Laminitis and small ponies

H

happycob

New User
Joined
13 March 2010
Messages
5
Visit site
I am thinking of buying a small pony maybe a shetland as a companion to my cob as current loan companion horse has to go back to his owners soon. I have never owned a small pony and am looking for some advice. A friend has suggested this is a bad idea as a small pony if grazing with my cob will have too much grass and get laminitis!
How much grass is too much? We have approx 3.5 acres which i divide with electric fence. I rotate and strip graze and manage to provide reasonable grass all year round for 2 horses. There is always too much in the summer but we keep this topped and use in winter.
My cob is a good doer and I intend to lunge, long rein and walk out a pony to keep it reasonably fit.
Those of you who have small ponies could this work.
Any advice gratefully recieved.:confused:
 
Yes it will work. And as your current horse is a good doer the management should be similar with perhaps a smaller paddock for the little one in the summer.

I keep a Shetland with a poor doer Welsh Cob and a good doer of the same model.

My Shetland whom I've owned for 19yrs had had to live a large proportion of the summer months seperated from the poor doer as she needed the grass and he didn't.

Now I've a got the good doer cob he has the company of her in the summer a bit more

It's been a bit heart wrenching to leave him in a seperate paddock in the days when I rented a field that wouldn't allow electric fencing, but since, he's been able to go in a small paddock in the centre of her big paddock, which is much nicer for him!

Depending on the greenness of the field, sometimes he's in a 15ft square! That's how little he needs!
 
I wouldnt risk it - i think so many people push the boundaries with laminits (not saying you would).

My horse was PTS with it last week - first time he ever had it (due to cushings) and within 8 weeks went from being perfectly 100% sound and healthy to being PTS. Evil disease :-(
 
They aree really cheap to keep,just need careful managing when there,s grass. You have mple grazing for a littleun,so no worries there. Do you have stables? Or perhaps somewhere to keep off the grass if a problem? You sound really clued up with the thought of exercise etc,but don't put too much work on yourself for a companion. Restrict grazing,soak hay and no hard feed! Those are the basic needs!!
 
There is some useful information about the prevention of laminitis here:

http://www.laminitisclinic.org/Explaining Laminitis and its Prevention/Chapter 6.pdf

I think the best method, as it says, is by strip grazing in Spring and Autumn. You could also use a grazing muzzle to restrict the pony's grass intake at these times (though obviously you have to take precautions with these, such as using a field safe headcollar or ensuring there is nothing the pony can get caught on). We have never used grass muzzles so not much I can say about these.

We have a pony prone to laminitis (soon to have two!! :D ) and he is fed Happy Hoof and is soon going into a smaller paddock where his grazing will be limited. This will be in addition to hay and appropriate supplements. As your cob is a good doer, I see no reason why they wouldn't both benefit from the restricted grazing so I wouldn't let laminitis worries put you off.
 
Thanks for your replies, sounds like it could work will give it some more serious thought.
I do have a stable and a mobile field shelter that is big enough for small pony to be shut in one side and still have room for my cob to get in when he wants.
I like the idea of a small paddock in the middle of the field as i would like them to spend as much time as possible together as thats the point of a companion.

will look at the laminitis link.

Thanks
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top