i64 MODERN BLACKSMITHING 



FOUNDER 



Founder is a disease manifested by fever in the feet 

 in different degrees from a simple congestion to a 

 severe inflammation. It is mostly exhibited in the 

 fore feet, being uncommon in the hind feet. The 

 reason for this is the harder pressure, a much greater 

 amount of weight coming on the front feet, the strain 

 and pressure on the soft tissues heavier. The disease 

 is either acute or chronic, in one foot or both. When 

 both feet are diseased the horse will put both feet for- 

 ward and rest upon the heels so as to relieve the pres- 

 sure of the foot. If only one foot is affected that foot 

 is put forward and sometimes kept in continual motion, 

 indicating severe pain. The foot is hot, especially 

 around the coronary band. The disease, if not 

 checked, will render the horse useless. When such a 

 horse is brought to you for shoeing it would be best to 

 send him to a veterinarian. 



How to shoe: Let the horse stand in a warm mud 

 puddle for six hours, then put on rubber pads or com- 

 mon shoes with feet between the web of the shoe and 

 the hoof, with sharp calks to take up the jar. It 

 would be best not to shoe at all, but let the horse loose 

 in a wet pasture for a good while- 



