Okay,  I have an opportunity to adopt a mare.  Owner has health issues and can't care for the mare anymore.  It is a registered, sorrel 10 yrs.+ w/good bloodline.  The mare is foundered and would be a companion only.  Owner suggests she could be a good broodmare....     She tells me the mare foundered on rich spring grass a while back and other than getting a bit stiff when stalled for long periods, that she is otherwise good.  No repeated problems, on meds or whatever..

We have only had our horses a year now and I always planned to have more but I don't know about this.....  opinions please of things I may not have thought about ??

If you want to consider breeding the mare, consult the owner's vet for their opinion, as they should be familiar with the mare's general condition.  However, I personally would not breed a mare with a known history of founder as the extra stress and weight of pregnancy can aggravate any hoof problems.

I think if the mare has recovered from her lameness and isn't blowing out abcesses or otherwise in any pain then she potentially could be fine for breeding or even riding. There are a few variables. Do you know how many degrees her coffin bone rotated? Do you have radiographs from the intiall founder? If it was a minimal rotation then excercise at this point could be a great form of rehabilitation. I would definitely keep her hooves on a regular trimming schedule to say the least. I guess most important is if she is sound, or does she show any sensitivity to hoof testers. Does she have dropped sole? She's pretty young so that is a plus. A foundered horse doesn't necessarily mean a death sentence or early retirement either. I would consider having radiographs taken so that you may make a better educated decision as to what her body could handle. And if you have older radiographs definitely compare then so that you can better judge her recovery. Foundering on rich feed sources effects them metabolically it is not neccesarily the physical weight of her body that causes the founder, so as a brood mare providing that she is sound before you breed her then I would think you would have good luck in her staying sound.

Hope this helps.

 there is no reason for this mare not to lead a fully functional and normal life with the right care.. i would be questioning the diet, stiffness (arthritis maybe)..

good luck 

thanks to all that replied to my questions, it helped us make a decision.  We have decided not to take on another horse right now.