Feeding laminitic horse in work

[PucciNPoni]

Okay, can really use some help here. My mare was diagnosed with lami back in beginning of June. She had all the necessary time off, etc. She has dropped about 40kg according to wt tape. She's now back to work and we do very low level dressage. However, my instructor now feels she's losing condition and perhaps a bit of muscle wastage. Her current feeding regime is this:

10kg hay split in two nets for am and pm

Bucket feed is also split but total qty:

3 large scoops of happy hoof
speedi-beet (about 3/4 lg sc) -- when I can get her to eat with it in her feed. She's been leaving it with speedi beet in there, but eats chaff happily without speedibeet.
supps: Formula 4 Feet, garlic, salt, linseed oil, seaweed

She gets grazing for 1 hour on long grass that's well past sugar stage (ie knee high).

On weight tape she's 506kg, she stands 15.1hh and is not your traditional welsh cob, more of a sport type. Some of her topline does seem to be going away.

She is in light work: hacked maybe 1-2x a week weather/schedule/show depending. She's schooled 4x a week for 60-90 min and her off days she's lunged for maybe 20 minutes.

She used to be on Topspec Comp balancer and she looked fab on that. I stopped using it when she was diagnosed with laminitis, but am wondering if maybe I should re-introduce it? Also, any suggestions for her feeding would be most welcome.

Thanks!

(CROSS POSTING TO SY AS WELL)

 

[brighteyes]

Back in work already? Topspec do a laminitis balancer but tbh I'd be taking it a lot slower. Laminitis doesn't just come and go that quickly. Her foot must have destabilised and you have to wait for that part of the hoof which 'separated' or was damaged to grow out completely before risking a further breakdown in the hoof capsule.

I think take it steady for at least another three months and keep your horse on plenty of forage with as few calories in as possible - looking at what she is on you are in the right area - however, long stemmy grass (gone to hay type stuff) is actually very high in sugars - it just takes them much longer to chew and the 'safety' is only because of the restricted intake due to that! Beware! Also, what's more important - soundness or this bloody top line everyone seems obsessed with. You get that from working correctly which you can only do if your horse is physically well enough to cope with. I'd say ther reason hers has gone is due to the necessary measures to cope with the laminitis. You will not be able to get it back overnight and arguably for a long time if you are playing it safe with her management.

www.safergrass.org is the website where all the info is.

Good luck and don't think you are ever 'out of the woods' or it'll get you again.