What is what does it mean when a horse founders?

Founder (Laminitis)

Founder , also known as laminitis, is a debilitating condition affecting horses' hooves. It involves the inflammation and weakening of the laminae, the sensitive tissues that connect the hoof wall to the coffin%20bone within the hoof.

Key Aspects:

• Laminae Damage: The inflammation and damage to the laminae cause a disruption in the bond between the hoof wall and the coffin bone.

• Coffin Bone Rotation/Sinking: In severe cases, the coffin bone can rotate within the hoof capsule due to the pull of the deep digital flexor tendon, or it can even sink downward, leading to significant pain and lameness.

• Causes: The causes of founder are multifactorial. They often include:

  • Dietary overload (especially with carbohydrates or sugars)
  • Endocrine disorders like Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID, Cushing's disease).
  • Systemic illness or infection.
  • Concussion or excessive weight-bearing on one limb due to injury of another.

• Symptoms: The signs of founder can vary from mild foot tenderness to severe, crippling lameness. Other signs may include:

  • Increased digital pulse.
  • Heat in the hooves.
  • Reluctance to move.
  • A "sawhorse stance" (leaning back on the hind legs to relieve pressure on the front feet).
  • Pain when pressure is applied to the sole of the foot.

• Treatment: Treatment for founder involves addressing the underlying cause, reducing inflammation and pain, and providing support to the hoof. This often includes dietary management, medication, therapeutic shoeing, and stall rest.

• Chronic Founder: If the damage to the laminae is severe or prolonged, it can result in chronic founder, leading to permanent changes in the hoof structure and long-term lameness.