Feeding A Laminitic ..now in full work!

dainewell

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I hope someone can give me some advice re feeding my section d, she had a bout of acute lami last year caused by lack of exercise and far too much grazing :( my fault! She is now being ridden 6 days a week hard! Either intense schooling, fast hacking, eventing, etc we are out every weekend and i feel she needs more than happy hoof now! Shes looking really fit and muscular instead of podgy but lacks stamina when we are out competing and i feel i cant push for any more when she is only on happy hoof and speedi-beet!

Am i safe to put her on a comp/endurance mix if shes in full work now?

Thanks
Babs
 
It really depends as lammi is so different from horse to horse but my gut instinct would be to say no as most comp mixes will have high levels of starch/sugar which is a potential trigger. If I were you I'd call up an impartial equine nutritionist and get some accurate advice. Also be careful with the fast hacks - if the ground isn't brilliant then they can stress lammi. Once a horse has had one type of lammi they become very susceptible to other types, for example mine had stress lammi as a result of a kick but I have to be very careful with his food and grazing as he could also get sugar/starch induced laminitus too.
 
Personally i wouldn't put her on a comp type mix if she has had lami, have a look around and see what feeds are suitable for laminitics that will provide abit more energy for her, but certainly dont go pumping lots of sugar into her as wouldn't want to bring on another attack. Good Luck :)
 
Personally i wouldn't put her on a comp type mix if she has had lami, have a look around and see what feeds are suitable for laminitics that will provide abit more energy for her, but certainly dont go pumping lots of sugar into her as wouldn't want to bring on another attack. Good Luck :)

^ 5 This ....

I would NOT put her on anything like competition mix again.

My mares lami was caused by competition mix and propel + along with barley rings.
She was fit exercised 6 times a week .

Your mare has had lami once, it would only take a small amount of mix to bring on an attack. Is it worth the risk?? Soya oil you can use is safe for a laminitic. You want to use easy digestible fibre foods. Not pump her with starch and high concentrates.
 
Definitely steer clear of most competition mixes for the reasons stated above. Something cereal-free and low starch like Saracen Releve might help provide a little extra energy while being low calorie. Also agree with the linseed recommendation. First thing I would do though is just increase a hay ration, I'm learning to keep it simple especially at this tricky time of year when everything is growing like crazy!
 
My first thought would be oil too; I'm in the same boat with a horse who had laminitis last year who was over weight with little work, and now is fit, sleek and slim. A lot of endurance riders feed fibe and oil as the main components of their horses diets, and that is most suitable for laminitics due to being low sugar. If/when mine shows signs of needing more than her baileys lo cal and hi fi light, i'll be adding oil. Being slim seems to have given her a new lease of life though, I don't believe it!
 
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