How I Rehabilitated a Foundered Horse: Xenia’s Laminitis Recovery Journey
Zenia just 18 days after she arrived.
MEETING XENIA
I met 15 year old Canadian Xenia in February 2024 at which time I was asked to consider rehabbing her FOR the owner. I have not had much success with that so I was reluctant. At that time she had not yet foundered but she was uncomfortable and clearly had laminitis.
There were a few outstanding assessments to be done — X-rays and feedback from a person who had done some conditioning with her in the fall of 2023.
For reasons I’m not entirely sure of, things took longer than expected, and Xenia’s laminitis progressed into full-blown founder. The owner, feeling exasperated, just wanted me to take her in the hope that I could offer her a chance to recover at a new home. Although she had started to recover with some strategies in her previous home, the real work had only just begun by the time she arrived with me on April 10th, 2024.
PLEASE NOTE — I DON’T rehab other peoples horses! 😂🙄
I placed Xenia on our track system upon arrival, but within a few days, the stress of the new environment triggered a flare-up due to a cortisol spike. This was completely expected—new environment, new feed, new everything!!
Over the next few weeks knowing there were so many changes for a highly sensitive horse in a highly sensitive condition… we just had to stay the course. Soaking feet daily with epsom salts, hoof boots and pads (she loves her Cavallo Purple Trek Hoof Boots!) and soaking hay… we managed feed changes weekly by slowly adding food stuffs and supplements.
CREATING A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR HEALING
Salt was key at this stage of Xenia’s recovery as it stimulates thirst, supports hind-gut digestion, and serves as effective flavour camouflage in her mash, allowing us to gradually introduce additional supplements. We use soaked and rinsed hay cubes to deliver those supplements.
Xenia HAD FULL TIME ACCESS to low sugar hay (about 8%) but we still soaked it to reduce the sugar content by another 10–15%. We delivered this in 1 inch Handy Hay Net Slow Feeder bags and spread several bags around her pen to encourage movement.
We also fashioned a temporary pen on the track so she could be surrounded by the support of the herd and to reduce her stress.
The first few weeks we did use Bute intermittently, but ONLY for about 3 days at a time… she just was sooo sensitive and uncomfortable which, of course, made her reactive.
Xenia arrived to my place on thyroid medication, which is sometimes used to help horses lose weight when their condition becomes precarious. Since I’m not well-versed in this strategy, my goal was to wean her off the medication and with our veterinarian’s support, we did so over 3–4 weeks.
I knew she wanted to get better—she had so much more life to live and share with me. A friend supported her with some energy work, and within a few days, I noticed a shift—a flicker returned to her eye.
One of our dear friends spent hours with her every day, sometimes multiple times a day. We approached her situation with the perspective that she was a warrior, refusing to feel any pity for her circumstances.
Day by day, she changed.
KEY SUPPLEMENTS FOR LAMINITIS RECOVERY
Salt – Stimulates thirst and supports digestion
Magnesium oxide – Aids in muscle function
Vitamin C – for soft tissue support, cortisol management and hoof health
Juojulan herb (Madbarn) – Natural support for metabolic health
Vitamin E – Essential for muscle and immune support
Equishure – Balances hindgut pH and neutralizes excess sugars
Flax Oil – Rich in Omega 3’s, Anti-Inflammatory for joint support and energy production
ReMove – Helps remove mycotoxins in the horse’s digestive tract
Gastrobuf – Supports gut health in the stomach and the hindgut
Equine Choice Pre+Probiotic –restore and MAINTAIN healthy fibre fermentation, hind-gut function and nutrient absorption
*find these products⬇
I started with a 6-week round of ReMove, then transitioned to GastroBuf—a powerful supplement that protects the stomach and hind-gut from the Bute she was getting intermittently based on her pain levels. We kept her on GastroBuf for 6 months to support her healing, as it also helps reduce stress during illness and recovery.
Next, we gave her Equishure until the snow arrived. This supplement helps neutralize the effects of excess carbohydrates and sugar—especially since, in the fall, my horses have constant access to what I call 'little bits.' These are tiny bits of stressed grasses (high in sugar) along the track fence-line... my nemesis!
I also used Rivas remedies B6 And HPA herb mix for 8 months.
After that, we stopped giving her GastroBuf and now provide her with Equine Choice Pre+Probiotic powder daily, along with Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) for soft tissue support and cortisol management.
Me and Stiletto ponying Xenia to the river Sept, 2024
EXERCISE FOR LAMINITIC HORSES
This is more important than anything in my opinion but we had to make sure Xenia was comfortable enough to TOLERATE exercise. We used hoof boots and pads — sometimes many sets of pads—to ensure she could accomplish a functional HEEL first landing.
Once she was able to achieve a heel-first landing, we started taking laps around the yard—many laps. Then, we ventured out... hand walking. A huge thank you to all the humans who helped with this! It was a job we often had to do up to twice a day!
Then when she was consistently able to walk for 45 min, I started ponying her mid May several days a week.
In June I had her teeth floated (a 3 point float). This was also an important step in her recovery and overall body balance in conjunction with her regular hoof trims.
Her exercises were often interrupted by hoof trimming every two weeks, so I’d give her a few days off to recover and adjust before getting back at it. I used an exercise pattern similar to marathon training—at least, what I remembered of it! It’s been so long! 😉
IT LOOKED LIKE THIS:
▷ Short ride
▷ Short ride
▷ Long ride
▷ Short ride
▷ Day off
If she tolerated this then we added time to all the rides in the same pattern adjusting as we went (recovery is rarely in a straight line).
This continued into August - we had got on her back a little bit here and there but mostly we still ponied her, we were still getting to know her.
I completed the deworming protocol for Xenia in the fall (you can read more about that here if you like) and in September we hosted a clinic where Shealo of Freespirit Horsemanship helped me by putting Xenia through her paces. I’m very cautious with my fragile body these days and wanted to make sure I understood how much training /education Xenia had before I got on and started to push buttons!
Since then Xenia has been ON FIRE! She’s truly an amazing girl and I’m very grateful she picked me! She’s also showing a LOT of promise on my Equine Assisted Learning team.
Until next time,
Leah Hope
Read more about what supplements I provide for my horses.
