cheryl makofka - 2014-09-23 8:03 PM If the coffin bone has rotated any, then the horse is prone to have laminitic episodes their entire life. The big thing is to figure out why, stress, abscess, excess water, high sugars, Pssm, running on hard ground concussion laminitis. If the horse still has a bounding pedal pulse, my vet prescribes banamine till there is no heat and no bounding pedal pulse. You will need to xray periodically and have the farrier trim to where the coffin bone is, most of the time is shorten the toe as much as possible and drop the heels a little, I encourage X-rays Also do not allow the farrier to trim/shoe during a laminitic episode unless under the supervision of the vet. Mine would block the feet prior to shoeing. They are now at an increased risk of abscesses, so be aware of this. Good luck it isn't fun, I have one who foundered very bad and I do not wish it upon anyone

Farrierlady - 2014-09-23 9:29 PM

Practically none of what you wrote has any truth to it (some of what you wrote does).  Sorry if your Vet has told you this, but, it's simply not true.  First off, laminitis and founder (actual rotation) are two different animals.   Yes, banamine is better to give for pulses than bute is, so that's true.  Heels need to be lowered to the  live sole plane, NO trimming from halfway up the frog toward the toes at all in a case of true founder.  A founder and even a laminitic horse should never be shod.  Driving nails activates the keroticytes and creates pain.  Barefoot and boots if need be.  Blocking the feet, is simply blocking the pain so the poor animal has to endure the shoe job, which is not necessary to begin with.

All foundered horses in the right hands, can come back 100% and be useable and rideable.  You can even compete on them again.

Laminitis is simply put, swelling inside the hoof capsule.  There are many reasons for it, some of which you mentioned are correct.  Also, kicking the stall wall, kicking in the trailer, etc. can cause laminitis.  

Farrierlady - 2014-09-23 10:08 PM I think you should re read what I wrote. I NEVER said kicking the stall wall causes founder. I was stating reasons that could cause laminitis. As far as your Vet also being a farrier, um ok. I know lots of Vets that have been wrong before on this subject and some of them were "farriers" also. Supporting the sole with pads, etc. is old school thinking....some Vets and farriers feel that if the coffin bone is rotated you support it at the angle it's sitting at. That's not the correct way to do it. change the angle of the coffin bone by trimming the heels down to live sole. Period. Depending on the severity of the actual founder, you might trim the horse every other week for a while to get them more and more comfortable. Founder and laminitis are two different things. A horse can have laminitis and not be foundered, but, never the other way around. And you stated this: a well renounced surgeon on both sides of the border. I'm not sure what that means, or why it would pertain to this conversation. Long toes aren't good on any horse, foundered, laminitic or not. This right here that you wrote: If the horse is actively rotating one must support the sole and have the horse work on the sole so there is no pressure on what is left of the lamania that is attached to the hoof wall. THIS is when some vets will prescribe specific pads made for actively foundered horses, and must be shod with these pads. YOU got one part of this correct...yes the horse needs to walk on the sole and be supported by the sole and passively by the hoof wall, but, shoeing is NOT necessary and not the best course of action. Barefoot is best. Barefoot is a much faster way to repair the damage and bring the horse back to soundness...esp. since you're able to trim more often to lower the heels and keep the horse comfortable. I'll bet you any thing you want that I can trim a foundered horse without xrays and be spot on perfect in my rehab on him. I've done it many many many times.

Farrierlady - 2014-09-23 10:08 PM I think you should re read what I wrote. I NEVER said kicking the stall wall causes founder. I was stating reasons that could cause laminitis. As far as your Vet also being a farrier, um ok. I know lots of Vets that have been wrong before on this subject and some of them were "farriers" also. Supporting the sole with pads, etc. is old school thinking....some Vets and farriers feel that if the coffin bone is rotated you support it at the angle it's sitting at. That's not the correct way to do it. change the angle of the coffin bone by trimming the heels down to live sole. Period. Depending on the severity of the actual founder, you might trim the horse every other week for a while to get them more and more comfortable. Founder and laminitis are two different things. A horse can have laminitis and not be foundered, but, never the other way around. And you stated this: a well renounced surgeon on both sides of the border. I'm not sure what that means, or why it would pertain to this conversation. Long toes aren't good on any horse, foundered, laminitic or not. This right here that you wrote: If the horse is actively rotating one must support the sole and have the horse work on the sole so there is no pressure on what is left of the lamania that is attached to the hoof wall. THIS is when some vets will prescribe specific pads made for actively foundered horses, and must be shod with these pads. YOU got one part of this correct...yes the horse needs to walk on the sole and be supported by the sole and passively by the hoof wall, but, shoeing is NOT necessary and not the best course of action. Barefoot is best. Barefoot is a much faster way to repair the damage and bring the horse back to soundness...esp. since you're able to trim more often to lower the heels and keep the horse comfortable. I'll bet you any thing you want that I can trim a foundered horse without xrays and be spot on perfect in my rehab on him. I've done it many many many times.