Mar 24 2010
Must get that itch!
Thorfinn has spent the winter without a rug for the first time in years. I made the decision not to use a rug as I read an article in a magazine (whilst browsing in a shop) which made me reflect on the way I manage my laminitis prone native pony. It basically said that we (horse owners) now over feed and over rug our horses, meaning that they come out of the winter well-covered (fat) so that when they get the first influx of fresh spring grass the sudden increase in sugars triggers laminitis. In the wild ponies and horses would come out of the winter on the thin side so the extra goodness in the grass goes to building them up, rather than mucking up their digestive and circulatory system.
This is a painful condition affecting the animal’s circulation which affects the feet. Inflamation occurs in the laminae (the structure that holds the outside of the hoof to the internal structures and pedal bone, equivalent to the very end bone in your middle finger), but as the horny structure of the outside of the foot can’t move out like our skin it gets really sore, exacerbated by the fact that the pony’s weight is on the feet. Think about when you badly stub your toe or trap your finger in a car door, then it swells with blood and off course your nail doesn’t stretch! Ouch!!!
If you catch it in time, like I managed to with Thorfinn four years ago or so there will be little internal damage. Leave it too long and the laminae start to separate and the pedal bone moves. Ponies will become reluctant to move. They may rock back and ’stand’ on their heels to relieve the pressure and pain. If you ever see this then the animal is in pain! Thorf never got to this stage, as I know him pretty well and realised something was wrong very early on. In very extreme circumstances, the hoof wall will separate from the inside of the foot and can slip off the foot kind of like you would slip a wellie boot off. Now, I repeat… this is in extreme circumstances.
Once a pony or horse has had laminitis, there will always be a risk of it developing again so at this time of year I cut back Ts grazing and he will spend time on the sand turnout area with hay. He has restricted grazing in the summer.
So, to this end, very very fat horses are as much a cause for concern than the very thin horse. If, at this time of year you see an equine in a field showing ribs, but the main joints (hips, shoulders, etc) aren’t protruding, then it may well be okay. It will soon put on weight with the spring grass, but if it is still thin a few weeks later and on a good grazing (or carefully controlled strip grazing), then maybe there is an ongoing medical condition (some old horses will always look thin). Don’t jump to conclusions about welfare! BUT, of course if there is NO grass or a weed strewn field, then maybe it isn’t being looked after.
So, as you can see, Thorfinn has survived an Orkney winter without a rug. Admittedly, he comes in at night with his wee shadow (Sigurd) joining him. I believe he has been a happier pony and his natural thick double layered winter coat has done a much better job than any modern rug. I am just now going to have to spend hours grooming it out and put up with white hairs all over my clothing!
