that you use a hoof pick twice daily to prevent sand packing up in the sole. In the early stages exercise should be avoided as it may result in further rotation of the pedal bone Hoof care is vital.

Your farrier should consult with your vet and trim the hoof according to the degree of rotation of the pedal bone. Ongoing dietary management is crucial. Consult with your vet on the most appropriate feeding regime. Many feeds promoted as being safe for laminitic horses are not appropriate if your horse is also receiving other feed sources high in soluble carbohydrate. Horses need company. You should ensure that horses confined during laminitis treatment are able to interact with other horses.

Prevention Ensure your horse or pony is fed a balanced ration appropriate for their type, age and activity level.