Second Chance Horse Rescue Discussion Boards

Muso · Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 630

Righto. We have a hard, solid crest and fat deposits on the rump... in short, a pony which needs an immediate diet review. This has happened within a fortnight Shocked

I'm keen to reverse this sudden obesity and prevent laminitis. Does anyone have any diet suggestions? I'm wanting to keep her gut moving though, and make sure she has adequate calorie/energy intake.

Obviously the high glucose/sugar content of this spring grass is the main factor, so she's allowed limited access of 2 hours early in the morning. Aparently the fructan levels are low in grass over night and early morning, which is why I've picked this time for her.

For the rest of the day she's in a large sand yard, and is fed soaked stalky oaten hay (tiny amount) in the evening.

To cover her protein levels, would you recommend a small amount of lucerne chaff with a vitamin supplement. How about Founderguard?

A pro-biotic to help balance the hindgut?

Cut out the limited grazing all together and feed more frequent amounts of stalky hay for the time being?
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Mrs.Ed · Joined: 30 Apr 2007 Posts: 596 Location: Perth

I know your pain! I have a yearling who has just recovered from an acute episode of laminitis and a rather well padded paint gelding.

Everything you are doing is great. It is a real struggle to ensure adequate fibre intake and gut movement but prevent further weight gain. And you also have to keep them mentally happy so locking them up all the time is no good either.

In terms of sugar and laminitis, the best hay to feed is lucerne, followed by oaten and meadow (meadow hay actually has high sugar which many people don't realise). The problem with lucerne is that it is more fattening than oaten so I think your soaked oaten hay is the best option.

In terms of grazing you could maybe fence off a portion of the paddock and mow the grass short, wait for the clippings to dry or remove them and turn the pony out on that so he/she is only getting small amounts of short grass but still gets the psychological benefits of grazing. The other option is to turn out with other horses but put on a grazing muzzle whilst turned out.

Protein needs can be met with a small amount of FFS or a pellet such as Hygain balanced or Zero (but some horses won't eat it). A small amount of lucerne chaff is fine. And if you are feeding a vitamin/mineral supplement as well then nutrients should be fairly well covered.

I don't use founderguard because if you manage the sugar levels there is no need to feed it and I hate the idea of feeding an antibiotic daily. Protexin (a probiotic) can't hurt but probably not necessary if the pony's poo is normal. One thing to watch is sand intake when diet is restricted so its a good idea to feed psyllium for 5 days every month.

The other thing to promote weightloss is to increase exercise. Get the pony in a roundyard or lunge everyday if it can't be ridden. Some horses play with toys such as exercise balls or play with paddock mates. Anything to increase exercise.

Have you seen this website? It has some great scientific info on laminitis prevention.
http://www.safergrass.org/articles/index.html
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"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated" Mahatma Gandhi.

Muso · Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 630

Fantastic, thanks so much. Yes I've head many conflicting opinions about Founderguard. Perhaps for the time being I'll stick to the simple diet of soaked hay, with a small hard feed of L/chaff + vitamins.

Fortunately, Beauty hangs about closely with Velvet and they're always nuzzling eachother through the fence, so hopefully V's mental state of being locked in the yard isn't doing her too much harm on the emotional side.

I'll bring her out daily for a few laps around the property, (on the lead) to increase her energy output.

That link is brilliant, loads of interesting info there.

And Livamol: yes? No? I've always been a fan of this supplement, and have fed it to B&V, but then again it is Molasses based...
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SecondChance · Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:30 am Post subject:

Small ponies! Gotta love it LOL

I can't offer any additional advice, Mrs. Ed covered all I know Smile

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Mrs.Ed · Joined: 30 Apr 2007 Posts: 596 Location: Perth

Copra is probably a safer option than livamol because livamol has molasses and pollard in it. Horses love Copra and it gives them a shiny coat and no starch so safe for laminitis. Just watch the weight gain! My boys just get a sprinkle in their feed Very Happy

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"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated" Mahatma Gandhi.

Muso · Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 630

Ok, thanks Smile

*sigh* after having only TB's, all this feeding to prevent obesity & laminitis is such a new world to me, lol!

I feel like such a cow locking her in like that... she keeps giving me these indignant looks Rolling Eyes

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Mrs.Ed · Joined: 30 Apr 2007 Posts: 596 Location: Perth

I know, you feel downright cruel! You should see my horse's face when I put his muzzle on. He just goes and sulks under a tree Sad

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"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated" Mahatma Gandhi.