Laminitis: Is Hay the Culprit?

As we approach the spring, those of us with little native ponies that have too much of an appetite than is good for them will be well aware of the risks of laminitis. But do we know all of the symptoms and are we tackling the problem correctly?

 

4 years ago, we were given a 12.2hh pony, Gracie, to bring on after she was on death's door with laminitis. Her previous owner had kept her in a stable, away from the accused fresh spring grass but she was still crippled with pain. She hobbled onto the trailer, stomach bulging, when we went to collect her and her feet were red hot. Evidently overweight, her crest was around 5 inches thick and clearly wobbled as she moved. At the time we thought nothing of the thickened crest, but now it's a warning sign for us to start the defence for laminitis. I say that because now the way we approach the problem is very much preventative, so the dreaded laminitis doesn't get given the chance to manifest in the first place. 

As soon as we suspect anything untoward, Gracie and the also laminitis-prone Shetland are put out in the field at night with muzzles on. (They always live out at night anyway) This means that the grass isn't growing while they're strolling around nibbling away. They have to work harder for food but still get sufficient nutrition without putting their own health at risk through greed. They're also burning more energy walking around in the field than they would do cooped up in a stable all night. And it's very easy for them to drink from the big troughs in the field.

However, all through the winter, Gracie's crest has wavered between being normal and worryingly thick. And yet, she's turned out at night in a field with no grass and is given only a handful of hard feed. So that leaves one culprit: the hay she eats during the day and that we put in the field at night. On further investigation, the hay we'd been getting recently had been very 'leafy' and extremely good quality. While a good thing through the winter for the other horses, Gracie could really do with the lowest possible energy value hay. How many horse owners are aware that it might be the hay and not the spring grass causing their ponies to have sore feet?

I know that other people might find the way we approach the problem of laminitis controversial, but if they had seen the state of Gracie that first day, they'd soon change their mind on what is considered 'cruel'.