TB - risk of laminitis? Advice on grazing arrangements pleeaase..

[Jericho]

I hate laminitis - arggghhhhhhhhhh.
Please can anyone give me some advice on what you would do. My farrier has just told me I should be worrying that my TBx mare who 3 mths ago was looking rather lean and ribby but looks great now should not be out on a 2 acre field 24/7 as the grass is too rich. I have this mare plus a Welsh A who is very prone to lami and a 3yr old Shetland - who hasnt had lami yet but am treating her like my Welsh A. Currently Welsh and Shetti are in tennis court sized field 24/7 very bare and on 2 slices of hay a day each. The TB is out in the rest of the field c2 acres very long, thick grass but full of weeds, buttercups, tough rank grass so not much nice grazing grass. We also have a small turnout paddock again the size of a tennis court but which used to be lawn and was until 3 years ago fertilised. This paddock gave my Welsh A lami last year when it was just her on it 24/7 so none are on that. All fields are linked so I could use a combination of all three . So do you think the TB is at risk (I know in theory all horses are at risk) she doesnt get anyother feed except half a scoop of Baileys No 4 to mix some Flyfree supplement in. Would you bring the TB in during the day or night with the 2 smaller ones so she has a break from the grass? What about the issue of stressed short grass producing more sugar? My farrier swears that this is not the case - lots of conflicting advice......
Sorry, it is all a bit confusing and am tying myself up in knots over best solution so advice from anyone with laminitic prone TBs or has a mixture of horses/lami ponies - I would love to hear your experiences.

 

[angiebaby]

I have vertually the same set up as you! Welsh sec d and shetland both had laminitis three years ago; now in tennis court sized paddock! my 16 year old tb x is next to them, I have electric fenced him an area about half an acre, then put another electric fence half an acre beyound that. I can now strip graze him, and move the fence a couple of feet twice a day. So far so good. I think 2 acres this time of year could make him slightly podgy!!

Mine have been on stressed grass without any problems, there is a lot of advice, but to me the longer the grass, the more they can eat?!

So to sum it up, I would electric fence a half acre paddock if poss, and strip graze.
BTW if we have lots of rain, then warm sunny weather, the electric fence does not move!

 

[amandaco2]

longer grass does have more fibre yes.
but it also has a lot of sugars which are thought to trigger laminitis- the stem transports the sugars and obviously the longer the stem the more sugars!
apparently the ideal grass length is at the leafy stage when they arent transporting the sugars to the tip and point of growth(as the stem is short) and the grass isnt stressed.
stressed grass are those little shoots-high in sugar as its growing fast.
my l/w ISH mare(laminitic) is on grass a few cm tall at the leafy stage(its very hard to keep it that way lol) and touch wood shes been fine.
she only had it once last year as the YO had fertilised grazing but didnt tell me.
i have also put her on longer chewy grass that has flowered with her muzzle on and shes been fine too.in fact i keep some long grass for when its strong sunshine as this is what can raise her digital pulses.(seems to be ok with long grass and muzzle)
she does 40-60mins walk,trot work 4-6days a week.
keep a close eye on the digital pulse and any pottery giats-turning them on a tight circle on concrete will show up any footiness.also keep their feet well balanced and trimmed.
shes fed hifi,alfa a oil and topspec comprehensive and in good condition(can just see her ribs)
she has about 1/3 acre either on her own or with my WB yearling depending how the grass is growing.she ges adlib soaked hay too-usually about 1-2 big nets per day.she is out 24/7 from april.
i dont think there is any one regime for a horse at risk of laminitis-you have to find what works for yours.

 

[Jericho]

thanks jakesmydog - it sounds like you do have a very similar set up. Do you just strip graze your TB and leave the small ponios on the same??

 

[Eaglestone]

I have a Cushings horse in a wood bark paddock with a little grass every day .... he and my TB used to be out in a 6 acres field and worked 6 days at week, until my old boy went down with Cushings

I now also worry about my TB who is a good doer and lives on fresh air

He now has access to about 1 acre and is out for 10 hours a day, but I will soon be turning him out 24/7 (or maybe a little time standing in if really hot) and then overnight I will restrict him to 1/2 acre only. I too worry about him going down with Laminitis as he does not get the 6 days a week work he used to

 

[angiebaby]

Yes Lynseyt, if the ponies have eaten all the grass in their paddock ( last year it lasted until July!) I will make another and put my tb on it first for a few days. I have miles of electric fencing! But worth every penny.
In the winter they go onto about 4 acres; The ponies are muzzled during the day until the grass has got down to a level where they can't get any more!
It has worked for a few years like this, and it means my grass doesn't get churned up in the winter, they have lots of fibre and plenty of exercise .