Am I doing enough to prevent laminitis?

galacasinoking

galacasinoking

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 December 2008
Messages
134
Location
Hereford
Visit site
I understand many cases of laminitis occur in the spring/summer, however I have recently moved yards where there is quite alot of grass. I have a 2 year old miniature shetland gelding who is out on the grass, as there is no starvation patch - The plan was, to make him one with electric fencing, so he would be on as little grass as possible, but I then had my brand new energiser nicked! So that ruined my plan! He always comes in at night with a very little, small - holed haynet (soaked hay) He is in from about 4pm - 7am (15 hours) so he is in more than he is out. He is not fat, but probably could do with being abit slimmer for the spring. His neck is relatively soft & sometimes he has slight warmth in his feet but they are always stone cold by the morning.
Am I doing enough to prevent laminitis? So paranoid!
 
You could use a muzzle, not everyone is a fan but it has helped my good doer through the summer when the grass is lush.
 
Would recommend a muzzle without doubt, it gives you more control as to the intake of grass
I also agree with turning out at night.
What ever you do try and keep a very basic diet, one which primarily feeds the hind gut, as your sort of pony needs no added sugar to its diet.
Worth having the hay tested, as it makes a difference as to when it was cut, type of grasses and how dry it is.
Incidentally in 39 years I have never had so many laminitics referred to me in November before
 
^^ Good advice, also remember winter is the time that horses are meant to lose weight ready for the spring / summer flush. If people stopped feeding their horses up so much all winter maybe they wouldn't have to spend all summer starving them!!
 
advice

1 cut down the cereals little or non,
2 limit the grass in area or muzzle
3 soak hay overnight to reduce sugar
4 don't turn out when the ground is frosty as the sugars are at the top, wait till lunchtime when its thawed
5. dont ride fast over hard ground concussion can trigger laminitis


copied this from this web site under *L*

http://equinecare-and-control.weebly.com/l.html

Pasture fructan levels are lowest in the morning so horses can
be allowed to graze until about 11am. Limit pasture access to 90
minutes only in spring and autumn. “Starvation” paddocks, strip
grazing and grazing muzzles can be used to limit pasture intake.
Do not allow laminitic horses to graze on stressed short grass,
frosted or drought recovering pastures as these may contain
high fructan levels. Avoid grazing in full sun during the day and as
much as possible during spring and autumn, especially after a dry
summer (ie times of high pasture growth).
Avoid ryegrass, phalaris and fescue dominant lush pastures which
are considered high risk pastures, as well as rapidly growing clover
in pastures in spring.
 
xXMrsIrishXx said:
Could you maybe stable during the day and turn out overnight? The sugar content in the grass is safer overnight.
Click to expand...


thanks, i didnt know this!

just to let people know, he has no hard feed, just the odd carrot now and again.
his hay is soaked and put in a small holed haynet, it is not fresh (this years) hay so hopefully should be less goodness in it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top