Grass and laminitis

[Ant123]

I have a 7 year old welsh mountain pony who has just avoided laminitis. His hooves were hot but not sore. He is now in 24/7 to lose a bit of weight and we are riding him daily. I am at a livery yard where I’m unable to muzzle him for safety reasons but I’m also keen for him to remain living out 24/7 with my Irish Draught as I believe that is best for him. My question is regarding the grass in these current conditions- is it safe to put him back out at the moment or should I keep him on full livery for another month. Some are suggesting he can never live out!!

 

[fankino04]

A friend's Welsh pony escaped her starvation paddock and spent 20 minutes on normal grazing and that was enough for her to have another bout of lami, I'd say it's probably time to look for somewhere else that can accommodate her needs.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

With laminitis by the time they present with symptoms the damage has already started so be very careful with him. My Connie is currently on box/sand pen rest due to concussion laminitis so not even grass related but he hasn’t been out for over a month now and I won’t risk it until the autumn flush has gone.

 

[windand rain]

You need to get her weight off probably 100kgs. If you can do that with her out 24/7 then grass only no feed no hay no treats etc. You will need to have her on box rest for 30 days aftyer sound and limit her movement to as near zero as possible. She will then need to work to help the weight loss

Clipped and rugged in early winter a little fat never had laminitis

Start of the new grass season and the perfect weight for being able to graze on the track
This pony has never had laminitis and I will do all I can to make sure she never does
I try not to feed hay or haylage in Winter just a small feed of oat straw chaff and a vitamin mineral supplemeny daily 365 day of the year.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Dont risk it.
My mini had a mild attack earlier this year, a damned good warning. I kept her in for 4 weeks till I was satisfied with how she was doing, then went out for up to an hour in a grazing muzzle and time gradually increased.

Currently she's in at night and now out in day in a grazing muzzle for about 8 hours and has a daily yomp of about a mile or so in hand.

 

[Ant123]

It it safe for him to be out for the winter

 

[fankino04]

You need to get her weight off probably 100kgs. If you can do that with her out 24/7 then grass only no feed no hay no treats etc. You will need to have her on box rest for 30 days aftyer sound and limit her movement to as near zero as possible. She will then need to work to help the weight loss
View attachment 77705
Clipped and rugged in early winter a little fat never had laminitis
View attachment 77707
Start of the new grass season and the perfect weight for being able to graze on the track
This pony has never had laminitis and I will do all I can to make sure she never does
I try not to feed hay or haylage in Winter just a small feed of oat straw chaff and a vitamin mineral supplemeny daily 365 day of the year.

I'm so jealous of your grass or rather lack of, it's so hard finding somewhere here that does all year turnout but isn't loads of lush grass.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

It it safe for him to be out for the winter

Not 24/7 if he was mine. Even a light frost can trigger laminitis, they eat the tips of frosted grass.
I advise you do a lot of reading up on it, read the veterinary articles for in depth management and treatment, and not Jane or Karen's advice on Facebook (sorry to all Jane's and Karen's but there is a lot of odd and even wrong advice out there in some equine groups).
Hope you find a suitable way forwards.

 

[Ant123]

Many thanks . I’m not on Facebook for that exact reason

 

[windand rain]

This pony is a laminitic he lives out 24/7 365 days per year
Not always no grass

 

[SEL]

My friend's Sec A had an awful attack of lami after slipping her muzzle and she wasn't overweight. Her insulin level was over 300 after 2 weeks on box rest and after months in a large box it still only came down to 70 - & she was very ribby by then but that's what it took. Vet has advised never on any grass she can binge on if her muzzle comes off plus regular blood tests so they can understand how she's doing. Fortunately x rays show improvement.

 

[Zuzzie]

Google : The Laminitis Trust - lots of good info on there.

 

[Ant123]

View attachment 77728
This pony is a laminitic he lives out 24/7 365 days per yearView attachment 77731
Not always no grass

How have you managed the grass this year?

 

[windand rain]

He is on a track with another pony he loves to gallop round for his feed loses weight in winter so can see his ribs on a turn so can graze almost normally in Spring he is restricted to the track from April onwards I will not feed hay/haylage except tiny amounts once the grass is gone they graze until march on foggage last year for 5 ponies we used under 50 small bales of hay. Most was fed in March/April. They get a small feed of grassnuts/grasschaff/ and vitamin/mineral powder everyday if too fat the grass is substituted for oat straw. It works for mine The black pony was so crippled he had to have a pen built round him and bedded down as he literally couldn't move 3 days of bute and sedative later he managed to totter to his stable. That was 5 years ago and since then he has had no sign his feet are perfect and he is healthy on the new system. Lose weight drastically over winter track on grass all sumer no hay. I firmly believe that hay is the cause of most metabolic issues. I should add he isn't ridden or worked in any way he is purely in the field due to his considerable behavioural issues. He is a great companion his behaviour has improved as he is never hangry but not sufficiently for him to work. He is 16 and had several bouts of laminitis until 5 years ago when I stopped feeding hay in winter and used the track to keep him moving. I have owned him all his life he was very close to being shot a few times he broke my leg, bit my oh badly and threw most of his riders by rodeoing them into the ground and turning to stamp on them once off. He has never had a seriously harsh day in his life he nearly killed my friend at a few weeks old by trying to stove her head in. Some are just born bad so He will only leave me on the knackers wagon