Those who know about laminitus - spring grass

MontyandZoom

MontyandZoom

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Zoom lives out in a herd of 21 in a very large field. The spring grass has recently sprung up (:D) and they are all a bit full of themselves.

Out of the 21 horses I would say 18 were overweight, 10 are seriously fat. This is the way things have always been :( We have not yet moved to summer grazing. When we do, there is an option for 'fatty' grazing but it is an odd system where they are all turned out into the little field for a week, they eat it down and then those that are not deemed really fat go out into the big summer field and the fatties can stay in the eaten down small field.

Basically it isn't great for good-doers or laminitics. In the winter they have hay put out by the farmer. As alot of horses are mega-fat already and people are worried about laminitus, a petition (democracy and all that) was put up for those who wanted the hay stopped. A majority signed so the hay was stopped yesterday. Now the field they are in at the moment hasn't got loads of grass, but it is very lush and, with the frost we are still having, I'm guessing it is bad for lami.

However, even though the horses are fat, I would think that having a small amount of hay would be a good thing?? They are still gobbling it up every day and therefore eating less grass so wouldn't that help with the laminitus risk?? Only one pony is muzzled (and has been since March and will remain so since owner is responsible and pony has had lami) so surely, muzzling and keeping the hay would be a safer option.

It doesn't really affect me since Zoom is looking fab at the moment but I was just interested since I know little about lami.
 
Laminitis is a nasty condition as horses that suffer from it are in a lot of pain and can have permanent damage caused to their feet (rotation or dropping of the pedal bone). So Laminitis is best avoided.
You are best to keep the weight of your horse down at all times and keeping it on restricted grazing.
There are a number of useful references on the subject such as The Laminitis Trust Web Site where you can find out more about Laminitis.
 
If the grass is that lush you might find the horses would leave the hay put out anyway and just eat the grass instead.
 
Mixing some of the grass with hay intake is not a bad idea...although if already overweight horses are eating both they will put more weight on. Restricting the hay and feeding grass is ok in winter but they are eating pure spring grass with all the associated fructans and goodness...if out 24/7 on this too...it is a recipe for disaster.
My laminitis prone is on the same paddock that he was on all winter and was trashed so he is just nibbling stuff on the bare paddock as it grows...even then, he is fed some soaked hay to keep his guts moving and is in at night to give him a rest from what little grass there is. He is maintaining his weight on this even though there looks to be nothing to eat...so he obviously is getting enough to keep going...and that is without strip grazing at all...it is amazing what they live off!
 
They don't need the hay and will hardly make a difference to the amount of grass they eat of the grass is lush and green. How bizarre to keep feeding it when they are all (mostly) fat! Waste of money.

I use a similar system in that I put my non fatties in a fenced off bit of the new grass, let them eat it down, then put the fatties in after them.

It does sound like the 'system' needs looking at.
 
pottamus said:
Mixing some of the grass with hay intake is not a bad idea...although if already overweight horses are eating both they will put more weight on. Restricting the hay and feeding grass is ok in winter but they are eating pure spring grass with all the associated fructans and goodness...if out 24/7 on this too...it is a recipe for disaster.
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I probably didn't phrase my post very well but this was what I was getting at. I was under the impression that the shock to the system of going from only hay to lots of fructan rich grass would be a big problem (although i suppose they are having both at the moment!) and cause the release of toxins that would induce laminitus. Therefore, while the grass is still not fully grown, continuing with the hay would be a good move until we move next month to summer fields (a sort of phasing-in approach).

Brandy said:
They don't need the hay and will hardly make a difference to the amount of grass they eat of the grass is lush and green. How bizarre to keep feeding it when they are all (mostly) fat! Waste of money.
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Well the problem is that horses like mine and two other tbs are not good-doers so it has to be decided by majority. Not a great system but for £28 a month you get what you pay for!

With regards to the waste of money.....my reasoning above is why i thought the hay would be a good idea since it might shock their systems if just out on lush grass?

It might be useful to add that nearly all of the fat ones are still fed one feed a day - which is madness IMO! Not all the horses still eat the hay. Actual Zoom barely touches it since grass is tastier!
 
I think its cruel for the muzzled pony if hay is put out as it won't be able to eat it, I wouldn't put hay out at all, I can see where you're coming from though, if they're eating that they're not eating the grass. I dunno if its just a few weeks til the others go into the other field I wouldn't bother
 
NOISYGIRL said:
I think its cruel for the muzzled pony if hay is put out as it won't be able to eat it, I wouldn't put hay out at all, I can see where you're coming from though, if they're eating that they're not eating the grass. I dunno if its just a few weeks til the others go into the other field I wouldn't bother
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Oh :confused: I thought that muzzled horses could eat hay? He seems to try anyway lol :D

Anyhoo, I was just interested since I have no experience first-hand of laminitis. Thanks for the input guys.
 
My girl was diagnosed with laminitis at the end of March, I did catch it early and I am constantly watching her weight.

I have a very small paddock and she was brought in on a night. The YO had some rich hay delivered which the farrier said was potant, that and the spring grass I think set it off.

I've changed her diet, she used to get a handful of dengie good doer. I rang Jackie Taylor and was advised to give her 1 scoop of Happy Hoof morning & night. I got some old hay which I soak and put in 2 small holed nets and she seems to be loosing weight with this diet.

From what I have read and there are some good sites on the net....if the grass has a frost on it like it has been lately it is better to put out some soaked hay in the field. If your hay is good quality hay then I'd advise you soak it for over 3 hours to get most of the sugar out.
 
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