Q. We are considering buying a horse, but we noticed rings on his hooves. The owner said they are grass rings, or that's what the person who she bought him from told her. Can you explain this to me? If it helps, he's a 15 yr old Quarter Horse gelding in terrific condition, not over or under weight. Is there a difference between grass rings and founder rings? What ARE grass rings?
A. I'm not sure what grass rings are either, unless they are the rings left by a grass founder. Horizontal rings in the hoof wall can also be the result of a high fever, in which case they are referred to as fever rings. When you have this horse checked by an equine vet for the pre-purchase exam, ask the vet specifically to examine the rings in the feet. If there is any suspicion that the horse may have foundered in the past, you might consider the extra expense of foot x-rays to determine whether there has been any sinking or rotation of the coffin bones. Bear in mind, also, that a horse who has experienced one laminitis attack in the past is far more susceptible to experiencing them in the future that a horse who has never had the problem occur at all.
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