Foundered Mini
Before 1st trim 9-14-2009
After 1st trim
LF 7-6-2010
This little pony had long contracted feet on all 4 when I met her. The owner, a doctor, wanted to be able to let her graze on lush pasture he had just planted. He also wanted to feed her sweet feed and plenty of good hay. He didn't want to have her trimmed often enough, even after I explained the damage the pony had in her long foundered feet. Ah but it wouldn't have mattered with the lush spring grass he insisted on letting her have unlimited grazing on. Then when she went down, he called me.
I was able to convince him to give her to a new owner that I knew would take care of her. She was doing well but then the new owner thought she could put her out with her big horse who tried to mount her. It was too much weight for her weakened lamina. She is a "sinker" founder and it will take a lot more effort to get her over this. But the good thing is her contraction seems better.
One thing I have learned over the many founders I have trimmed is that when they have contraction, they do not feel their feet, just like having shoes. Then when they are trimmed to decontract their feet, at first they are very happy, then when the blood comes in to dead areas, they are not comfortable. This pony was very happy until she ate too much grass (systemic poisoning = laminitis). Then she was happy again at a new place until her big gelding decided to hop aboard (mechanical founder/laminitis). Add to that we've has some drought conditions. I think when a hoof is trimmed to rehabilitate it, it must be kept flexible (soaked) so that the new horn can grow it correctly. Also, any direct trauma (whether it be ridden unusually hard or being a small pony getting jumped by a big horse) can set you back. Most people would never think of turning a foundered pony out to eat a lush pasture and feed it grain, but even someone thought to be educated on the subject (even a doctor) may do just that.
I was able to convince him to give her to a new owner that I knew would take care of her. She was doing well but then the new owner thought she could put her out with her big horse who tried to mount her. It was too much weight for her weakened lamina. She is a "sinker" founder and it will take a lot more effort to get her over this. But the good thing is her contraction seems better.
One thing I have learned over the many founders I have trimmed is that when they have contraction, they do not feel their feet, just like having shoes. Then when they are trimmed to decontract their feet, at first they are very happy, then when the blood comes in to dead areas, they are not comfortable. This pony was very happy until she ate too much grass (systemic poisoning = laminitis). Then she was happy again at a new place until her big gelding decided to hop aboard (mechanical founder/laminitis). Add to that we've has some drought conditions. I think when a hoof is trimmed to rehabilitate it, it must be kept flexible (soaked) so that the new horn can grow it correctly. Also, any direct trauma (whether it be ridden unusually hard or being a small pony getting jumped by a big horse) can set you back. Most people would never think of turning a foundered pony out to eat a lush pasture and feed it grain, but even someone thought to be educated on the subject (even a doctor) may do just that.
LF Before 1st trim
LF after 1st trim
LF 7-6-2010 mechanical laminitis
LF Before 1st trim
After 1st trim
LF 7-6-2010