After the initial pain of founder is gone, you will still be dealing with a delicate foot, prone to reinjury. How delicate will depend on:

• Has the initiating cause been addressed?
• What predisposing conditions remain especially obesity and quality of the horn in the hoof?
• The amount of dislocation of the coffin bone within the hoof capsule.

The management and prognosis based on these factors is covered in the article Overview of Founder and Laminitis, ...more.

Those with little space between the tip of the coffin bone, whether due to rotation, displacement, or poor quaility sole will have more trouble. The pressure concentrated in this area as it is trapped between the toe and ground will be quite sensitive. With too much pressure the sole grows poorly or not at all and a thin sensitive area is created that may ulcer through to the corium or even expose the toe bone.

A way to help these horses is derotation of the coffin bone so that it rests at a more normal position with respect to the hoof capsule and the ground. This article describes a technique that is being widely accepted as the best chance for these horses.

Because of the variation in the amount of damage from horse to horse it is difficult to give hard and fast rules for exercise. While it is necessary to limit exercise to limit further damage to the laminae, it is also in the interest of a strong healthy hoof to receive a certain amount of walking. Painful horses should still be treated as though acute, stalled on very soft bedding or on soft pads. As the source of pain may be either ongoing founder or some of the comon complications of founder persistant monitoring and reassesment is essential for early recognition and proper treatment. This information and treatment for painful horses or immediately following the acute episode is covered in Overview of Founder, ...more.

Once sound, the horses should be rested in a large stall or small paddock at first to assess the results of the derotation procedure and the stability of the shoe. If the horse remains comfortable and the shoe stays on well he may be moved to a large paddock for gradually increasing times.