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The Founder Stance
Horses suffering from acute or chronic founder exhibit a behavior known as the "founder stance." If the front feet are affected, the horse tries to shift all of its weight on its back feet, extending the front legs. In instances when all four hooves are infected, the horse tries to bring all of its feet as far under its body as possible to alleviate some of the pressure placed on them.
The Horse's Gait
The lameness in the horse's hooves change the way the animal moves. A foundering horse walks with short, rapid steps. This is commonly known as "walking on eggshells." To detect the presence of early founder, a vet or owner may try to walk a horse in a circle on a hard surface since horses with laminitis tend to have difficulty turning. They may try to turn by leaning back on their hind legs and pivoting.
Signs on the Foot
A horse suffering from founder has a ring formation on its hooves, and if it is experiencing chronic laminitis, there may be several rings. The hoof wall also may separate from a portion of the toe called the sensitive laminae, a condition known as "seedy toe." If the hoof is allowed to grow like this without being trimmed properly, it develops into the deformation called "slipper foot." In the worst cases of founder, the coronary band on the hoof may bleed.
Other Signs
The pain caused by founder may make the horse breathe heavier as well as exhibit a glazed look in its eyes. It may stop eating and act generally lethargic, not wanting to stand up. In the very early stages, the horse moves stiffer. The legs, especially the hoof, are hotter and have a rapid pulse that can be felt when touching them. In some cases, horses exhibit a thick, "cresty" neck. The crest is the top line, or arch, of the neck, which normally has a gentle curve. A cresty neck is fatty and thick.