When Nikki first foundered in February, 2006, I did not know much about the founder process. Nothing Nikki has done since his founder has been "normal". The first few months were a struggle to learn and try to help him. I read every web site I could find about founder. Most of them filled me with dread and despair. I began to think Nikki would never recover. He did progress for the first couple of months and then crashed in April, 2006. Looking back, it is possible he was beginning the abscess process but I did not know that. The vet thought he was re-foundering and gave him IV DMSO which turned him into a wild horse - running, bucking, tearing around the pasture, for two days. Prior to that, he only walked very slowly. I believe now that the DMSO incident is what caused the terrible damage in his feet. Two days later he went down.

We do not know what caused Nikki to founder. He foundered in the middle of winter when there was no grass in the pasture. He had not received vaccinations recently and nothing in his diet had changed. We were in the middle of our trail riding season and doing a lot of riding. Nikki had been tender-footed most of his life and I finally broke down and agreed to shoes on the front. Two weeks later, Nikki foundered. While I don't blame the shoes, I feel they were the final insult to his feet and were what triggered the founder. Nikki was also an air fern and very much overweight despite being fed very little. (He lost almost 400# due to the stress of his founder.)

During the course of my research, I came across Keith Seeley's web site (http://www.keithseeley.com/default.asp). I read every page, over and over, and, for the first time, felt some hope that Nikki would live. The vets and farriers had all recommended I put him down and told me he could never recover. The vet thought he had an infection of the coffin bone. A few times I seriously considered putting him down because I didn't think there was any hope. However, Nikki has NEVER told me he was ready to go. He has continued to fight, despite the terrible pain and stress. I did know that I would not permit anyone to nail shoes on his feet and I was determined to do everything I could to save him, as long as he wanted to be saved.

Finally, I went public with Nikki's plight and Kelly Hall contacted me. I had known Kelly for some time through my tack shop. Kelly was so encouraging and told me about Keith who had saved her mare. It was such a coincidence that Keith's web site was the only thing that gave me hope and I had actually emailed Keith for help. With Kelly's encouragement, I telephoned Keith and thus began Nikki's salvation. Luck would have it that Kelly had scheduled Keith to give a clinic in the area in June, 2006. I was able to attend the clinic and Keith came and trimmed Nikki for the first time the following day. I am so glad I had attended the clinic in advance and was prepared for the trim that was to come. By attending the clinic, I understood what needed to be done if Nikki was going to have a chance to recover.

June 26, 2006 Keith Seeley Trimming

Nikki has received several trims from Keith since that time. Keith has also been available on a constant basis via email and telephone. Between times, Kelly has been wonderful and has driven to my barn on a weekly basis to help me with Nikki and to keep his trim under control. We take photos every week and mail them to Keith for his comments and instructions. Not only has Kelly been wonderful to Nikki, we have developed a great friendship.

July 11

August 13

Kelly

June, 2007

Without his support group, I doubt Nikki would have survived. This is an on going story as his recovery progresses. He still lays down a lot, but is up more and more. During the summer of 2006, Nikki lay down most of the day and night while he abscessed non-stop for three months. Despite this, he has remained perky and alert, always willing to get up and eat, though preferring to have his head on his pillow and be pampered. He developed some bad bed sores which we are still fighting. Through Keith and Kelly I also learned of the TLOP pads which have been an essential part of Nikki's rehab. He wears the pads every day, either with his Cavallo Simple Boots or his Deluxe Equine Slippers. During abscess times and while his soles have been open I wrap his feet in baby diapers first to keep them dry and clean.

It is not just the feet that need treatment. When he is able, I take Nikki for a walk every night, even if it's only a few yards. When he is having good days, we'll walk for 20-30 minutes, other days just a few minutes. He has free access to the property and can wander around 24 hours a day. Following Keith's advise, I am treating the whole horse, not just the feet. I have every reason to believe that Nikki will have a full recovery and, one day, I will ride him again.

I still continue to treat Nikki as a horse. I feed him a small amount of Nutrena Light Balance, unlimited grass hay (Timothy or coastal), and supplements for his joints. He is able to graze whenever he wants and go into his stall to take his naps at any time. He does prefer to have someone place his pillow under his head, but has become quite good at laying down so his head is in the right place for his leopard print pillow.

To be continued .....