Who's afraid of founder?

by Kate Romanenko

A few months ago an anonymous caller left a message on my machine informing me that Founder was a condition that could not be helped. I believe her words were “Once they’re lame, they’re lame.” Many horses are euthanized or slaughtered due to this type of ignorance.

Founder is a type of lameness affecting the foot. The suspension of the coffin bone is damaged and the bone drops forward and down, causing pain in the frontal toe region. This is why a foundered horse will lean back on its heels to ease pressure from the front of the hoof.

It has been thought in the past that this condition cannot be fully healed and the horse could only be kept “comfortable” with corrective shoeing and/or drugs, (eg. anti-inflammatories, pain killers, antibiotics). However, it has been proven that the “Strasser Method” of trimming a hoof has been successful in treating this acute and chronic lameness. In most cases, horses treated with this sensible and holistic method have been able to return to a normal, active life. With the correct trim the damaged hoof is able to, through growth, be replaced with strong healthy hoof material. This enables the horse to return to its sound state permanently.

Since Laminitis does not happen overnight, neither can it be healed overnight. In some cases, it can take up to two years. As a farrier I have seen my share of foundered horses and can tell you that many horses have benefitted from this style of trimming. With happy customers, and sound ponies, horses and donkeys, the results speak for themselves.

So I say to that anonymous caller, it’s okay to fear the unknown, but please get all the facts before you accuse. Knowledge is power and if we have the power to save horses from needless pain and suffering or ultimate death, why wouldn’t we use it?