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Founder - something new or--------?

716 views 3 replies 3 participants last post by  loosie 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
#2 ·
I don't think it is a new idea that laminitis is only a recent disease in horses, nor only in domesticated hroses
Feral horses now, that get into a lush area, founder. There have always been lush areas, and there was also natural selection. Those wild horses that foundered, to a degree that they could not keep up with the herd, were culled by natural selection
Recent studies, show that many of those desert horses, when viewed at the microscopic level, suffered low grade laminitis, but it was concluded, that perhaps they were better able to withstand severe consequences, due to better development of the back of the foot, caused by lots of movement from birth
There are also horses that grew up on scarce forage, Like the Island ponies, and they developed what is known as the thrifty gene, which predisposes them to laminitis, once they get on better forage, so there is also genetic predisposition.

Also, while laminitis is not new, the degree of that laminitis and subsequent founder, is, where that horse would not survive in the wild
There are several factors, besides genetics. In the wild, many horses lost weight during the winter, where those winters were severe. They were thus in thin body condition, when that spring grass came up\
Our domestic horses are kept in good body condition year round, and enter spring even over weight, having had less exercise
Many of our domestic horses never have the movement that creates strong,well developed hooves, thus are more prone to 'fail'under a metabolic insult. Top that with enriched pastures, meant to put weight on cattle or help with milk production,or feeding too much NSC that the horse has no chance of burning, being only used recreationally, then yes, while there has always been type 2 diabetis in humans, so has there been laminitis in horses, but the incidence of both are increasing an an alarming rate, largely due to life style
 
#4 ·
I have read Brian Hampson's stuff before, in depth. I am still left wondering how exactly they classify laminitis. Not that I doubt some feral horses suffer from it. And of the fossils, it didn't explain what the measurable changes they found were. I was thinking that you can tell in a fresh bone, but one who's been through Dog knows what over the ages... Be interested to learn more.
 
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