Grass, oldies and lami

J

Jenz

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I think I have become a lami-phobe. My boy had it nearly 2 years ago and i would do anything for him not to have it again.

He now lives with 2 very lami prone ponies. One of which has had it very badly in the past but I think is easier to maintain. The other is very old and not your typical lami-prone pone, she's petite and doesn't keep weight on well. But has horrendous feet so evident she's had is bad in the past.

I sort of took over looking after them over the spring and summer and for the first time in years they didn't have any laminitis all season, which I was quite proud of! (looks as though they've had a bit of lamitis every year for quite a few years) The owner on the other hand hates to see the fields full of grass whilst 3 slim horses are restricted to a small patch.

TBH the oldy is very slim, but my farrier reasurred me that she was ok and he would much prefer a lower condition score so they're not bearing weight on their previously damaged feet.

But, the owner whisked the oldy out of 'the patch' and is free is eat as much a the rich, good quality grass as she wants now.

I was so cross! Not that i would say anything because it's her horse. So I stomped round the field whilst poo picking wondering why some people risk laminitis when it's so horrible for the horse.

But I've calmed down now. I would still have done things differently, but now just wondering what other people do with ponies that have previously had lamintis? I think I'm being overly careful.
Do you ever turn out completely ever again? Or do you restrict all through the winter as well?
 
Always play safe with laminitis prone animals which pretty much includes all native pony good doers. I realise all horses can get laminitis but by design our natives are particulalry prone.
The older pony may have cushings...may be worth getting her tested. Slim does not always mean safe.
 
Oh good. I was starting to think it was me being cruel.

In my stomp around the field (the day the oldy got turned out) I was just imagining how painful it would be to have a bone try and come out the bottom of your foot. Sorry, rant over.

I can't muzzle mine (with much perseverance, he still hates it) and he's not easy to keep on restriction because he is an escape artist. But if that's what they need, then I'll carry on.
 
I know slim isn't always safe, but I was happier with them being on the slim side. The other one (not mine and not the oldy) is a lovely cob and the owner seems to think she should be plump and round, which I disagree with. When I first moved there she had a gully down her back and the dips above her eyes (supraorbital fossa, as I've learnt today!) were bulging out.

The oldy is 38+ yrs, no pot belly, no long coat, just loads of arthirits and very prone to laminitis. But the way they were kept before, I'm not surprised. Cushings could be possible, but the owner doesn't want to spend much money on her. I personally don't think it is fair to put her through the winter, I don't think she'll make it. But that's a whole different conversation. I'm surprised she hasn't got lami or colic already, she's been on endless long grass for a week after being restricted since Feb. Whoops, I'm ranting again.

For the other two (mine and the cob) would you keep them restricted over the winter too?
 
My girl is 19yrs old, has a rotated pedal bone and i do not take risks, i am constantly paranoid, which as far as i am concerned is the best way with a horse with damage to the foot such as a laminitic.
I would be furious too, very sad indeed, people often think laminitics look lean or too slim, but better that than dead imho, because that's the long and short of it really.
 
Thank you!

I was so cross and told a friend (who admittedly doesn't know anything about laminitis) and I think she thought I was over reacting and this week commented on how much weight she has put on and how much better she looks because of it. It took all my might not to say she won't look so good in a hole in the ground.
mad.gif


On a slightly different question, can they ever come right after some rotation? I think the nice cob must have had rotation, only judging on how sloped, flat, mishaped and ridged her feet are. She never had xrays. She's only about 10yo
frown.gif
but is it possible with good farriery over a few years she could be a light hack? Or is pedal damage uncorrectable?
 
I think it is different when a horse is 38 + yrs old. TBH I wouldnt want to keep a poor 38 yr old on very limited grazing. It is like telling a 100 yr old they shouldnt smoke or drink as it could shorten their life! I would be with the owner and let her have grass and good quality of life for a short time especially if she is arthritic. Then if or when she gets laminitis it show she cant have quality of life and on that day she is PTS.
 
Yea, maybe. But she wasn't slim enough to call poor and when she was with the others she was one of the team. She would she would elbow her way to the grass when I moved the fencing or to get her feed, when mine ran in when called then she would follow him in, all ears pricked. But now she's on the other side of the fence just standing with her head held low looking sad. I thought we were going to lose her in that first week because she bloated herself so much. But she's still with us so maybe you're right. At 38+ she's not going to live much longer anyway. I hope the grass tastes really nice for her! My boy is convinced it's worth swapping a leg for the amount of grass she can have!

I didn't say before but I was also cross that nothing else was done before. She could have tried soaked hay (but didn't want the cost - grass is free) different feed, more feeds per day etc. (again, expense)
 
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