starvation paddock

[showqa]

Hi all,

A friend of mine is really concerned about her old Welsh pony, because she's had laminitis (though not for some time), and spring grass etc. She's much better out than in, so she's asked me if she can put her out in an area that I have for the afternoons. It's safel fenced but packed with hardcore. Hence, she's still out roaming and can see some other horses from there, but there's no grass. I'm more than happy about that, but could sustained periods on the hard core be detrimental to her feet and therefore increase the risk of an attack anyway?

 

[Shilasdair]

If it's flat hardcore, I'd say she should be fine, as her feet shouldn't be painful unless she's actually having an attack.
If it's full of lumps and sharp stones, she'll probably be more liable to bruised soles than non-laminitic horses, as she'll have flatter soles due to the disease.
S

 

[showqa]

Thanks Shilasdair. It's pretty well packed, and certainly I'd like to think that someone would help me out if I had the same concerns with a horse. I just know what a vile, worrying condition it is. Just wanted to make sure that it wouldn't compound her problems.

 

[angiebaby]

My next door neighbour has her laminitic on hardcore all day, but she had a few old rubber mats in there too and he wears some old mac boots for part of the day. Don't forget to put lots of haynets/piles around for him

good luck

 

[MagicMelon]

I keep one of my very lami-prone ponies out on a hardcored yard during the day (in at night) and she's been absolutely fine. My barefoot trimmers say the surface should actually help my ponies hooves. Mine has access to rubber matted stables though as well so she can choose where she stands about. If possible, try to leave a stable door open if you can.

 

[showqa]

well that all sounds really positive, and in fact there is an old Dutch barn that the area leads into which has a dirt floor. Great - I can help them out then, which always feels nice.