Founder Alert!

HAYES EQUINE HORSE HEALTH TIP

Because of all the rain and mild winter, spring is coming a month early. The clover is coming up in the pastures and the green winter grass is growing. Both of these are high in sugar content, which causes laminitis or founder. We have already seen 3 cases of founder in miniature horses and donkeys. They have foundered in the past and now have laminitis again. If your horse has foundered in the past or is overweight, it’s time to get your horse off free choice pasture. Limit pasture grazing time to ½ day and put the horse in a paddock with hay ½ day.
Signs of founder are stiff slow walk due to sore front feet, reluctance to walk, stiffness or difficulty turning, rocking back on hind end to get off the painful front feet, and laying down more than usual. If your horse shows these signs of founder, get them off the grass and call your veterinarian for treatment.