Anyone ever fed magnesium oxide??

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I have a fat pony I just can` t seem to get thin and who has low grade laminitis in back feet - making him move slightly uncomfortable behind but not obviously lame - so exercising him to lose weight is a bit arkward. I know people feed magnesium oxide to help control laminitis - but am unsure if it`s a good idea as he`s still growing - he`s a rising 5 cob. He has very little hay, grass and barley straw - nothing else!
 
Both of mine get it (17 yo and 7 yo). Magnesium is needed for many body functions and may be lacking in pasture, especially in spring, I see no reason not to give it a try :)

I'd also try to reduce his grass intake.
 
If he is actively laminitic he should not be getting grass until you get it under control. Do you soak his hay for 24 hours? If not, you should.
 
Most of us feed magnesium oxide - especially bare footers :)

Its sounds to me like your horse possibly has EMS (equine metabolic syndrome)
Mag Ox would be a good place to start to help - its frequently deficient in UK grazing (as this has been optimised for cattle rather than horses) and is also good for helping shift fatty deposits. Also make sure you are adding salt to his feed, they dont get enough from a lick and need it to help control insulin responses.


Good links here
http://www.naturalhorsesupplies.co.uk/p/product/0802207584-Magnesium+Oxide+%28Heavy%29+900g++%A31299/
Also check out their herbal lami support.

http://www.calmhealthyhorses.co.nz/


However if the horse is fat its being fed too much/moving too little. Straw can have as much sugar as hay, it is also sprayed at least 4 times with chemicals which horses arent good at processing. Soaked hay at 1.5% of his bodyweight per day would be better.

Think about setting up a track system and spreading the hay/water/salt lick around the track so he has to move constantly to feed, like horses do in the wild.
 
Yes I feed it for balancing my mare's spookiness but have noticed her weight stays down when on it and fat stored around shoulders etc is gone (i have a haflinger and can see her ribs now, actually started feeding her up a bit more). I think magnesium has a lot to do with it when people can't get weight off their horses at all.

I would definitely give it a go, it is not a thing you can overdose on anyway (excess would get excreted in urine) and will probably help along with diet control.

Posted this earlier, interesting stuff.. http://www.horse-journal.com/magazine-article/cresty-and-laminitic-give-em-magnesium/
 
mandwhy said:
Yes I feed it for balancing my mare's spookiness but have noticed her weight stays down when on it and fat stored around shoulders etc is gone (i have a haflinger and can see her ribs now, actually started feeding her up a bit more). I think magnesium has a lot to do with it when people can't get weight off their horses at all.

I would definitely give it a go, it is not a thing you can overdose on anyway (excess would get excreted in urine) and will probably help along with diet control.

Posted this earlier, interesting stuff.. http://www.horse-journal.com/magazine-article/cresty-and-laminitic-give-em-magnesium/
Click to expand...

I hate to say it but it can be overdosed. Long term use prevents calcium absorption and as such shouldn't be used all year round. Vet advised me to stop using in winter, and start again before the spring grass comes through.
 
As Ali2 says magnesium is very useful and is often the most neglected mineral in a horses diet.

Here - read this link http://www.jehsolutions.co.uk/healthyhooves/images/PDF/Factsheet-Magnesium.pdf

Ali2 your siggy is fantastic - as a rider who wouldn't EVER ride out without fluorescent I think the difference in seeing both horses in the photo amazing.

Magnesium oxide has totally transformed my horse. I feed it in the shape of Magic Calmer and its worth every penny! :0
 
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