Question: Will treats cause my horse to founder? The owner ofthe barn where I stable my horse has told another horse owner that heruse of treats has caused her horse, an Appaloosa, to founder. Canapples, carrots and an occasional molassas/apple treat cause founder?
From Panelist Nancy
Absolutely not!!
Nancy Cade
From Panelist Liz
Hi,
An occasional treat will not cause founder to a horses. I myself enjoyfeeding treats . Treats given too often and incorrectly can cause somebad manners if not handled correctly. Treats given free choice or largeamounts yes could cause problems.
Liz
From Panelist Theresa
Founder,a condition in horses, is a circulatory condition causing inflammation.It is typically induced by a bodys hormonal response, chemical imbalance,or stress.
Some horses that are prone to founder conditions (thyroid, previousfounder, or severe imbalances in their chemisty) may need to be kept ona strict eating schedule. This could include timing of meals, quantity,and what they are eating.
Horses suffering from mechanical (stress) founder typcially are managedthrough corrective hoof work, bute/banamine and usually are not affectedfrom minor dietary changes.
In general, occasional cookies, carrots, apples and other treats arefine for the horses. Stallions or young horses, and mouthy horses shouldbe fed chopped pieces in their feed mangers, versus hand feeding so theydon't develop dangerous habits.
Hope this brief overview helped,
Theresa
From Panelist Liz
Just about anything fed in excess will cause a horse to founder.An occasional apple or carrot (one a day) won't harm your horse unlesshe/she is obese or has an allergy to those things. A bushel basketof apples or carrots could indeed make a horse founder.
Lee Ziegler
From Panelist Erica
Occasional treats will not cause a horse to founder (as long as theyare not HUGE amounts of anything - especially molasses and grain).
Founder is caused by many different things. The most common cause offounder is
being overweight. You need to watch your horse's weight carefully andadjust it
accordingly with exercise and a proper feeding program. There are alot of books out there with more information on founder and laminitis thatyou may wish to look through that are very informative.
Erica Frei
From Panelist Carol
Hi,
I 've never heard of treats causing a horse to founder, although itmight be possible if the horse ate a whole bushel of apples, for instance.I seriously doubt if treats caused the founder.
Carol Camp Tosh
From Panelist Stella
It would have to be some incredibly ENORMOUS amount of apples or sugar
treats (like leaving them in a ripe orchard!) - since carbohydratesare the culprit, not protein...so I would say she's trying to pass thebuck...as the greater likelihood is either overload/sudden change of feed,grass (like none/poor to very rich), or drinking too much cold waterwhen hot, overwork....things that shock the system, more or less causinga
"processing overload" that the simple design cannot handle in riddingthebody of
excesses and toxins.
Stella
