laminitic rings??

hihosilver

hihosilver

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Hi my 15.3 5 year old connie cross has been out all summer on good grazing and has got fat but no crest. He was ridden most days. My farrier just shod him last week and said he has laminitic rings on his hooves. He is now off the grass. Prior to being on good grass he had been on poor grass so I am wondering if they are just changes in his feet. He has never been lame at all. Do I need to be concerned? thanks.
 
Stress rings that indicate laminitis will be wider or lower at the heel compared to the toe. Often you'll get quite subtle rings that indicate the horse might have had a sub-clinical laminitis in the past - i.e. no visible symptoms. Most people assume they are just growth rings and ignore them... If your farrier said laminitic, I'd just make sure to reduce his grazing next summer and keep him off rich feed.
 
Barnacle said:
Stress rings that indicate laminitis will be wider or lower at the heel compared to the toe. Often you'll get quite subtle rings that indicate the horse might have had a sub-clinical laminitis in the past - i.e. no visible symptoms. Most people assume they are just growth rings and ignore them... If your farrier said laminitic, I'd just make sure to reduce his grazing next summer and keep him off rich feed.
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yes I will do that. Do you think a muzzle would help. Our yard has the most amazing grass I have ever seen. It just keeps growing!
I will have a look at the rings and then take some photos. Thanks.
 
I think the combination of muzzled out at grass and lots of low-sugar/soaked hay/haylage when in works well as making sure they've got a full belly already when there turned out makes them less desperate for grass and less likely to graze every moment or trash there muzzle. (I've tried most muzzles and like greenguards best even if there painfully expensive, other people swear by dinky).

The other thing is lots of exercise as it helps with insulin pathways, a laminitic pony is quite like a type 2 diabetic.
 
If your yard has an area that can be grazed down hard you can turn out 24/7 muzzle free if the grass is really short.

Contrary to popular belief the fact that the horse has to work its butt off to get a feed each day means that they can have a normal horsy life.

My Clydesdale is kept on very short grazing it keeps her weight under control and she has never had a laminitic episode.
 
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