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  Discussion on Hope for foundered horse after 1&1/2 years ??
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Member:
Johnsonl

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 29, 2005 - 10:47 am:

I'm discourgaged and baffled. Buckeye foundered a year and 1/2 ago with 8 and 12 degree rotations. Through excellent farrier work, his coffin bones are totally re-aligned. I have him on lots of roughage and a biotin supplement. He has lots of great sole. My vet told me to start riding him (walking) a few minutes a day back in Jan. of this year. But, he still walks with his head very low to the ground - almost completely like the egg-shell walk he had when he foundered. It's a little longer stride, but not much. He has no desire to go faster than a walk (previously highly spirited), but will trot when I ask. Did this briefly to check him out. His trot is hard and jarring now. The vet and friends say he's walking/trotting fine to them (appearance-wise). This is not the horse I had before! Vet says many foundered horses never feel the same, and the rocker-shoe (which he's worn for the last six-months of his recovery) can change the way they move. He occasionally trots and canters in pasture and looks good. My questions are: If he's walking with me, with his nose almost on the ground, doesn't this indicate he may still be in pain? And, why would a horse who's x-rays look so good that the vet says, "If I didn't know this horse had foundered, I wouldn't believe it", still move this way after a year and 1/2?? Do some horses who appear to have mand a structural recovery never make a riding horse again? Is it time to give up on him and very sadly resign myself to only pasture soundness? His founder cause was a complete mystery, he's a thoroughbred-X, 17 years (used to act like a 5 year old when I rode!). No Cushings, and no extra weight. I'm so sad, very very grateful he's alive, but discouraged.
Member:
Christos

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 29, 2005 - 1:23 pm:

No, no, no! Don't give up on him!
A year and a half of pain and restriction, awkward shoes and all this, can and will change a horse's way of moving. Dramatically, perhaps. But not permanently.
He only needs to rebuild his muscling and regain trust in his legs. Be patient, he's just a scared, clumsy, huge baby. He'll find it again with a little encouragement.
Member:
Quatro

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 29, 2005 - 10:52 pm:

Hi Lori, Don't be discouraged! I know it is hard. Levi is doing absolutely awesome. I found a new farrier and he has taken him out of the rocker shoe, he is in a slightly raised heel shoe, and he says he should be back in a normal shoe someday. The other vet and farrier said he absolutely had to be in the rocker shoe forever. Once I got him out of his rockers he walks mucho mucho better, and truthfully seems much happier. Maybe you should explore this avenue?
Hang in there. I am not sure if Levi was a case of founder or a club foot that was trimmed improperly, but that was last August. He still flips his foot at the beginning of trot, but we are working on that, as it seems more like a habit now.
Good luck, and keep us posted
suz
suz
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jun 30, 2005 - 7:57 am:

I agree with the above Lori, none of what you describe causes a permanent change in the way of going and think that you will have your horse back.

No this way of going does not indicate front limb pain, a putting the head down increases the weight on the front legs. To double check if this is being caused by pain (from any origin) try a 12 day course of bute to see if there is improvement and then does it worsen when it is stopped. As Susan asks, "is your horse still in the rocker shoes and if so why?" This is not necessary and may make the horse feel insecure and walking this way.
DrO
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