Laminitis is a condition sadly affecting many horses and ponies, particularly during the Spring months when the grass is of optimum quality as a result of the typical "rain, shine weather" the UK often experiences. Recent weather has seen the flora of the countryside simply explode with life and colour, but though our equines will gladly tuck into the rich grasses, horse owners must be vigilant in their care to avoid the risk of equine laminitis.
How Does Laminitis Occur?
Though there are other causes of laminitis such as stress, toxicity and trauma, laminitis is often linked to obesity and our equine's gorging on lush, spring pasture has been shown to result in damage to the internal structures of our equine's feet.
Damage occurs by the sensitive laminae tissues becoming inflamed and in severe cases there can even be tears of the internal bond between the dermal and epidermal laminae leading to a rotation or drop in the pedal bone.
Feeding to Avoid or Manage Laminitis.
Feeding the laminitic horse can be a tricky business with many horse owners opting for restricted grazing and reduced quantities of concentrate feed.
Though the link between laminitis and obesity is proven, a simple reduction of calories does not always result in a healthy horse. Often a limited, restricted diet can result in a diet which is not balanced which overall does not help the health of the equine. Vitamins and minerals are vital to health and well-being and an ideal diet involves ample low calorie forage such as soaked hay, a low calorie fibre based feed with vitamin and mineral supplement such as Horse & Pony Multi-vitamin supplement. The Horse & Pony Multi-vitamin is ideal for those horses in rest or light work in order to maintain health and well being. The supplement includes over 25 essential vitamins and minerals promoting optimum health for all horses and supporting those such as laminitics on low levels of concentrate feed.
Keep up the Exercise!
Though it is clear if a horse or pony is suffering a lamintic bout they would be too uncomfortable to be ridden and it may create damage, research has shown that horses that undertake regular exercise are at much less risk of suffering laminitis. So to avoid the condition developing ensure you stick to a regular routine of riding in springtime.
Management Advice.
Spring the grass is rich, lush and packed with nutrients, alongside being extremely tasty so many equines won’t regulate themselves or limit their intake, so horse owners need to take responsibility of self control for their benefit! Start turn out in the field for around an hour at a time and build up to several hours each day over a period of weeks. If your horse is a ‘good-doer’ consider using a grazing muzzle which allows the equine to enjoy the fresh air and a welcome leg stretch but without excessive consumption of rich grass.
Scientific Nutritional Products offers a wide range of Horse Supplements and Dog Supplements Glucosamine for Dogs including Horse & Pony Multivitamin Supplement. Horse Vitamin and Mineral Supplement. Please visit our website www.horsesupplementsdirect.co.uk and don’t forget to check in next week with our blog!
