CC on feed regime - lami/cushings prone pony

tankgirl1

tankgirl1

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Hello

I am hoping you good people can give me an impartial view on our feeding regime.

11yo 14.3hh Sec D x, had lammi 2-3 years ago, has lost over 100kg since then, recently diagnosed with 'mild' cushings. Pretty much out of work atm due to weather etc. Feet looking good, weightaping at around 430kgs. Approx 6 hours turnout per day atm, will be out 24/7 as soon as possible! Yard rules state they are all in at night until April/May.

He has 2 x medium haynets of fairly dry haylage whilst in, fed from the floor as per vets instructions. Usually a bit left in the morning. One bucket a day which consists of 2 small scoops of Spillers Happy Hoof chop, along with top spec healthy hoof supplement (2 scoops as per instructions), and some garlic powder. Occasional carrot.

What is concerning me is that I have read that Happy Hoof has sugars in??? Had a conflab with his purely equine vet who says to keep on doing as we are, but try to exercise more, which I agree fully that we need to do!

Any CC/ideas very much welcomed!

Bottom layer of milk tray on offer ;)
 
If you are wanting to keep sugars to a minimum then I'd switch to a non mollassed chaff or something like fast fibre. I'd drop the garlic too as it kills the beneficial bugs in the gut. Will give the chocs a miss tho thanks - I'm cutting back on sugars for me too!
 
Please refer to the laminitis site, it will give you all the info you need on feed, turnout, meds and hay plus there is a facebook group you can join if you wish :) Soaked hay, hi fi molasses free with spillers lite supplement are basics, drop the garlic unless you really want to feed it, give once a week or fortnight..
 
Are you on facebook, there's a great Cushings group on there with loads of diet advice and hand holding (my mare's recently been diagnosed). They're also on Yahoo - ECIR is their name I think.
 
I would suggest you look at the laminitis site too,

too me the diet you are feeding sounds very wrong, I would be feeding 12hrs soaked hay, hi fi molasses free, b e cautious with 24hr turn out unless the in a bare paddock and feeding soaked hay out there too.
 
Happy Hoof contains molasses, despite it being approved by the laminitis trust I would not feed this. Might be worth noting that not a lot of barefoot horses get on with Topspec, better supplements for hooves and lami are available such as pro balance/pro hoof/forage plus balancer. These all have a higher spec of vitamins than standard hoof supplements. I wouldn't bother feeding garlic either as I find it has no benefits and has been linked to anaemia in horses. Might be an idea to start soaking hay as we get into spring.

Diet wise, I usually use a base of either unmolassed sugar beet or fast fibre plus a forage balancing supplements as mentioned above.
 
I'd ditch the happy hoof and get healthy hooves molasses free. I'd also be over cautious about 24/7 turn out. IMO , garlic is only really useful in the summertime as an aid for fly repelling ! What you want is fibre for him. I don't have experience of haylage , but I weigh my hay religiously and it gets soaked too. In the winter I also use fast fibre.
 
Thanks everyone.

He isn't keen on 'wet' foods, but have just bought some healthy hooves molasses free today so will change him over to that over the next week.

Re 24/7 turnout we were planning to use a muzzle - obviously not for the whole 24 hrs, and to bring in for a few hours every afternoon.

I agree that I would feel much happier feeding him soaked hay, but adlib haylage included in livery.... would half and half help? Over summer he would just get a small soaked net when he came in.

I'll look at the other feeds mentioned thank you, oh and I have just joined the facebrook group :)
 
you cold start by getting your haylage analysed (will cos t you £15 if d&h domiton a 24 hr turnaround). haylage isn't necessarily a bad thing fr a lammi prone pony but you need to check the sugar levels
 
LCH611 said:
you cold start by getting your haylage analysed (will cos t you £15 if d&h domiton a 24 hr turnaround). haylage isn't necessarily a bad thing fr a lammi prone pony but you need to check the sugar levels
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Oh OK, that sounds like a good idea! How would I go about doing it? YO produces haylage, usually fairly dry but some bales can be quite damp and a lot more pungent...
 
google forage analysis audit will bring you to Dodson and Horrell. you can pay online, print off the form and just post it to them. I always pay for he 24 hr service and am always impressed with their customer care
 
Hello! Just wanted to update and ask your opinions on his new and hopefully improved feeding regime!!

So he is still on 6 hr turnout atm, fairly sparse large field. Trying to build up his work, he has been gently hacked every day this week, and will start regular lunging schooling and longer hacks over time. He is now on 7kgs dry weight hay, soaked for 30mins overnight, double netted as we feel that lami / ulcer risk trumps the need to feed from the floor. 2 small scoops of healthy hoof molasses free with top spec hoof supplement.... does this sound better?

Thanks
 
Sounds good to me, you could soak the hay for even longer though to further reduce the sugars if necessary.
Out of interest what are the copper and zinc levels in the hoof supplement? Can't find an analysis on the topspec website.
 
You do need to soak the hay for 3 hours or longer to reduce sugars in it, half an hour i'm afraid will do nothing.. Also if ou want a hoof supplement, feed micronised linseed instead of the top spec, use spillers lite or topsec lite supplement...
 
hollybear said:
Sounds good to me, you could soak the hay for even longer though to further reduce the sugars if necessary.
Out of interest what are the copper and zinc levels in the hoof supplement? Can't find an analysis on the topspec website.
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I'm not sure will try and remember to look when I am at the yard
 
Micky said:
You do need to soak the hay for 3 hours or longer to reduce sugars in it, half an hour i'm afraid will do nothing.. Also if ou want a hoof supplement, feed micronised linseed instead of the top spec, use spillers lite or topsec lite supplement...
Click to expand...

Thanks, We were thinking the same about the length of time soaking tbh. Will look into other supplements
 
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