Hello, thank you for such an informative site.
I recently purchased a Welsh Mountain Pony who just loves her food so much, that this is a worry. She is fat, but we live in a very sandy area that hasn't had any grass for 2 years. Recent rains have brought on a lot of new Autumn grass. At present the pony is fed 3 time per day. Hay in the morning and at lunch then a couple of hours on the new grass in the afternoon and then more hay in the evening together with a hard feed that consists of Chaff, Bran, Chamomile, Rosehip, Garlic, Linseed oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, and 1/2 cup boiled barley. I've never owned a pony before, only horses who never had problems with feeding, but I'm unsure as to whether I am overdoing it for this little girl or not. I would love to just put her out in the grass paddock all day and cut back on her feeds, but because of the previous founder, I'm not sure what to do? Can you please advise. Thank you. Lisa.

Where are you from? Geraldton Western Australia

How did you locate this forum? just surfing the net

Hi Lisa,

There are a few aspects of her diet that you should consider changing for your pony, since she is overweight and you want to reduce the risk of her developing laminitis.

The first is to remove all cereal grain from her diet. You're giving her barley which is inappropriate, since this raises the level of insulin in her bloodstream, making her more likely to founder. Give her low starch feeds such as beet pulp and all the grass hay she wants.

Second, avoid allowing her to graze on pasture in the afternoon. This is the most dangerous time of day when the sugar and starch levels in the grass are at their highest. Allow her to graze during the dark hours or early in the morning.

Bran is also not a good idea since it has an inverted calcium to phosphorus ratio and you would have to feed a large amount of alfafa (lucerne) to counteract this deficiency in calcium.

Garlic causes anemia in horses, so I would suggest avoiding it.

Basically, you'll want to let her have grass hay -- all she wants, where she has a chance to self-regulate her intake. And, give her a small meal once each day of beet pulp with a good vitamin/mineral supplement added, along with a magnesium/chromium supplement (for her insulin resistance).

If you would like, I now offer international phone visits. This may be helpful for your situation.

All the best,

Dr. Getty

Where are you from? Bayfield, CO

Thank you for your reply. It is interesting to read because, I had to call the vet today as my pony had been walking slowly and awkardly for the past few days. Not knowing alot about laminitis, I had my suspicions, so I started reading on the internet about it and all the advice suggested calling the vet. He agreed that she is a fat pony and that she has mild laminitis. He also said that I need to lock her up and starve her for 3 days at time every week until she drops weight and then let her out into the grass paddock during the day, following the 3 days off feed. Your advice is to give her as much hay as she likes! So again I'm unsure as to what I should do. I will certainly stop feeding her the garlic and barley etc, but I really don't think I can starve her. She is a little pig and 4 weeks ago suffered a bout of sand colic because of her hunger! Tonight I fed her as usual, but a much smaller feed and only a quarter of the hay she normally would have. I agree with cutting out anything that may add sugar. The vet also said no carrots or apples. My concern now will be that she will start digging the sand for grass roots and get colic again. Its a catch 22 situation isn't it? The vet suggested a product known here in Australia as Bute, to act as an anti-inflammatory and helps with pain, and also said to use Founderguard, which I have done! Can you email the cost of your service for phone calls please. I'd be very interested in hearing and learning more to help my girl. Thanks again. Lisa.

Where are you from? Geraldton Western Australia

How did you locate this forum? just surfing the net

Lisa,

I had to answer you right away because I strongly suggest that you find a different vet. If you "lock her up and starve her" you will kill her -- pure and simple.

I'm sorry for being so direct, but unfortunately, veterinarians have little to no training in nutrition. And, horses and ponies should never be starved -- they are designed to eat 24/7 -- that is the way their digestive systems are made. If you lock her her and starve her, she will endure tremendous stress -- both physical and mental. This will result in many situations -- colic, ulcers (her stomach produces acid constantly and needs to chew to produce saliva - a natural antacid), laminitis, and ironically, more weight gain (since the stress hormone, cortisol, promotes fat storage).

Please either consult with an equine nutritionist in your area, or consider setting up a phone visit with me. But, please, please, for the sake of your pony, get the correct advice from someone who has at least one graduate degree (Master's degree), and preferably two graduate degrees (M.S. and a Ph.D.), in equine nutrition.

I wish you and your pony well,

Dr. Getty

Where are you from? Bayfield, CO

Hello again, Lisa,

I see that you asked about phone consultations. International calls are $119 and I would spend approximately one hour on the phone with you going over all the details.

Yes, you should definitely cut out carrots and apples since they are high in sugar. Bute is fine for pain on a short-term basis.

FounderGard, I believe, is a worthwhile supplement. If you have the website, that would be helpful before we visit, so I can give you an accurage assessment of this product.

I'll look forward to visiting with you to help you and your pony to give her a good chance of preventing another laminitis attack and improve the quality of her life.

All the best,

Dr. Getty

Where are you from? Bayfield, CO

Hi there,

I am a veterinarian and I strongly recommend you follow Dr. Getty's advice. I personally would not give you the advice your vet gave you and was horrified to read that was what you were told. I too have a laminitic pony and I keep her on ad lib hay, magnesium, chromium and a vitamin supplement. I soak the hay too if the sugar content is too high. She gets a tiny amount of grass from the track she is on but I dont give her any extra grass at all. I find her very happy and satisfied and she is a pleasure for my daughter to ride as she is not trying to get to the grass all the time. She has also not put on extra weight eating as much hay as she wants.

I hope this helps you decide what to do. All the best.

Where are you from? New Zealand

Thank you to the vet who responded also.

Yes, I completely agree with you basically on "gut" instinct. I cannot possibly starve my little girl, but I have reduced the amount of hay I am giving her and kept her off the grass for now. I am also giving her a very small evening meal of chaff and rosehips with chammomile flowers so I have something to mix the bute and founderguard in. Its not much, but she still seems happy enough and I believe rosehips are fabulous for laminitis. I am wondering though, when if, or ever, she will be able to graze all day on grass? But yes a few people I have spoken to all agree that she shouldn't ever be starved and are a bit shocked that our vet recommended that. We are in a country town, and unfortunately, we don't have a huge amount of equine specialists to choose from when it comes to nutrition and vet care. But Thanks again for caring.

Lisa.

Where are you from? Geraldton Western Australia

How did you locate this forum? just surfing the net

Hello Lisa and RJ,

First, let me thank you, RJ, for your professional input and excellent advice. I highly recommend your regimen of magnesium and chromium as well as all the grass hay your horse wants.

Lisa, please consider not reducing the amount of hay you offer, but allow your horse to self-regulate intake by having all the hay she wants. Grass pasture, however, is not a good idea during the day and early evening. After the grass has been exposed to sunlight for a few hours, its sugar and starch levels are at their highest. So, the most dangerous part of the day to graze on pasture would be the late afternoon. The "safest" time would be during the early morning hours before dawn. You may find the website www.safergrass.org to be informative and helfpul.

Of course, this time of year, you are headed toward winter, and the pasture is becoming sparse. Grass is highest in starch and sugar after a frost, in the spring, when the nights are still cold.

I hope this is helpful and I wish you and your mare well. Please let me know if I can assist you further.

All the best,

Dr. Getty

Where are you from? Bayfield, CO