I have a 25+ Arab mare who foundered last June due to lack of activity (and a big weight gain!). She had a rotation of 10 left hoof, 11 right hoof on her front hooves and but has shown improvement in her xrays from the past 6 months of 3 degrees (7 left, 8 right). My vet says she can be only hand walked and to aim for an overall improvement of at least halfway to a rotation of 4 to 5 degrees. Does this mean she will never have a zero rotation and therefore never be completely sound? Can she be walked safely under saddle on soft indoor arena footing? Or, can she be lunged at a slow trot?
Other details: She is used as a family pleasure / trail horse, no hard work. We got the extra weight off her. The inflamation is under control and she is on daily turnout w/o meds. She is comfortable walking and can make tight turns. Vet also recommended .05 ml of ACE 2x day to increase hoof circulation and faster re-growth of the hoof. She has pads on her front hooves.
2006-12-03 07:30:08 · 7 answers · asked by J K 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
It sounds to me you are on the right road to recovery. You are doing everything proper for treating this horse. However she will never be 100% sound but that does not mean that she will not be usable. I have had horses in the past that had once been foundered and I was able to take them on trail rides and they did fine. If you keep doing what you are doing and make sure to not over feed or over graze then I am sure you will be able to use your horse like you used too.Good luck and happy trails.
2006-12-03 09:10:46 · answer #1 · answered by horsecrazy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mcdannell has the same thinking as I. This mare had severe founder and she will not ever be the same specially at her age. Do the best you can but at 25+ yrs old let her be a horse and live the rest of her life in quality. Pony rides w/kids once sound if she gets there would be okay. Arabians arent that big of a horse and usually finely built and w/a soundness issue and her age no adult or long rough riding is advisable. By the time you get this situation under control she could be 27+ yrs old. Why push her when shes been off for so long and w/her age. Good luck and I congradulate you on the care your giving this mare.
2006-12-03 08:02:09 · answer #2 · answered by Ivory_Flame 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will need to work closely with a vet and farrier on trimming and shoes and pads with this horse.
She may always have some degree of rotation of the coffin bone.
But it may become more manageable with time and she may not require meds.
Please look at this months issue of Horse and Rider magazine.
They have a good article on lamanitis and natural hoof trimming.
It is a good article and between them and EQUUS magazine you can find some ofthe best info around. And it is not the opinion of one person they have mutiple people and vet and farrier answering these question.
Good luck.
2006-12-03 08:35:54 · answer #3 · answered by tlctreecare 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To my understanding no. If you ever sell the horse you have to disclose this. To my understanding. Then again given away....
I am in no way a expert! I have just worked with show horses (and helping the vet), and several different breeders, trainers. As well as having my own.
You have a old girl there who does not need to be worked. She needs to be out on pasture to live out her life in horsey style...A 25 + year old horse is a senior citizen and around here are given away. Even highly bred ones..
Good luck with her she lived a good life let her be a horse....keep a eye on her and do not expect her to be as she was 20 years ago....
2006-12-03 07:45:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
She'll always be prone to it. A foundered horse that doesn't suffer from a severe case can still be usable. Light riding, breeding.
Her lifestyle will change now from daily activity to feeding/nutrition.
2006-12-03 07:34:47 · answer #5 · answered by Lotsa Lops 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
considering the age of the horse it is unlikey it will ever be sound
2006-12-03 11:41:44 · answer #6 · answered by kooneyedkellie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it does not depend on as the this horse but is better to give I animate him so that the animals are like the men deve to occur his abmiracion him and not so that deve collapses to leave itself..
greetings
bye
2006-12-03 07:38:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋