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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 512
| Can feeding too much grain/alfalfa to a young horse cause front end lameness, but not be founder?
We were interested in a 3 year old out of state and it came up lame recently from supposedly over feeding grain and alfalfa. Was use to large pastures and no grain. Recently was put back on pasture and apparently now it is fine..
Thoughts...? |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
  
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | Blueridgedreaming - 2015-09-01 8:43 PM Can feeding too much grain/alfalfa to a young horse cause front end lameness, but not be founder? We were interested in a 3 year old out of state and it came up lame recently from supposedly over feeding grain and alfalfa. Was use to large pastures and no grain. Recently was put back on pasture and apparently now it is fine.. Thoughts...?
I can harm them for sure, I wouldn't waste time on one myself. |
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
 
Location: Florida.. | If they are having issues with feet at 3 Id pass.. sorry.. |
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 Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | Walk away |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 512
| Let me clarify my question..
The horse was sound in videos a few weeks ago and unbroke (turned out on grass pasture), they have pushed grain/alfalfa in the last week knowing we may come get her and now she is tender in the latest video. However they say she is back to normal now after a few days. So my question is.. what else could it be if it isn't founder?
Is it possible the tenderness went away or is the damage done? What is the potential damages. Just trying to get a feel on the situation. I also asked if they trimmed her and waiting to hear back. But the reason they gave for tenderness was that she was pushed grain to fast.
We really liked the horse so a bit bummed.
P.s I have my thoughts but just want them confirmed. Thank you everyone! Of course we would never buy without a vet check. The horse is just a long distance away.
Edited by Blueridgedreaming 2015-09-02 3:34 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | Unless it foundered, its not the grain and alfalfa's fault (even then he is probably prone to it). They are making an excuse. I wouldn't give him another thought.
Trimming/cracking out and abscess are the other things that would be normal causes. The problem is they didn't say either one of those.
Edited by Tdove 2015-09-02 3:37 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| My guess is Laminitis. It does not matter the age, it can and will effect them. Laminitis is not founder and there is different degrees of severity. Since the colt cleared up so fast I would speculate that it was just inflammation and no tearing actually happened. X-Rays would show you if any changes in the feet happened. Because the colt wasn't used to grain and more than likely they were over feeding it, it caused issues in the hindgut which would lead to laminitis(if that is it). |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I second laminitis
A high sugar diet or a drastic feed change causing a ph shift of the hind gut can cause laminitis.
Laminitis is inflammation of the lamania, this is the first step to founder.
Founder is when the lamania becomes so inflamed it begins to tear away from the coffin bone and the coffin bone rotates.
I would suggest getting xrays to ensure there isn't any coffin bone rotation.
A slight rotation is nothing major and you really won't notice until you xray the white line will look normal.
If there is any rotation they are more prone to founder again, so you will need to watch food intake
If you have any questions feel free to message me |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 512
| Thank you all so much for the clarity. I was also thinking founder or laminitis.
Since the horse isn't even started, it is super nicely bred, but pricey for an unstarted horse. Would it be best to just pass or if she vet checks sound with radiographs it might be okay?
It just concerns me greatly. We already have one horse with high maintenance. |
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Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | Nobody can give you honest advice on this without seeing the horse and x-rays. My advice is to get a thorough pre-purchase exam WITH X-rays done. Then you will have iron clad answeres and know which way to go. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 512
| ThreeCorners - 2015-09-02 10:41 PM
Nobody can give you honest advice on this without seeing the horse and x-rays. My advice is to get a thorough pre-purchase exam WITH X-rays done. Then you will have iron clad answeres and know which way to go.
Thank you! I agree and it will all work out. The people have been great to work with. |
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Member
Posts: 11
| Before you make the deal have the horse checked by your vet. and make them pay for x rays. The horse could also have bone chips in legs that is causing this problem. If they will not agree walk away. |
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Member
Posts: 11
| Before you make the deal have the horse checked by your vet. and make them pay for x rays. The horse could also have bone chips in legs that is causing this problem. If they will not agree walk away. |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | the grain and alfalfa probrably did cause the Laminitis but at 3 and already having issues it will more then likely be a issue .. for life so just something to think about. you will need to regulate his diet to keep him sound and also other issues might arise.. Id just know what your walking into is all.. it may be worth it to you or may not..vet check and vet opinion.. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 268
| Sometimes feed changes can cause acute hoof soreness but do not always make them laminitic or cause them to have long term problems. On the other hand, some horses do get laminitis from this and it may turn into an ongoing problem. Just depends on the horse's metabolism and the degree of change. Vet check / hoof tests / X-rays will help determine what is going on and if you should be concerned - hope this helps :) |
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 The BHW Book Worm
Posts: 1768
| RUN run far away. if you choose not to run at the very least get some radiographs |
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 Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | I think there is not enough information to answer the question. You are working off of an assumption made by someone else. Until you have him checked out you'll never know. X-rays of the feet and a good lameness vet can tell you whether he's a good bet or not. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | big fat pass |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| Too many sound horses out there. Pass |
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Expert
Posts: 1695
Location: Willows, CA | Rapid significant changes in the diet often put horses at risk long term. If this is the case here, xrays may not show the degree of damage, if any, in the short term because it is common for rotation of the coffin bone to occur as long as 45 days after the incident that generated the problem. So, you can buy now on clean xrays, and have a total fall apart in a month. I would pass on this one.
Edited by winwillows 2015-09-15 12:43 PM
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