Nutrition in Foundered horse

[Sarah Ralston <ralston@AESOP.RUTGERS.EDU>]

Yes, Bobbi, I am lurking ;-)
Once again coming out of the wood work to clear up some misconcerptions.

Strategy is designed to be a "one size fits all" concentrate, not
just a supplement top dressed on other feed as suggested.

A few pounds of 14% pelleted feed (ie Strategy) per day should not hurt a
previously
foundered horse fed only grass hay. Since some grass hays are deficient in
protein, the extra
protein may be needed to repair the tissues damaged in the hoof. But if the
hay is of good quality, he
is slightly over weight and in otherwise good health, he shouldn't need
much, if any concentrates!
Hay, salt and water-add only TLC and love and the occassional carrot ;-)

Key to managing horses which have foundered is to prevent obesity! Obese
horses are much more prone
to founder (ergo the observation that fat horses in late autumn founder
more)-I also liked the
suggestion that as the grasses dry up (LESS carbohydrates, higher fiber,
much less risk of founder)
people tend to feed more grain, contributing to the founder problem. Yes,
over feeding rapidly fermentable 
carbohydrates -grain, alfalfa, fresh spring grass- is definitely a high
risk factor for laminitis. However
obese horses will develop problems much more easily than fit horses.

Hope this helps.

Sarah and Fling (Mom, I know I'm getting a bit pudgy with all this time off
but couldn't you PLEASE feed me 			more?)

Sarah L. Ralston, VMD, PhD, dACVN
Associate Professor
Department of Animal Science
Cook College, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
84 Lipman Drive
New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Ralston@aesop.rutgers.edu
732-932-9404


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