Turnout times for laminitics?

Stinkbomb

Stinkbomb

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What are the best/ worst times of day for a laminitic to be turned out during the summer???

Bearing in mind it is a more or less bare field with nibblings of grass.
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i would change it around leave in during day and turn out at night best way
so he aleast gets out
 
Out at night is best because grass does not photo synthersise in the dark and the fructin, ie sugar levels are lower.

Grass that is grazed down to the bone is not the best stuff, the new growth is loaded with sugar and the horses will eat the new growth as soon as it pops up. Also, grass in a bald field might become stressed, and have a flush of sugar as the grass plants struggle to survive!

A muzzled horse on old, poor grass will do much better because it can not eat the short new growth, only the older stuff and that is lower in sugar.
 
Ok... This is something im debating in my head at the moment... and ive come to th conclusion it depends on the horse, and what exactly causes laminitis (yes theres alot we do know about it, but there alot we dont know too, and i beleive the EXACT reason as to why laminitis occurs in some horses is one of the things we dont know).

Ok so the debate i have is based on yes, as yorkshire lass pointed out the fructins are lower during the night, but the horse naturally eats more at night, so you have lower fructin levels but higher consumption, or higher consumption and lower fructins... But also, if you think about the times at which you would be at the yard, stabling at night works out as a longer period for most people.
 
to be perfectly honest I have read up about this as much as I can and come to my own conclusion that there is no *safe* time. I would imagine early morning, except if there's been a frost, would be marginally better as the grass has had all night for the fructin levels to drop, and the sun not yet strong enough to make the levels rise again. It's the new growth that is worst, so unfortunately a bare field can still bring on laminitis.

I would strip graze both, bearing in mind they are such good friends and so close, and keep a close eye on Ty, coupled with lunging every alternate day (at a good walk, 10 minutes each rein). He's lost so much weight i wouldnt imagine you'd have to be so worried this year, just try and concentrate on keeping his weight as it is, and I would think he would be okay.
 
I believe its best to turnout lami's over night. I have 2 ponies who've had lami. One was through concussive though so he's actually been quite easy to maintain as he's nothing like my other pony who got proper grass-caused lami (whilst out on loan), anything sets her off.

The one who had very serious concussive laminitis (15 years ago!) is easily maintained as I said. He stays out 24/7 all year round. In the winter his grazing isnt restricted (although my grazing isnt great) and from Spring to Autumn, he stays in a small paddock which goes through into another one which is strip grazed.

The other pony I have battled with for the past year as the TINIEST thing can trigger it in her. She cannot go out on grass at all. She is stabled at night and out in our hardcore yard during the day with hay. A few times a week, I have started to let her out with the other horses with a muzzle on (which she really cant reach any grass through as its so short), purely to blow off steam for an hour.

It really depends on your horse and you'll figure out what works. But TBH Id try keeping the horse out if possible and just strip grazing.
 
Thanks everyone. I usually turn out during the day and in at night but am considering changing it the other way around. Plus our stables are quite cool so it would benefit when really hot.

Ty has done really well with his weight loss and im sooo paranoid about laminitis!!! I do strip graze and will consider a muzzle depending on how he goes!!
 
I was told by my vet to turn out at night because 1) lower sugar in grass and 2) horses eat less at night. My two horses are at home and I have to say that whenever I peek out into the field during the night they are having a sleep or hanging around the haynets and not as bothered about eating as when I turn them out during the day. I do however turnout at 8pm after a feed and then bring in at 6am which probably isnt the best hours if someone is at a livery yard. However in the height of summer during very hot days I swap it around again because they seem to seek shade and eat less grass when hot and pig out at night.
 
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