Major Problem in Horses: Founder

Founder in horses is a serious condition. The technical term is laminitis, meaning inflammation of the laminae (cushion under the hoof wall). Horses bear weight on their hooves 95% of the time. A common phrase used among horse people is “no hoof, no horse”, meaning a horse cannot live without healthy hooves. 

Laminitis is a condition that occurs when the tissues that connect the hoof wall to the pedal bone become inflamed and weakened, which can cause the pedal bone to move or separate from the hoof wall. A diagnosis can be made by a veterinarian or farrier noting changes in the white line, the cream-colored area at the base of the foot where the sole and hoof wall meet. 

Several factors can cause laminitis, including digestive issues such as too much grain or sudden diet changes. Access to lush grass containing high sugar content is one of the most common ways a horse can founder. Additional causes are high fever or illness, hormonal disorders such as equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), toxins in the horse’s system and/or weight gain. 

A horse that has developed laminitis will show symptoms by frequently lying down to alleviate the pressure on their hooves. The condition makes it painful for the horse to walk especially on hard surfaces. The disease can be acute or chronic and may affect one for all four feet with the forefeet affected more frequently. Laminitis is a crippling condition that can be fatal in severe cases. It can be managed but not cured so prevention is very important. Secretariat the famous thoroughbred racing stallion contracted laminitis in his senior years, only living a few weeks after being diagnosed. 

Treatment for laminitis is stall rest with gradual dietary changes including feeding low quality forage, very little if any grain and no fresh grass. Trimming the affected hooves more frequently will help to assess the hoof wall separation.