Founder, or laminitis, is a disease that comes in horses of any age but is especially problematic for the owners of older horses. It is inflammation and destruction of the hoof that can hamper the movement, comfort, and overall health of a horse. It must be carefully managed by diet changes, considerate care routines, and careful observation to support recovery and help maintain quality of life.
Understanding Founder in Horses
Founder happens when the sensitive laminae of the hoof become inflamed and in turn, can impact the stability of the coffin bone. Founder can result from a host of various causes, such as dietary imbalances, overweight, certain metabolic diseases, or abnormal stress placed upon the hooves. Although immediate veterinary intervention is necessary, each day of treatment is also essential for providing comfort and hoof care to the horse in the long term.
The Founder’s Contribution to Nutrition Management
Diet is one of the four pillars of founder care. These horses may need a feeding schedule, which will help to achieve a healthy weight and maintain blood sugar levels. High-fiber forage should be the foundation of the diet, with small amounts of dense pasture in times of peak growth. Low non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) hay should be selected, and avoidance of starch and sugar-rich foods will be helpful.
A senior horse supplement can also prove useful, especially in older horses whose intake of essential nutrients may decrease with age. These supplements can provide vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other nutrients to support hoof quality, digestive function, and overall health. The key is finding a well-balanced formula that will support the basic diet without over-supplementation.
Safe Exercise and Movement Strategies
Whereas a founder will restrict the action of a horse sometime, restricted mobility is desirable in most instances. Simple exercise, like soft-ground hand-walking, might stimulate circulation and preserve muscle tone. The type and extent of exercise should always be suitable to the condition of the horse and should be reviewed with a veterinarian or experienced equine professional.
Providing a soft, supportive surface in stalls or turnout areas can also improve comfort. Bedding materials such as deep shavings or rubber mats can help reduce pressure on the hooves.
Hoof Care for Foundered Horses
Daily care of the hooves is required in the treatment of founder. The intervals for trimming may have to be done more often to ensure that the hooves are correctly aligned and balanced. Establishing a good rapport with a qualified farrier who has experience with cases of founder can determine how the hoof will grow and adjust in the future. Therapeutic boots or shoes can be used in a few instances to stabilize the hoof conformation.
A foundered horse can also be helped by a stress-reducing environment for the hooves—avoiding standing on hard surfaces for extended periods and having access to shelter, water, and feed without struggling.
Monitoring and Adjustments
Founder management is not an event but rather an ongoing commitment. Monitoring changes in the state of the hooves, weight, and locomotion can determine when changes in care are indicated. Pasture growth phases, seasonal changes, and age can all influence consideration for management.
The owners must remain vigilant and in constant touch with their vet, farrier, and nutritionist in order to make the care plan work with the passing of time.
Supporting Recovery and Long-Term Comfort
While some horses can recover enough to be returned to light duties, others get by on a more relaxed lifestyle. Whatever the case, sticking to set routines being fed at regular times, receiving controlled exercise, and minimizing stress can help stabilize the condition.
Mental stimulation is also needed for a founder horse that can spend extra time in stall confinement. Slow-feeder hay nets, safe toys, or companionship with other calm horses can help keep the horse engaged and content.
Final thoughts
Founder in horses necessitates a strict combination of nutrition, hoof care, exercise management, and environment modification. An older horse supplement can help aging horses receive sufficient nutrition, and with close monitoring, such condition changes are acted upon before they become issues. For others, a product such as OptiWize Collagen Plus may be included in a general wellness regimen prescribed by equine professionals. After a daily and well-structured care regimen, most horses that have foundered can still continue to have a good quality of life and a good time with their owners.
