Keeping a healthy digestive system

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Gilmore

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Hi, I was thinking of putting my horse on something to support his digestive system so was looking for some advise. Unfortunatly he is on a restricted diet due to recently having laminitis. On soaked hay and a low cal balancer as he over weight and not in work due to his feed at the moment. He is muzzled on grass for a few hours during the day, but I know that he often goes a long time over night without hay as he gets through it quickly despite it being double sometimes triple netted. I'm conscious that this type of diet and being stabled most of the day and night is not great for his digestive system but this is the suituation we find ourselves in and it can't be changed. Can anyone recommend something to support my horses digestive system that wouldn't compromise his weight, I have heard mint is good for Timmy's. Thanks for the suggestions.
 
My suggestions would be Protexin Gut Balancer powder, I feed to my pony who has a history of colonic ulcers amongst other thing, but she has looked fabulous ever since putting her on Protexin - They also do a Acid Ease version if you are worried about stomach ulcers but for general digestive health I love the Gut Balancer. It doesn't promote weight gain and is very useful to have around when worming or using antibiotics as well.
 
bump up his hay rations with oat or barley straw so that the horse has something to nibble at all times. If it is Baileys Lo-Cal balancer then this has molasses in and to feed to get the vits/mins would be not good for the lami. Try a plain base like fast fibre or speedibeet and a powdered balancer like Forage Plus Winter, or Pro Balance (even NAF Pink Powder). Feeding this, as well as some extra Vit E and ad-lib soaked forage should get your pony back to normal and back in work.
 
Nugget La Poneh said:
bump up his hay rations with oat or barley straw so that the horse has something to nibble at all times. If it is Baileys Lo-Cal balancer then this has molasses in and to feed to get the vits/mins would be not good for the lami. Try a plain base like fast fibre or speedibeet and a powdered balancer like Forage Plus Winter, or Pro Balance (even NAF Pink Powder). Feeding this, as well as some extra Vit E and ad-lib soaked forage should get your pony back to normal and back in work.
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Echo this, leaving your horse for several hours without any forage will put them at risk of developing ulcers if they haven't already. Mix straw in with the hay to make sure he has something to keep going on. I also think you would do better with a base feed like fast fibre and a powdered balancer. Additionally for the gut I would give yeasacc, you can buy this cheaply on EBay from Progressive Earth. Personally I haven't had much success with the Protexin gut balancer, although their other products are very good.
 
The horse has something to nibble at all times. If it is Baileys Lo-Cal balancer then this has molasses in and to feed to get the vits/mins would be not good for the lami.
 
thanks everyone, its spillers lite with some hi fi molasses free. my horse has a little net in the morning and 1 when he comes in from the field and then a big net over night. all of which are soaked for at least 8 hours and hosed off or resoaked.

Some mornings and afternoons he does still have a tiny bit of hay left in the bottom of the net and also on the floor so it makes me think he has eaten what he wants.

He has 1.5% of his own body wieght in soaked hay over 24 hours. Im just so worried about him putting weight on, since he has have moved back onto some grazing, despite being muzzled, i can see that weight creeping back on slowly so Im relucant to add any more calories to his feed.
 
One of our ponies was eating his hay too quickly, so I used bailer twine to make a very small holed net over his normal net. His hay now lasts overnight and not gone before midnight. I also put a slice of straw in the net as well. There is no longer any hay trampled into the bedding as it is easier to pick it up off the floor than pull it out of the net. All three are now on very small hole hay nets, or doubled up haylage nets. They are usually still eating hay at breakfast time. They are all in a better mood in the mornings too. The hay bill has been reduced a little too, as no wastage.
 
I might be tempted to drop the balancer and instead use a Vit & Min powder supplement and add it to a handful of unmolassed chaff, leaving a bit more room for manoeuvrability with adding more hay IF needs must. Balancers can be quite calorific and can contain stuff like molasses, even if they are marketed as good for the overweight horse!
Maybe add some straw to the haynet if you're worried about having enough fibre?
 
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