Question:

Have a quarter horse 17 yrs with laminitis. Has been a brood mare for a number of years. Only have had her 6 weeks. Working to bring her back to regular riding of maybe 3 times a week to train our kids to ride. Took her out for a short walk/trot. Put splint boots on front. Upon return, her coronary band was swollen and larger than when I started. What does this mean? Is it dangereous?
Thank you for your time.

Answer:

Good Morning Ann!

Couple of questions for you:

Is she actively laminitic? For how long? Does she have rings around her hooves? Is she lame at all? Even ouchy? Do you know if she has foundered from the laminitis and if so, were xrays taken to determine amount of rotation? Was she lactating when you got her? OR has it been awhile since her last foal?

Sometimes horses can be chronically laminitic meaning that they always have a very mild event of laminitis going on. This should be tended to and remediated before any serious riding is done. Laminitis is inflammation of the laminae — the laminae is the connective tissue that holds the hoof capsule onto the foot. Much like your fingernail or toenail. Disconnection due to inflammation and die off of the affected tissue can cause some serious problems that can lead to very unpleasant situations and a whole lot of hurt for the horse.

In a situation like this I take a ‘whole horse’ approach and look at all aspects of the husbandry and diet. Diet can most affect the hooves and if the horse is at all metabolic then an ongoing laminitis can be the result. So its important to understand the origin of the laminitis, the present condition, and change what might need to be changed in the way of husbandry and diet. And, of course, hoofcare. Has the farrier or vet seen her? Do you have pics of the hooves that I could see? (Perhaps loaded up on Photobucket) …

Alot of questions but see this is a question that cannot be easily or simply answered as its all dependent upon the individual horse and her own situation and background.

I’ll wait to hear back from you.

FOLLOWUP:

Thank you Gwen. Will answer your questions. Ferrier coming tonight to check her after 6 weeks. Will ask if actively laminitic.Yes, rings on hooves. Not lame, but definitely looks ouchy at times. Don’t know if foundered from laminitis. No xrays passed on with purchase. Been a while 2-3 years since last foal. Diet- 2-3 hours on pasture only per day. 2cup monr and nite of 14% pellets/molasses coated. She is front shoed. Bruises easily and trips at pebbles hurting feet. I will send some pics if I can figure out how. Thank you so much for taking the time to help me. Ann
Reply to Followup from Ann:

You’re welcome, Ann. I didn’t realize your mare was shod. I am qualified to answer what to do with a barefooted horse but your farrier is the best one to answer questions about the shoeing. Personally, I’d pull the shoes and rehab barefooted with boots. But that’s an individual choice and working with the team of a farrier and vet is your best option. 🙂