Mortified told horse is too fat

lottiepony

lottiepony

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Gutted vet has just diagnosed my horse with laminitis, she's never had it in the 7 years I've had her feel like I've let her down and messed up somewhere. Vet has basically said my horse is also overweight and too fat so is sending me a diet plan. This has really upset me I've always prided myself on my horse being fit and muscled not fat have I really got it so wrong?? Feel awful :(
 
I've been guilty of letting a pony get too fat. I had my rose-tinted glasses on, but got a sharp shock when I got a lecture from the farrier about it.
Don't be upset that you were told about this - it's better to know, and do something about it.
Hope your horse is feeling better soon.
 
You have my sympathy. My horse, who had been muzzled when on the grass, got laminitis last August. I, too was shocked as I thought I was doing well managing him. It was a wake up call for me. Since last august he has lost 80 kgs. Is on weighed soaked hay and only out on very sparse pasture for a few hours a day. Unfortunately once it happens its a change of management for ever I think . Sending you my good wishes and hope your horse makes a speedy recovery.
 
Any pics? I don't like generalizing but I will.... Generally if a horse gets laminitis and has not had previous episodes then yes, probably overweight.
 
You can't do anything about yesterday but you can about today and tomorrow , just make the changes you need to people here will give you lots of horsey wieght loss tips .
I hope your horse gets over the attack quickly
My top tips are track systems work , and you have to exercise horses to get them slim you struggle with out , when he's over the attack and able to work again you are going to need to increase movement and exercise more.
And my fatty was able to be out longer if I did it a night.
 
I think a typical reaction when told your horse has laminitis, is guilt. My lad had it for the first time ever last year and I felt dreadful.

Just because the vet said your horse is too fat, it doesn't follow that she's obese exactly. It's hard when you see your horse every day to be objective though.
Using a weight tape is probably a good idea so you can monitor her progress now.

Don't feel too bad, I'm sure you'll do your best for her.
 
Don't feel bad. I have been there too last October. I didn't think was overweight really but looking at the photos of him now I can see it.

It made me so aware and totally changed the way I look after my boy now. Loads of ridden work, bare paddock and soaked hay.

I hope your horse recovers soon xx
 
Thank you everyone for your replies. I don't know if I dare post a photo! But live and learn I guess this pic is from a few weeks ago at a show I haven't got any recent good side on shots but will take some tonight and start a photo diary so I can really have something to compare to. Just gutted as I ride a minimum of 5 times a week and that's a mixture of schooling, hacking lunging etc so she is fit. as someone said I can't change yesterday but will do everything I can for her here on in!!


539936_10151554884302184_1782849110_n (2) by lottiepony, on Flickr
 
lottiepony said:
Turned 15 this year vet did mention increased risk due to possible cushings etc etc
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My pony was 16 when he got LGL. He was overweight and had been for years, but I'd always 'gotten away with it'. Probably me and half the horse-owning population who have one diagnosed in their teens!

She doesn't look very overweight to me, but does look a bit cresty. Have you spoken to the vet about a test for EMS or Cushings? I think someone on here said they're doing the free test voucher scheme for the latter, again.

BTW, with management changes (muzzling, restricted grass, introduction of Mg and brewer's yeast), he's never required a vet visit since that initial attack in 2008, even though the vet last year said he's almost certainly EMS. I just monitor the signs and act accordingly.

Forgot to say, he tested negative for Cushings. It wasn't mentioned to me in 2008, but I had him tested last year. I think Cushings-related laminitis is more difficult to control (from what people say), so hopefully your mare is clear, too.
 
I would get bloods done for ems/cushings.

I have been there three years ago, pony was always chubby no matter how little we fed him or how much he was worked. He got his coming out of snow when we couldn't ride as much. Turned out he has ems which is why he has been chubby his whole life.

Sending hugs and if you want any tips or just a talk pm me.
Xxx
 
People's opinions are skewed by the norm today which is overweight - if you have a fit horse you will probably have been told it is too skinny more than once...

Don't beat yourself up about it - just learn from it and move on. At least you won't let it happen again.

I agree with testing her btw.
 
I'll get her tested when the vet next comes out next week. Agree she does look cresty - school boy error missing that :(
 
Goldenstar said:
You can't do anything about yesterday but you can about today and tomorrow , just make the changes you need to people here will give you lots of horsey wieght loss tips .
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Lovely advice :D

I didn't look at her and think OMG she's obese but now it's been mentioned I agree that she looks cresty. Don't beat yourself up about it. Make sure she's getting lots of fibre. What was she previously fed?
 
lottiepony said:
I'll get her tested when the vet next comes out next week. Agree she does look cresty - school boy error missing that :(
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Don't beat yourself up about it. Henry has always been cresty and even vets have said it's because he was cut late. I know it's not the same with mares, but you look at her every day. It becomes normal to see her like that, especially if she's always had a crest!
 
Cheapest pony nuts, alfa a oil (as she will drop weight in winter and this seems to keep it on her) and unmolassed sugar beet. All had been cut down as grass was appearing. Will be incredibly harsh on her tonight in terms of a weight evaluation. The vet weigh taped her and it read 600kg, she would like to see her get down to 575kg on the tape so we have a goal!
 
It was the same with my mare. She certainly didn't look fat, you could see her ribs, but she was 'cresty' and had some strange fat pads on her rump. Now I have to keep her quite skinny in order to make sure she is laminitis free. She has cushings and ems, so it's hard to manage her. At the moment she is slightly footy so I can't ride her. She does not have active laminitis. The vet says it is residual damage in the hoof and will right itself when he foot grows another inch or two. She needs to grow a complete new, well connected hoof. You can see a 4mm 'shelf/ridge' halfway down the compromised hoof. The hoof above it looks great, and really well connected with no ripples at all. So fingers crossed...
 
lottiepony said:
Cheapest pony nuts, alfa a oil (as she will drop weight in winter and this seems to keep it on her) and unmolassed sugar beet. All had been cut down as grass was appearing. Will be incredibly harsh on her tonight in terms of a weight evaluation. The vet weigh taped her and it read 600kg, she would like to see her get down to 575kg on the tape so we have a goal!
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Magnesium and cinnamon are really good for lami horses. This site as loads of good natural ingredients http://www.naturalhorsesupplies.co.uk/p/category/0910224444-Lami-Prone+horse+ponies/
 
Twinkley Lights said:
Here is the link. As others have said it's what you do now that matters. We have many fat camp experts on here. The tests are free until the end of June you many have to pay for blood taking and call out. All mine came back negative this week. I hope yours is too then you can just tackle the diet.

http://www.talkaboutlaminitis.co.uk/
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Thank you for that have just printed it off, every little bit of money saving helps lol!
 
I would take her down the vets when she's over the lami attack and get her weighted then you know exactly how much she is I took one from 760 kilos to 530 kilos at the end if this season he went from table top to fit lean hunting machine but it took the best part of three years he was cresty and the wieght tape drastically under weighed him.
 
Wagtail said:
It was the same with my mare. She certainly didn't look fat, you could see her ribs, but she was 'cresty' and had some strange fat pads on her rump. Now I have to keep her quite skinny in order to make sure she is laminitis free. She has cushings and ems, so it's hard to manage her. At the moment she is slightly footy so I can't ride her. She does not have active laminitis. The vet says it is residual damage in the hoof and will right itself when he foot grows another inch or two. She needs to grow a complete new, well connected hoof. You can see a 4mm 'shelf/ridge' halfway down the compromised hoof. The hoof above it looks great, and really well connected with no ripples at all. So fingers crossed...
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Fingers crossed for you wagtail! My girl is cresty yet you can easily feel her ribs and see them at times so sounds like yours. Hopefully we have caught it early so fingers crossed she gets over it well and now it's a case of being ultra careful!
 
lottiepony said:
Fingers crossed for you wagtail! My girl is cresty yet you can easily feel her ribs and see them at times so sounds like yours. Hopefully we have caught it early so fingers crossed she gets over it well and now it's a case of being ultra careful!
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Yes, as others have said, your mare does not look fat, but she does look a little cresty. You certainly do not deserve to have a horse come down with laminitis. but due to her age, I bet there are metabolic factors at play. And if there are, then I'm afraid you have you forget that perfect body condition score of 3 and aim for a 2 - 2.5. You will feel mean. I did, but it's the only way with a lami prone horse. :(
 
OP I do feel for you. i would really recommend you get the Cushings and EMS tests done too. The below picture was my mare when she was first diagnosed with laminitis last year April - she was clearly not overweight and she tested clear for Cushings/EMS. The vet said she must have stress laminitis. Sadly she had rotation and sinkage and I lost her.

 
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So sorry for you, yasandcrystal. How totally sad and awful. I've just had a long hard look at my girl and taken photo (I may post if I'm feeling brave) and yes she has a cresty neck and I've decided a fat rump so cross with myself right now!
 
Agree she does look cresty does she have lumps above the eye where they should dip? I would get her tested for cushing and ems big causes of laminitis, i hope she makes a good recovery try not to beat yourself up its not your fault.
 
Hey hun dont beat youre self up. as someone said thats yesterday now you have to work for tomorrow. i know my mare is to fat but being half blind i cant ride her now so its a battle. Winter is my friend which i use to gently lose weight balancing forage to keep her warm but letting nsture work(rugless). Putting mussel on is not option with her :)
 
Well if that photo is recent I wouldn't have said she's too fat at all. As others have said, don't feel too bad and beat yourself up over this. In fact I feel the vet was harsh giving you a diet sheet and saying she was fat, research now shows that a whopping percentage who come down with laminitis have a metabolic issue going on in the background. They ought to have have known this and suggested a Cushings, EMS bloodtest.
Panicking myself over laminitis as I currently have a pony who's been put on steroids, combine that with spring grass and it's a recipe for disaster. My other one a little Shetland (who is metabolic) cannot really see grass at all at this time of year. It's every owners nightmare so you have my utmost sympathy.
 
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