To elaborate, the quantity of feed fed is not so much the concern as the
quality, amino acid content, and energy density for laminitic and
foundered horses.
To regrow healthy hoof, the horse MUST have all of the essential amino
acids, energy, minerals, and vitamins required by his body each day.
Without adequate protein and energy, the body will not have the
resources to repair itself, and in extreme cases, will canabalize itself
to keep the horse alive. This is one reason why starving horses will
display a shaggy, dull coat, poor hoof development, lethargic
expression, etc. The body is using all it can to keep the horse alive
instead of repairing/maintaining the less vital systems, such as
shedding, hormone maintenance, organ repair, proper hoof growth, and so
on.
Unfortunately, the thought in the past was to practically starve the
foundered horse to prevent him from getting acute laminitis again or
developing chronic founder. However, by doing this, he will not be able
to repair the damage done to his hooves or vessels. A foundered horse
will tend to founder again, just by the shear fact that the laminae have
been weakened and are still trying to support a 1000 pound horse.
Limiting his nutrition to below his requirements will only make the
problem worse (even though it may drop 100 pounds from his 1000 pound
weight). Of course, a fat horse is undesirable too... he has to carry
all of this useless weight around. Just keep him to where his ribs
don't show, but also below the point where Weight Watchers hands your
horse a membership application and a carrot!
Instead, the owner should make sure that the horse is fed to his
nutritional requirements. Biotin has the glimmer of hope in helping
horses with hoof quality (not amount of hoof growth) over time...
researchers recommend 10 to 15 mg. per day of biotin, if interested. Be
sure that the feed's protein amount and quality is at least adequate...
usually (but not always), the higher the crude protein content, the more
available essential amino acids to the horse. This would be thrown out
the window if the feed was barely digestible, though!
Free-feeding is fine IF the horse is not taking in a huge amount of feed
energy each day. For example, sticking a foundered horse (or any most
any other horse, for that matter) on a lush alfalfa pasture pack full
with feed energy would guarentee problems! However, stick that horse on
a burmudagrass pasture in a mature growth stage, and he'll probably do
just fine, and will be happier for it.
The cause of founder should also be examined. Remember, founder occurs
from many forms, such as concussive stress (road founder), eating
poisonous plants (toxins), illness, all the way to the acute laminitis
we're used to hearing about when ol' Pokey decides to make the grain bin
his home one night.
Eliminate/prevent the cause of founder first (if possible), feed him to
his nutritional requirements (not below, not too much above), work WITH
your farrier (not against him 'cause the bar shoes cost more), allow
healing time, and seek advice from your vet.
Good luck! Watched a few pack horses who got into the grain shed
recover wonderfully and eventually return to their previous work levels
by feeding them what they needed, provided time for healing, and
supportive shoeing. Keep in mind though, that some horses may never
recover no matter what you do, unfortunately.
Kim
(PS to the flamers... if anyone one sends me nasty, flaming e-mails
about my posts, as in the past, I'll just post it publicly. All of my
information on equine nutrition, etc. is based on research, and most
supported "in the field"). Consider this as your notice).