Keeping a laminitic at grass with field shelter

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billylula

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We have the opportunity to loan a really lovely pony from a friend. He's absolutely perfect for my youngest daughters except he is 20 and has had laminitis in the past (although not for the past 9 years). I am worried as we only have a grass paddock and a field shelter (which our other pony ignores :rolleyes:). Our NF pony hasn't had laminitis but I do restrict his grazing in the summer as he gets a bit podgy. Current owners of new pony think restricted grazing will be fine. But someone told me today that eating frozen grass is the worst thing for laminitics and they really need to be kept in.

Although the field shelter is small we COULD put wooden bars across part of it to turn into a sort of stable. Would you?
 
Hi
I recently attended a seminar on laminitis arranged by my vet. practice. Winter IS one of the worst times for laminitis. This is an extract from the website published by my vet. practice:

" Excessive intake of grass rich in fructans

This occurs under two scenarios.

Firstly the classic "too much spring grass" and secondly often happens when a hard frost is followed by a bright sunny, but cold morning.

Under these conditions the grass produces fructans, which is a type of sugar, by photosynthesis faster than it can be used up in growth. This results in an accumulation of fructans in the grass which can act as a trigger for laminitis. "

Hope this helps.
 
I have a welsh that had laminitis a few years back. I personally like to keep him in at night on soaked hay as it restricts what he eats grass wise, gives his stomach a rest and in winter, allows his feet to dry out.
You will have to monitor your new pony closely to ensure they do not start to put weight on - increases in weight always indicate to me that they are getting too much and thus, at risk of laminitis.
My lad is out at 5.30am every day whatever the weather, if I kept him in because of the frost he would get hardly any turnout and be more at risk from stress induced lamainitis instead. But they are all different...was the horse turned out on frosty grass at his/her previous home?
 
The worst thing for any equine is rye grass. Its too rich for them its meant for cattle to graze on. So check what grass your feeding first.
 
Ive left 2 of my lami-prone ponies out all winter and (touch wood) neither have come down with it. I couldnt possibly keep them in off frozen grass as that would basically mean ALL winter up here! If you give them lots of hay, to be honest they tend to choose that anyway.
 
There are other factors as well as temperature that affect grass and sugar levels. The thing is, he may be ok on the restricted grass where is is now but once moved it could be a different story. I would think very carefully if you have no other facilities than a paddock.
 
You might find this helpful on the why and what to do side...

http://www.debenvalleyvet.co.uk/Event.aspx?informationid=5

And I agree about the rye grass; there is some research going on into the effects of high levels of potassium and laminitis. Many mineral and vitamin supplements, dried herbs, alfalfa, rye and clover are under suspicion, so beware of rye, and clover both in the pasture and also in hay. Calories are prime suspect but there are other things that should be watched.

I inherited a laminitic pony as a companion who I kept out 24/7 and restricted but it was old liver damage ( diagnosed from blood tests) from long ago ragwort consumption that caused him to slip in and out of laminitis, and insulin resistance, so do what you can but it is most likely to be things that went on in his former life that will direct his future. Best of luck!
 
One of my CB mares had lami, slightly two years ago but was much worse after 6 weeks on box rest and we thought she would be pts.

I have kept her sound all summer and for 6 weeks she has been out on grass 24/7 with a shelter. I have brought her in or put her in the arena on frosty mornings.

After two years of angst, she TROTTED across our arena yesterday for the first time - I could cry.
 
We have a laminitic out 24/7 and he has been clear of problems for the last four years. We don't rug him, although he does have shelter which he rarely uses. In fairness he is on quite a hill and the water supply is at the top of the hill so he self-exercises. But I think the biggest danger with frosted grass is the horse that has been stabled all night and then turned out on to it so they gorge it. A horse out 24/7 is a lot less likely to want to fill his belly, especially if he has some (poor quality) hay to nibble instead.
 
Thank you. I have no idea if it is rye grass. Ponies have been kept on it for years with no problems as far as I am aware. I am not about to dig up and reseed anyway to be honest! There is no clover. Some plaintain.

Interesting about turning them out on a frosty morning. As far as I am aware he is stabled at n ight and turned out during the day and has been for the last 9 years. Owners seem to think fine on 24 hour turnout. I suppose I will have to wait and see. I THINK he's cushings as well as coat is looking a bit curly although no lameness or other signs.

He's such a good pony and my daughter loves him so I hope we can work it all out.
 
I have a 19yo retired laminitic that I keep out 24/7. In Spring I have to give him a very small paddock and feed soaked hay. In winter I try and manage the fields so that he has to walk long distances between feed/hay/ water to encourage him to self exercise.

Every day I walk him over stones - that gives me an effective early warning system. I also monitor his condition (particulary size and hardness of crest) and for puffiness around the eyes.

Has he been tested for cushings? Many horses with mild cushings respond very well to the meds and the horse is much easier to manage. (cushings horses are very prone to laminitis),

So, depending on horse, it can be done, you just have to be a bit more thoughtful!
 
Laminitis can be caused by so many diffrent triggers so unless you know exactly what causes Laminitis in this pony you will be working blind.
For instance one of the reasons that some horses suffer from Laminitis in the Winter months is because of encysted emerging small red worms. These worms do not show up on a worm count only in a blood test. So Winter Laminitis is not neccesarily frosted grass.
Triggers for Laminitis can be Stress, Concushion of feet on hard or uneven ground, Insulin Intollerance, an infection etc.
 
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