Wagtail
Horse servant
Laminitis is not something that just suddenly happens one summer. It often has been grumbling under the surface for many years. Horses that are shod all round, often have the pain masked by the shoes.
I have found that the first sign of laminitis in both the horses at our yard that are prone to it, is simply a lack of forwardness, or willingness during their schooling. This can happen days, even weeks before a full blown laminitis attack. Looking back over the years, I realise that my mare probably had several attacks of very low grade laminitis. Once, even diagnosed as a viral infection due to the fact that she was breathing very heavily (another sign of laminitis).
I thought I would just highlight this because I know sluggishness is often just put down to feeding or schooling issues, or even boredom. And of course, the weather. How often is it the summer months when horses get this way? And ask yourself, what else also primarily happens in summer?
So, the two horses at our yard are kept completely, or partially barefoot. The gelding has bare hinds and despite being muzzled on the grass, and in the sand for 16 hours a day, he has started to get sluggish, and sure enough, very slightly footy over stones (only on his hinds). We could shoe him behind and he would go completely sound, but we don't, because those bare feet act as a barometer for when he needs to be completely removed from the grass and onto the sand 24/7.
Anyway, that was just my thought for the day.
I have found that the first sign of laminitis in both the horses at our yard that are prone to it, is simply a lack of forwardness, or willingness during their schooling. This can happen days, even weeks before a full blown laminitis attack. Looking back over the years, I realise that my mare probably had several attacks of very low grade laminitis. Once, even diagnosed as a viral infection due to the fact that she was breathing very heavily (another sign of laminitis).
I thought I would just highlight this because I know sluggishness is often just put down to feeding or schooling issues, or even boredom. And of course, the weather. How often is it the summer months when horses get this way? And ask yourself, what else also primarily happens in summer?
So, the two horses at our yard are kept completely, or partially barefoot. The gelding has bare hinds and despite being muzzled on the grass, and in the sand for 16 hours a day, he has started to get sluggish, and sure enough, very slightly footy over stones (only on his hinds). We could shoe him behind and he would go completely sound, but we don't, because those bare feet act as a barometer for when he needs to be completely removed from the grass and onto the sand 24/7.
Anyway, that was just my thought for the day.
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