Struggling to cope with avoiding lami

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poiuytrewq

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I need to restrict grazing but so far have tried stabling for a while- not great for a few reasons
1- my stables heat up like ovens and are unbearable
2- horse is so bad in a stable I have to bring all the others in (one will not suffice!) two need as much t/out as poss due to their own issues
3- he has arthritis which standing in makes very stiff

I've tried fencing a starvation paddock, not a really harsh one but the most grass less part of the paddock however he just ploughs through, electrics no match for a tb with seperation anxiety if the others don't stand immidiatly beside the fence with him.

Bucket muzzle was broken the first day- as in not removed but the bucket part destroyed. I plan to try another one today. I'd thought of a green guard but they are so pricey and when looking for opinions they seem very easy to remove by the horse?.
One idea would be to take him to a livery yard locally and keep him in totally for a few weeks as they have one on box rest and weirdly if put in a new stable he's ok. They have a walker which might help with his mobility but tbh I doubt it but its a case of the worst of two evils?
What would you do?
 
Have you thought about a Dinky grazing muzzle (they do them in horse sizes too)? They look much friendlier than the rubber bucket kind, are much cheaper than the Greenguard (incase he breaks it) & look to be quite soft so you might be able to fit it a little closer to his face to stop him getting it off.. Also, he might be happier in it anyway & just accept it :)
 
Can you fence off a track around your fields and put all your horses on it? It will get grazed down very quickly and you can leet the others into the centre one or two at a time if they really need the grass so the TB is never without company. There is loads of information on here if you search paddock paradise. They get more movement that way than on a conventional field as well. It can be easily and cheaply set up in a few hours with electric fencing.
The other thing that might be possible is a portable field shelter, depending on budget and shutting him into that for part of the day? I have seen that done before.
I agree with your horse about muzzles to be honest - my mare has a large scar on her face from removing her greenguard years ago from when I was taking well meant advice from people about how to fit it to keep the thing on and she was determined to get it off. Never again.
The other thing I would suggest is having him tested for cushings and possibly EMS. Mine is now on prascend which has made a world of difference. I also am so careful about any extras she gets - I am sure I am teaching you to suck eggs here but not even a sliver of carrot, a sugar free polo or alfalfa as they all make her footy.
There is an app you can get if you have a smart phone (search laminitis and it will come up) and it tells you based on local weather conditions which days are safest to turn out (high/medium/low risk) so if you do end up bringing in you can be more tactical about it.

Good luck.
 
My gelding is using a horsewalker for the exact reasons you mention. It boosts his metabolism by increasing fitness and gives him low intensity exercise.
Also means riding him is a pleasure not a calorie-burning chore.


Alternatively, a track system at home would be good.
 
Some good ideas above. I would also get him a pair of magnet boots. They are good for arthritis and I know someone who uses them as part of her management of a laminitic, she swears by them.
 
AshTay said:
Can you put another horse in starvation paddock with him? (make it slightly bigger).
Click to expand...
Good suggestion.

Stabling (out of acute attack) isn't helpful really especially as he gets stressed, movement at his pace with other horses 24/7 if possible is helpful both to his mental state and physiologically. I am not sure about the walker anyway unless he is comfortable on his hooves but you may have to look for a yard with grass free or diet turnout in the longer term. Have you discussed his needs with YO and other liveries? There must be other horses needing weight or laminitis management on the yard surely.
Sorry, probably no help and I so feel for you and him. x

I know I go on about this a lot but yards really need to provide horse friendly laminitis management areas or have strategies.
 
Am not a huge fan of tracks (Paradise Paddocks) as they don't do your land any favours!

Otherwise:

Dinky muzzle - as suggested

I have used Laminitis-Prone by Global Herbs for 3 years now, and am very impressed with it. I feed it as a liquid supplement all year round, and you can up the dose in 'danger times'. It's always very difficult to prove the efficacy of a preventive as opposed to a curative drug; but recently someone else kindly saw to my horse while I was ill, and forgot to give her the stuff for almost a week. At the end she was starting to be footy. I got her straight back onto an increased dose to stabilise her again, and she has been fine. No muzzle, and only off the grass about 65 hours a day. Hope this helps.
 
You could also try supplementing with magnesium oxide and agnus castus. My vet said not to use mag ox all year round as it can block calcium intake, but my little lammy prone shetland is doing great on it. I had the same problem with restricted grazing - she just ploughs through electric fencing so we've since used a grazing muzzle in the day, off at night and mag ox + agnus castus once a day in her morning feed (small handful of Dengie Hifi unmolassed). She's heavier than she was on restricted grazing but isn't remotely footy even on stony surfaces.
 
Rose Folly said:
Am not a huge fan of tracks (Paradise Paddocks) as they don't do your land any favours!
Click to expand...
They do do a lot of horses a favour though. Obviously most liveries are opposed to them and planning for surfaces is a no go but grass free areas for turnout is something most liveries could achieve with the will.
 
unbalanced said:
Can you fence off a track around your fields and put all your horses on it? It will get grazed down very quickly and you can leet the others into the centre one or two at a time if they really need the grass so the TB is never without company.
Click to expand...

This is a great idea and solves my current problems - simple when you think of it, duh! THANKS!
 
Magnesium can help, Magnesium in it's chelated form is best as is best digested. Also you could try activated charcoal or cinammon in their feed. If you're using charcoal feed it approx 12 hours before a feed with any goodness in, it soaks up all toxins. Cinammon can help process sugar.

I'd do a track though if you can :)
 
AshTay said:
Can you put another horse in starvation paddock with him? (make it slightly bigger).
Click to expand...

I would do this, but muzzle him and not the other (assuming the other is not a fatty). I use the Best Friend style muzzles and make the holes slightly bigger. This means that when one needs muzzling and the other doesn't, I can put haylage/hay in the paddock and leave the slimmer one to eat it normally, with the fatty (or in my case, EMS pony) muzzled. Or you could pick the next fattest horse and muzzle both with haylage. Mine settle instantly this way, even if I take one out.
 
HI, Lots of relies thank you all. Im not on a livery yard so no yard owner or liveries to think of- although my landlord can get a bit funny at times. The other horses are mine also. One has ulcer problems and has coliced so I like him to have plenty to munch on. The other is my pony who ive posted about before who has had an eye removal and he gets bullied by the TBa bit so wouldn't want them in a smaller space- also have to be careful about electric fence with him as he's flighty and panics. The fourth is a Shetland which would in theory be the ideal laminitic companion but is just not classed as company for some reason!
Will also look up the best friend muzzle.
He's started a supplement recommended by a podiatrist containing magnesium and other minerals to help with his feet.
 
poiuytrewq said:
I'd thought of a green guard but they are so pricey and when looking for opinions they seem very easy to remove by the horse?.
Click to expand...

One of my horses has been using a greenguard muzzle every spring & summer for the last 4 years or so. He copes very well with it & I've not had it pulled off yet. Some have bad experiences with Greenguard because they don't spend enough time adjusting it & getting the fit just right. When they are fitted correctly you shouldn't have problems. Some owners remove the masks after a very short period saying 'my horse doen't like them' or something similar. The horse will get used to them if you dive sufficient time. The horse will not starve itself.

Wether it be a Greenguard or some other make of muzzle, they are certainly cheaper than vet call out & treatment for Laminitis & the obvious problems this ailment can cause the horse long term.
 
Toby_Zaphod said:
One of my horses has been using a greenguard muzzle every spring & summer for the last 4 years or so. He copes very well with it & I've not had it pulled off yet. Some have bad experiences with Greenguard because they don't spend enough time adjusting it & getting the fit just right. When they are fitted correctly you shouldn't have problems. Some owners remove the masks after a very short period saying 'my horse doen't like them' or something similar. The horse will get used to them if you dive sufficient time. The horse will not starve itself.

Wether it be a Greenguard or some other make of muzzle, they are certainly cheaper than vet call out & treatment for Laminitis & the obvious problems this ailment can cause the horse long term.
Click to expand...


Yes I realise that I just didn't want to spend £60 on one that was given such bad reviews by everyone id asked.
 
I will vouch for green guard muzzles too. Not the older ones but the new ones where the muzzle part is more bucket like

They come up on ebay quite often so that would probably be a better bet if you wanted to try one :) you defnitely need to use the headcollar designed for them though :)
 
I think that the GreenGuard is great - it's the only muzzle I've used that doesn't rub - at all - and the 2 that are in them quickly resigned themselves to them, so I don't have to use the additional throat lash strap that comes with the GreenGuard head collar. My mare has had hers on from the beginning of March to the end of October for 4 years now, and the only damage has been that 2 of the straps that fix the muzzle to the headcollar broke - a replacement set of 4 straps costs £2 from Barnstormers, so it's been a good investment. You do have to take the trouble to fit them properly in the first place, though.
 
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