Sub-clinical Founder in a 7 yr. old Draft Cross Trimmed regularly by farrier
Right Front Before My Trim
The quarter cracks, both medial and lateral, extended to halfway up the inside wall!
RF Xray
This horse was trimmed regularly by a certifed farrier. In this photo, taken the day after the farrier trimmed him, you can see the inward quarter crack (dark line) which extended almost to the coronet under the hoof wall. The owner was concerned because she could tell the horse was not himself. He was depressed. Often horses with subclinical founder will not be noticebly lame...but they will be reluctant to move and depressed! Many people would think the horse was just lazy. You need to get a hoofcare professional like myself to determine what the problem might be.... even if your farrier or vet says everything is ok! The farrier told this owner that the horse was doing fine. Due to the farrier left the heels and bars high which tipped the coffin bone up. Then the heels collapsed under the weight of the horse. Having all this excess horn in the back half of the foot created a significant amount of sidebone in addition to the founder. Sidebone is when the stress on the ligaments from the pastern bones to the lateral cartilages are strained and begin to ossify (turn to bone).
You can see the sidebone on the x-ray. Please look at the You Tube video to see the sequence of photos from beginning to end with each front foot and the transformation to good foot health. Also look at the You Tube of me riding this horse after he was sound again.
You can see the sidebone on the x-ray. Please look at the You Tube video to see the sequence of photos from beginning to end with each front foot and the transformation to good foot health. Also look at the You Tube of me riding this horse after he was sound again.