Having a horse founder is every horse owner's nightmare. This term refers to inflammation in the digestive system which can spread to the feet, causing damage and deformation of bones, tendons, and tissues in the hoof. This is one cause of navicular disease, but there are other factors that can result in this serious problem.
'Founder' is an inflammation of the digestive tract stemming from too much rich feed. An animal allowed unlimited access to lush grass can founder, as can one which gets into the feed room and eats a large amount of grain. In these cases, the reaction may be swift, with the horse showing discomfort within hours.
A continual state of overweight contributes to founder and makes horses more likely to develop inflammation and pain in their front feet. The animal will be reluctant to move and may stand with front feet extended, constantly shifting weight from one foot to another. Overweight also puts constant stress on the feet, especially the front ones which carry up to 75% of the horse's weight.
Ponies are affected more often than horses, but animals of any size are at risk. It is easier to keep horses from gaining weight than try to get it off; horses may become anemic or develop vices from boredom, like cribbing or weaving.
Another cause of navicular problems is concussion. Pounding on hard ground day after day is not natural for a horse. This condition often affects heavy horses, like warmbloods, who are asked to work and jump on a regular basis. These sport animals can be very talented, which makes this susceptibility unfortunate for both horse and owner. Allowing an animal to reach full maturity before being put into heavy work can help, as can varying work sessions with less strenuous exercise on yielding ground.
Other causes include standing too much, as when a horse is confined to a stall and not allowed sufficient time out at exercise. Forcing growth with rich feed, as is commonly done with thoroughbred youngsters destined for the yearling sales, can have detrimental effects. Race horses and show animals are routinely stalled for their protection, given demanding training schedules, and kept on high energy feeds.
Improper shoeing or trimming can contribute to unsoundness. If the foot is not properly balanced, with the weight spread evenly from toe to heel, the bones of the foot may shift out of position over time. Long toes and heels allowed to slope too far under the foot are less than ideal, and this configuration puts strain on the tendon that passes over the navicular bone and connects to another bone called the coffin bone. If the coffin bone is pulled out of alignment, lameness will result.
Limiting access to rich grass is always wise, especially in spring when the grass is lushest. Feed rooms should be securely locked. Exercise should be regular, not overly strenuous, and on ground that is not too hard. Regular trimming and shoeing (if necessary) by a skilled farrier is important; owners should know enough to be able to judge the quality of the work.
'Founder' is an inflammation of the digestive tract stemming from too much rich feed. An animal allowed unlimited access to lush grass can founder, as can one which gets into the feed room and eats a large amount of grain. In these cases, the reaction may be swift, with the horse showing discomfort within hours.
A continual state of overweight contributes to founder and makes horses more likely to develop inflammation and pain in their front feet. The animal will be reluctant to move and may stand with front feet extended, constantly shifting weight from one foot to another. Overweight also puts constant stress on the feet, especially the front ones which carry up to 75% of the horse's weight.
Ponies are affected more often than horses, but animals of any size are at risk. It is easier to keep horses from gaining weight than try to get it off; horses may become anemic or develop vices from boredom, like cribbing or weaving.
Another cause of navicular problems is concussion. Pounding on hard ground day after day is not natural for a horse. This condition often affects heavy horses, like warmbloods, who are asked to work and jump on a regular basis. These sport animals can be very talented, which makes this susceptibility unfortunate for both horse and owner. Allowing an animal to reach full maturity before being put into heavy work can help, as can varying work sessions with less strenuous exercise on yielding ground.
Other causes include standing too much, as when a horse is confined to a stall and not allowed sufficient time out at exercise. Forcing growth with rich feed, as is commonly done with thoroughbred youngsters destined for the yearling sales, can have detrimental effects. Race horses and show animals are routinely stalled for their protection, given demanding training schedules, and kept on high energy feeds.
Improper shoeing or trimming can contribute to unsoundness. If the foot is not properly balanced, with the weight spread evenly from toe to heel, the bones of the foot may shift out of position over time. Long toes and heels allowed to slope too far under the foot are less than ideal, and this configuration puts strain on the tendon that passes over the navicular bone and connects to another bone called the coffin bone. If the coffin bone is pulled out of alignment, lameness will result.
Limiting access to rich grass is always wise, especially in spring when the grass is lushest. Feed rooms should be securely locked. Exercise should be regular, not overly strenuous, and on ground that is not too hard. Regular trimming and shoeing (if necessary) by a skilled farrier is important; owners should know enough to be able to judge the quality of the work.
