We’ve all heard the terms founder and laminitis BUT WHAT IS IT?

The two terms mean separate, but related, things…

Laminitis is a condition caused by disruption to the blood flow through the laminae in the horses hoof.

The laminae is the tissue in the hoof that secures the coffin bone (or pedal bone) to the hoof wall… as the horse takes a step the weight of the horse is distributed through the laminae to the hoof wall, rather then straight down on the sole of the hoof.

it is believed to be caused by too little oxygen reaching the area – ie, a lack of bloodflow.
Basically the hoof has “shunts” that are supposed to increase the hoofs bloodflow to keep the hoof warm in cold weather… In a horse suffering from laminitis these shunts incorrectly open and route blood AWAY from the laminae.
This causes tissue damage, which in turn causes inflammation when the hoof tries to fight the resulting infection and remove the damaged tissue.

As the laminae is damaged the coffin bone and hoof wall separate.

It is in simple terms - separating the leg from the hoof!

Once separated the whole weight of the horse bears down on the coffin bone, and without the attachment to the hoof wall, the bone rotates down and can actually be pushed right through the sole to the ground.

Founder refers to the long term (or chronic) condition associated with the separation and rotation of the coffin bone.

The amount of separation and rotation will decide the horses recovery – while some can return to normal exercise others may rotate so much that the only humane options is euthanasia.

Founder & Laminitis Articles:

 
What causes it?

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