Laminatic Ponies Living Out 24/7.

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SonnysHumanSlave

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OK so the other woman at my yard has this kids pony, and un beknown to me this pony had serious laminitus earlier in the year.

Now problem being that i have very lush water meadows, so the grass is ALWAYS growing as we are on a natural spring.

I've suggested she get a grazing muzzle, but can he wear this 24/7??

We are also putting him in a little bald patch pen at night, with 1 section of hay to keep him happy.

Is there anything else we could do?
CAnt bring them in as theres 3 out together and only 2 stables at the moment as he smashed through his door to get to the grass!

Just wondered if there is anything else you could recommend that we do.

Oh hes not getting much exercise at the moment, even though I keep telling her to at least lunge the pony!!

Thanks.
 
If he were mine I'd swap the bald pen to the daytime and turn him out at night with the others, as the fructans in the grass are highest during the day (think they are at their lowest 3am to 10am)
 
Pasha is rightif you can put him in a bald patch during the day it would be a good idea. Lucy is laminitic and she used to wear a grazing mussel 24/7 as i had no other option at the time. I just had to keep checking the muzzel wasn't rubbing her. But the best thing to do would be to exercise the pony well and monitor his weight and then he may only need to wear the muzzel during the day.
 
My little welshie hasnt had lami but am paranoid about it! theres not much grass as its been trampled on but like our field ours is on a natrural spring too. t the moment he just gets hay with the others but during the summer i section all the grazing off and just put the baby coblet and TB on it, the 2 welshies have the baldy bit with abit of hay
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I would def not have him on frosty grass at all so I would be keeping an eye on the forecast. I would have him out at night if no frost forecast, if frost I would keep him in the bare patch all the time and feed hay.
 
Sorry disagree completely withe the 'put him in the bald patch int he day'

And your right MInstral/ester. When teh grass is frozen it is at its most dangerous to laminitic horses and ponies. I think the plan you are executing is sensible but would be keeping a close eye on him. The grass should be 'less good' at this time of year, weather growing or not, But still has enough fructons to set off a nice bout of laminitis.

Lou x
 
i would turn him out onto a bark/sand area with soaked hay in the day and out at night muzzled. if its frosty keep him on hay in the bark area.
they can wear muzzles 24/7 but be careful about rubbing and keeping the fibre intake adequate.
 
I would not turn this pony at any time on the grassy paddock, not a chance, in my opinion there is not a safe time for grass for a laminitic.
He should be kept on the bare paddock at all times with hay and stabled if you like, but in my opinion I would not turn out on grass,just too risky.
 
agree with above. I would take him off the grass completely and have a permanent starvation paddock for him and supplement it with soaked hay. You could either strip graze it until it is trashed or put bark or similar down. You just cannot take any risks with those prone to laminitis especially if they have had it before. Is there any chance you could do a track? either thr whole way round the outside of the paddock or even part way. This will help to keep the grass intake down and also encourage him to exercise. Something like this...
020620094106.jpg


Cutting out the grass (apart from some pickings on the track) has quite literally been a life saver for my laminitic.

Unfortunately if you have a laminitic it really has to be a whole lfestyle change for them
 
I too would not be putting a laminitic out onto 'very lush water meadows' and would be careful about turnout during frosty periods too.
I am still going through the hell of laminitis with my lad and it is not something I ever want to repeat. Checking digital pulses daily, keeping off frozen grass and restricting grazing at ALL times of year will be my life from now on.
 
Yeah see I think he is now living somewhere totally unsuitable for him.

Hes not overweight at all, i think hes a little underweight, but his weight is fine, i had a go at ride and lead with him, so said i can exercise him sometimes when riding mine for her.

There is no where but grass, and the patches of no grass turn to Bog. Its only his small pen that we've got really, and got a feeling if we were to leave him in there the whole time, he would get fed up and let him self out.

Dont think the track round the edge is anygood either as part of the field they are in at the moment they are grazing (about 1/2acre between 3 of them inc. the pen. The rest is either over eaten and full of water (the lower field), or not touched yet (really long grass!)

Usually i stick my cob and my little pony out on the long stuff first as they have regular exercise and no health problems so dont have any issues on this. Then once its eaten down a bit they go in together.

I think hte only option is the Out in day with muzzle, in pan at night with muzzle, and the owner to give a little handful of feed and bit of hay.

CAn they eat hay through a muzzle?

hopefully this will work - God knows whats going to happen in spring, he might have to live in totally, should have stable repaired by then.
 
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