|
|
Post by harveydales on Feb 7, 2007 9:42:12 GMT -1
Wasn't sure where to post this but I wondered whether any of your ponies are feeling the hard frozen ground? I'm in a bit of a dilemna over what to do for the best.
Mine all live out now 24/7 and are all barefoot. Harvey and Winnie are absolutely fine with their rock hard feet. Quest is struggling a bit though. He only went barefoot last October and has been coping jolly well considering he has had lami in the past and his feet show changes.
He hesitated over coming in this morning as the gateway is quite bad. I also noticed what looked like very slight bruising on the sole of one foot (not lami type bruising and VERY feint but could be due to the ground). I can't decide whether to just turn him out as normal, try and tape some sort of protection onto his sole and then turn him out or just keep him in.
If I keep him in the change in diet and routine could stress him and cause his delicate stomach to trigger lami again. I do have hoof boots but they are not supposed to be worn for long periods of time. Whatever I do, I'm not going to win!
Anyone else with this problem?
|
|
|
|
Post by zeldalithgow on Feb 7, 2007 10:59:11 GMT -1
Prince isn't good on the frozen ground, I'm sure his arthritis is spreading and now in his fetlocks particularly the nearside  |
|
|
|
Post by harveydales on Feb 7, 2007 11:08:31 GMT -1
So what do you do Zelda? Do you keep him out or bring him in? I've just turned Quest out again and he walked out a lot better than he came in. If he's bad again tomorrow I'll have to think of something.
|
|
|
|
Post by greydales on Feb 7, 2007 11:12:57 GMT -1
It must be a real quandary Pam when you've had a horse with lami. I haven't had any experience but I would treat it with caution - maybe the past lami has created changes in his foot which make the sole thinner in some areas and less able to cope with these types of conditions.
I think I would perhaps try pads first off as the easiest option? How about using duck tape? I'll ask my trimmer for his advice as he is very knowledgeable!
|
|
|
|
Post by zeldalithgow on Feb 7, 2007 11:15:50 GMT -1
I leave him out - no choice as we don't have anywhere to keep him in as someone hasn't finished the stables, plus he's not good at being in - def not on his own
|
|
|
|
Post by harveydales on Feb 7, 2007 14:26:55 GMT -1
Gill, you are right, Quest does have changes in his feet due to the past lami episodes. Jane is confident she can return his feet to normal but that doesn't help me with the transitioning period. I've found some old rubber car mats and I'm going to try and duck tape them on tomorrow and see how he goes.
Jane is coming here in 2 weeks but if you see your trimmer before then, please do ask him for his thoughts. Quest had excellant feet before the lami and has done amazingly well barefoot up to now. I don't want to give in too soon and get him shod again.
|
|
|
|
Post by dollylanedales on Feb 7, 2007 21:44:16 GMT -1
My gang are all barefoot - we have had a severe frost for the past few nights, and I did notice today that the two oldies were walking very carefully. I suppose its extra pressure on their already creaky legs.
Prince does not go out at all when its frosty as it tends to cause his lami attacks, and also he finds it hard walking on hard ground. Tyson goes out during the day, but he too has been walking as if he is on egg shells.
Molly, Oliver and Tilly are all used to riding on the hard roads, so do not seem bothered about the hard ground.
|
|
|
|
Post by harveydales on Feb 8, 2007 9:33:15 GMT -1
It's good to know that it is probably quite normal for an oldie to struggle on the frozen, rutted ground but I am panicing again this morning.
Quest seemed fine out yesterday and this morning came in galloping flat out but once in his stable, he didn't want to move much. No pulses and I'm sure it's not lami (yet) but he is clearly feeling his feet. I've mde some rubber pads and taped them on. He's still inside and I will have to make a decision over whether to try him out again. If he shows any reluctance to come out, then he'll have to stay in but if he is keen to go out, I'm not sure what I'll do. I hate this indecision!
|
|
|
|
Post by harveydales on Feb 9, 2007 11:57:12 GMT -1
I've decided to keep Quest in! He came in fine this morning but the bruising on his soles looked worse. No normal signs of lami such as raised pulses etc but I'm worried the mechanical trauma of walking on the hard ground might bring it on. On the other hand, if he stays in, the change of diet and general stress of not being with the others could trigger it off also.
I hate this "not knowing what to do for the best".
|
|
|
|
Post by nars on Feb 9, 2007 13:00:32 GMT -1
Pam,
how about cushioning his feet using pampers nappies or wee wee pads and then vet wrapping? I used this method to keep Sabin's coronet band and hoof clean and dry while it was healing and it might just help if you want him outside. Sabina managed all bar the first night out using this method
|
|
|
|
Post by harveydales on Feb 9, 2007 13:16:24 GMT -1
Thanks Jacqui, that's a good idea. I will keep him in tonight though and see how he is tomorrow.
|
|
|
|
Post by dollylanedales on Feb 9, 2007 21:03:00 GMT -1
My farrier has seen three ponies this week with laminitis, and he is adamant that it is because they have been eating the frosty grass.
Its hard to know what to do, but I am convinced Prince does get laminitis if he eats frosty grass, and seeing as he finds it hard to walk on hard ground anyway, its easier to keep him in when its frosty.
|
|
|
|
Post by harveydales on Feb 9, 2007 21:33:22 GMT -1
Well, Quest is staying in for the moment. maybe the frosty grass has just tipped him over to Laminitis. I have been VERY thorough checking digital pulses and his are still normal. My vet and the Laminitis Trust people assure me the pulses are always raised with lami but I'm not convinced. Anyway, I'm playing safe and keeping him in.
How is Prince now Mair? I find this living on a knife edge with Lami SO stressful!
|
|
|
|
Post by tobago on Feb 12, 2007 20:10:14 GMT -1
Last winter I tried to let my old gelding (23) barefoot. the first period it was o.k. but then the ground also was frozen very hard, and when the ferrier was cut his legs, he could not walk any longer. Now he is shoed on his front legs and has no more problems. His hind legs are barefoot.
I also believe that frozen grass is poison for ponies with laminitis. Over winter our ponies only are in a small paddock without gras. We do not have so much ground, so the meadows are only open from May until November.
|
|
|
|
Post by harveydales on Feb 12, 2007 20:23:41 GMT -1
That's interesting Petra. My trimmer is coming tomorrow week so I am keen to hear what she thinks about Quest's feet. He has been barefoot behind for several years but was shod in front until last October.
I've left Quest out tonight - he was moving fine and showed no interest in coming in. If he is OK tomorrow, I will keep him out but as soon as frost is forecast he will come in - we don't get much frost here as we are close to the sea.
|
|
