Hurrah the sun .... booo... laminitis???

[Jericho]

At the first hint of sunshine and warmth today, I briefly cheered

and then started panicking

about the spring grass comingthrough - when does everyone else start dragging their laminitis prone beasts kicking and squealing back to starvation paddocks?

We have had so much rain in suffolk recently and it has been relatively mild e.g it hit 9 degrees today with a lovely warm sun and not a frost for days and the crocuses and daffs are starting to peep through - do you think this is a sure sign grass is growing and I should be rationing already????

 

[scotsmare]

9 degrees!!!! We only scraped 5

Not a daff, crocus, snowdrop or otherwise in sight....

 

[Jane_Lou]

2nd week in Feb was when I used to start "preventative measures" Mind you they never stopped - frosty grass and all that!

 

[Nailed]

If it was me they would rarely be out of the starvation paddock.

Llou x

 

[Jericho]

know what you mean about the frost - we had about a week of totally frozen conditions so she was in then and just when she looks like she is enjoying some nice weather, basking in the sun she is going to have to come in again to he tiny paddock, not that she is allowed out onto the nice grass ever but at least at the moment she can pretend she is in the herd albeit sepearted by electric fencing and not be confined to a tiny patch of dust/mud. Feel so sorry for the lamis but I know its for her good

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Mine will be back on restricted at the end of Feb. Grass starts growing at 6 degrees - thats soil temp not air temp. the forecast said more rain due so am thinking she may dissolve instead of getting laminitis.

 

[wellyboot]

put a muzzle on my pony today! Grass is def growing a bit and the ponies have put on weight already

 

[rosie1604]

No sign of the grass growing i my field yet. I thought it was cold today! Grazing mask will go on as soon as new grass comes through. Urg we both hate the mask!

 

[lizzieuk1]

ok so whats quite intersting and i have no idea if there is any relationship, is that since our shetland had a proper salt lick- solid piece of rock salt rather than the rockies type ones, his feet have been amazingly improved, stayed out all summer wiht only occasional muzzle use and was fine, no lammi, also other pony on yard also seemed v well. not syggesting everyone turms lammis out but may be worth thinking about, perhaps we could do a semi trial on here??

 

[angiebaby]

Looking at the forecast for February, we are in for snow and very cold temps again, so I shouldn't worry just yet!
Mine will go into their paddock depending on when we get a spell of warmer weather ( above 5 degrees for a week) usually at the end of March.

Mine are out at night time, and come in around 6.30am; this way they get lots of exercise, and they are off the frost in the morning; they then go out again around lunchtime, saving me lots on hay. This has worked very well for me and my laminitics

 

[bensababy]

[ QUOTE ]
If it was me they would rarely be out of the starvation paddock.

Llou x

[/ QUOTE ]

echo this. my boy is has been in his all winter. will not run risk of chancing it with him. There is no good and bad time, mine got it in November a few years back when there was a severe lack of sun and grass.

 

[Fransurrey]

I've started cutting back on the feed, but won't restrict until end of Feb, depending on weather. Their grazing is poor quality, though. If I was on rye grass, I'd be treating him MUCH differently!

 

[kellyeaton]

i will be putting mine on stravy beginging of march and will stop there until november then i allow him a little more but all yeay he his on his lammi mix!

 

[laceyhiggs]

we have one on our yard on box rest now! bad laminitus over the winter wouldnt walk and will be out in a grazing mask when horses go in summer turnout