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.
The term 'founder' is used to describe the discomfort a horse experiences when it eats too much rich grass or grain. The result is an inflammation of the digestive tract and of the front feet of the animal. Severe cases can result in death and/or permanent damage to the feet. A horse allowed unlimited access to lush grass or the feed room can quickly develop symptoms of founder.
Severely overweight horses are more susceptible to founder. An animal which is foundering is reluctant to move and may stand with front feet stretched out, shifting weight from foot to foot. Being too heavy also puts undue strain on the front feet, which support up to seventy-five percent of the horse's weight.
Although ponies are more susceptible than horses to grass founder, all equines are at risk. Maintaining a proper weight is important, since keeping a horse in a dry lot makes everyone miserable and can result in other problems, like anemia or vices like cribbing. Regular exercise is helpful in keeping weight under control and improving the circulation to the feet.
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 that veterinarians and researchers think contribute to this kind of lameness include standing in a stall. Horses developed running free, and they need exercise to keep blood circulating properly to the feet. However, many race horses and show horses are kept confined for practical reasons, like not risking them in fields where they might be injured or not having the facilities to turn them out.
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.
Lush grass is a danger to all horses and ponies and should be limited. Feed rooms must be securely closed to keep greedy horses out. Exercise programs should be designed with the animal's age and conformation in mind, and riding done over firm but yielding ground. Owners who want their horses to stay sound should learn how to make sure their farrier is doing a good job.
The term 'founder' is used to describe the discomfort a horse experiences when it eats too much rich grass or grain. The result is an inflammation of the digestive tract and of the front feet of the animal. Severe cases can result in death and/or permanent damage to the feet. A horse allowed unlimited access to lush grass or the feed room can quickly develop symptoms of founder.
Severely overweight horses are more susceptible to founder. An animal which is foundering is reluctant to move and may stand with front feet stretched out, shifting weight from foot to foot. Being too heavy also puts undue strain on the front feet, which support up to seventy-five percent of the horse's weight.
Although ponies are more susceptible than horses to grass founder, all equines are at risk. Maintaining a proper weight is important, since keeping a horse in a dry lot makes everyone miserable and can result in other problems, like anemia or vices like cribbing. Regular exercise is helpful in keeping weight under control and improving the circulation to the feet.
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 that veterinarians and researchers think contribute to this kind of lameness include standing in a stall. Horses developed running free, and they need exercise to keep blood circulating properly to the feet. However, many race horses and show horses are kept confined for practical reasons, like not risking them in fields where they might be injured or not having the facilities to turn them out.
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.
Lush grass is a danger to all horses and ponies and should be limited. Feed rooms must be securely closed to keep greedy horses out. Exercise programs should be designed with the animal's age and conformation in mind, and riding done over firm but yielding ground. Owners who want their horses to stay sound should learn how to make sure their farrier is doing a good job.
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