When To Turn Out A Laminitic Horse
Laminitis is a condition many horse owners will be aware of. It poses a few questions when it comes to how best to manage the horse, with diet and turnout being two of the most common areas for consideration. Managing a horse with laminitis requires you to make adjustments to feed and routine to benefit their health – so can you turn out a laminitic horse? Read on as we take a closer look at a few tips for turning out with laminitis in mind.
Laminitis: An overview
Laminitis is a condition that affects your horse’s hooves. The laminae in the hooves become damaged and can detach from the pedal bone, which is very debilitating for the horse, making it difficult for them to walk and stand. This condition can be caused by a range of issues, such as endocrine problems, EMS, and PPID – which are associated with insulin dysregulation. There are other issues such as trauma to the hoof and being overweight that can contribute to laminitis in horses.
If a horse’s diet is based mainly around carbohydrates, such as cereal grain and pasture, it can disrupt the microbial population resident in the horse’s digestive system. This combined with more acidic conditions in the gut can cause a chain of issues which ultimately result in laminitis. Similarly to this, horses that have underlying insulin dysregulation suffer from an abnormal response when it comes to non-structural carbohydrates – which in itself can result in laminitis taking hold.
The Role of Grass in Laminitis
Grass has high levels of sugar and provides more energy than many horses and ponies really need, especially at times of abundance which is typically the spring. This leads to weight gain and therefore means your horse is more at risk of developing laminitis. Once a horse has had laminitis they are more prone to getting it again and so the question on many horse owners’ lips is therefore should I be turning my laminitic horse out to grass.?
Can you turn out a laminitic horse?
If your horse is overweight then limiting access to grass is important as part of a weight management strategy. As to whether it is safe to turn out in relation to laminitis risk, the first step is to get your horse in shape as being a healthy bodyweight reduces the risk of laminitis. Then it is a question of managing your horse’s sugar intake As the levels of simple and storage sugars (WSC water soluble carbohydrates) in grass are difficult to predict, this question can be difficult to answer for certain, however, there are a few points to consider that may help you make an informed decision for your horse’s best interests.
When is best to turn out?
Turning out a laminitic horse as late as possible and bringing in off the grass early in the morning is key. Grass will be making sugar when there is light, warmth and moisture available. Once it is dark the grass will stop making sugar and will use some up so levels gradually decline as the night goes on. If you can’t turn out overnight then turn out early in the morning and bring in by mid-morning at the latest to try and avoid the times when sugar levels will be highest. Bright sunny days are when plants are producing the most sugar and when it is cold, the plants aren’t growing so will store sugar. This also appears to be a higher risk time for laminitis too.
Consider grazing conditions
Another factor to consider is where you turn your horse out. Think about the type of grass that grows in your paddock. Pastures that were formerly grazed by livestock such as dairy cows are likely to contain grasses higher in sugar such as Rye grass. Older pasture or those based on seed mixtures for horses will tend to consume more grass species like Timothy which tends to be low in sugar. But remember, even low-sugar grasses can produce WSC so it’s always best to do your due diligence and bring horses off grass altogether at times when lots of grass is available. Be aware that both overgrazed land and areas that have been affected by drought can result in high WSC levels in the grass too as the plants are under stress and tend to accumulate sugar in those conditions.
Grazing muzzles
As well as pasture management and being aware of when is best to turn your horse out, grazing muzzles can also be helpful when it comes to your laminitic horse. A muzzle allows you to restrict the amount of grazing your horse does each day, as it limits grass intake. Your muzzle will allow your horse to have time in the field, benefiting its physical and mental well-being, without exacerbating laminitis symptoms. You should make sure the grazing muzzle fits properly, and ensure your horse knows it can eat and drink whilst wearing this.
