what to feed laminitic show pony ?

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michelledarling

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does anyone have show pony prone to lami? if so what do you feed to keep nice show ring condition without jeapordising health. i had mine on healthy hooveds (or happy hoof) and top spec cool and turnout last year seemed ok but hes gone down with lami month ago hes on 41/2 kilo soaked hay day on strict box rest and am giving his his daily allowance of top spec cool. got xrays next week . month before he went down with it i had him on scoop of alpha oil and top spec comprehensive as was workin med/lite doing dressage and schooling hacking general kids pony hes allergic we think to top spec so changed him back over to hh and cool (gradually) think not food related lami but will find out more after tests hes a 133 open sp not overweight neck did go cresty hard tho hes not lost weight on the above diet nari has got some great suggestions but just wondered if anyone else has problem
 
Show ring condition = fit?
Low sugar fibre and a vit and mineral supplement combined with plenty of exercise to build muscle should be enough.
 
I have a 30ish rescue pony, approx 11hh. He came down with acute laminitis two years ago. According to vets and farrier after x-rays being taken, this was the first time he had it. After some intensive care from both the above, this is how he is kept now. Out every day, obviously well rugged (both night and day). One scoop of hi-fibre cubes made into a mash with boiled (hot water) with a sachet of danolin and a couple of carrots at tea-time and a net of dry hay, as good as quality as I can buy. If it is frosty, he is not out until frost has lifted, but goes out in snow and also heavy rain as long as it is not torrential. He is out on normal field and is usually out from approx 8am until 3.30ish. I am in the lucky position that he can if he wants bring himself into my yard, and often does so, to get from my pushover husband a slice of white bread with salt on!! After bashing kitchen door... He has gone out every day this week and for the last two days,has gone up the field at a gallop, bucking nearly every step. He is completely sound and his hooves look great. The farrier comes every 4 weeks to keep hooves well trimmed and last week when he came the farrier could not believe how sound he was as he trotted up the lane beside me. He is well covered and does not in any way look thin, and touch wood and whisper it softly, what appeared to be cushings and has also disappeared. Maybe its just good luck and wonderful vets and farrier, but maybe worth trying?
 
Magnesium oxide should tighten his feet, and check for underlying causes like IR. YOu haven't said how old he is but it isn't just a problem in veterans. I would be looking at his mineral intake as well, maybe ensure he is getting enough salt?
 
i do keep him at correct weight for his height type and looks just right although not in " some peoples opinion of show condition" if that makes sense ? we got him a year ago and vet/farrier said straight away about his weight and feet so we took him down a little and changed food to hh and cool spec . want to show him still affiliated but not if means putting him at risk if judges want to see more weight on him as not worth it as first foremost he is my little girl pony to do bit of everything pc etc and more importantly be part of family. oh he is 10/11. always been sp up to now but now has been doing dressage and hacking ,bit of jumping , popped out to meet which he was a legend, my little girl is still small on him so we are just ticking him over till they are both ready . hes taken well to our family life , was on production yard before
 
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dont know how to upload but hes on the event photographers website at trailblazers in the pb in hand class ........he won took championship too ........we were only ones in it!!! lol
 
Feed him a proper barefoot diet and he will be the correct weight, fitter, at less risk of a lamanitic attack and a lot healthier than being fed rubbish from feed companies. No fruit and veg or bread either would be my advice.
 
have never heard of barefoot diet so where can i find more info, he does go on grassfrom 9-3/5pm and in at night and isnt treated or fed bread he is at correct weight not a fat pad anywhere can feel ribs just see them but train of thought was frosty weather he was out in it due to me not knowing it can trigger lami or maybe insulin resistant that brought on attack not hi level s of food grass cereals as only on balancer and happy hoof which was reccomended by vet although he was on too much hay 2/wads but i didnt weigh it do now tho and on 2kilos thur day 21/2 by night
 
Low sugar high fibre is the way to go (hopefully someone will come and tell you where to find a "barefoot diet") but I had a diet sheet from a nutritionist for my IR veteran. She said it was the same as the diet for laminitics so here goes: low sugars, (including fructans in grass, and including starch in cereals). If grass is essential make sure it is leaf not stem (more fructans in the stem) and don't let him on it when it is stressed/not growing. In daylight it photosynthesises but if it isn't growing it doesn't use the fructans it makes but stores them - bad news for horses needing little or no sugars.
My IR veteran gets unmollassed beet pulp, with a conditioning feed such as Top Spec Cool Condition nuts which contain no cereals, and I top up the vits/minerals with a good balancer. Forageplus are good for minerals and usually happy to advise. If you need to feed forage, either have it tested for sugars or soak it for upwards of 3 hours, then rinse before draining. I assume he is a native pony - they have evolved to live on very little, but plenty of fibre and a good balancer. If he does need a little more condition, micronised linseed or other oils will do. HTH
 
thanks for feed advice
he is pb welsh blooks like mini anglo arab put some pics on my profile now they are not great but you will see his weight in summer and he has lost some since then not much tho .
 
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