Miniature Horse feeding ideas

[Pehsness]

I have a mini gelding that foundered - rather inexplicably, during a cold/snowy spell. Initial discussion with the vet had us put him on bute and thyroxene. I was syringing the bute in to him, but was giving him the thyroxene on a 1/2 c of soaked, plain beet pulp.

I just had the vet out for a litmus test as I don’t think he’s rebounding as quickly as he should be. We discussed compromised vascular systems and cold weather (that’s an aside) and she would like me to discontinue the beet pulp.

Other than syringing the thyroxene in to him as well (her suggestion) any ideas for a feed I can put it on? He’s been a bit of a tough nut to crack and we’re finally at a place where he lets me trim all four feet (obviously a necessity, considering) while he’s eating. I would really like to continue that practice, but am at a loss for what the feed should be (if any, I’m prepared for the answer to be none) if non-molassed beet pulp is out.

TIA PS: He’s at an excellent weight, as per the vet. The founder is a mystery, though it’s very possible he has a history I’m not aware of as he came from a sales barn and was massively obese when I got him. His sole job in life is to play companion to my old mare, let me hug him, and let my kids fool around with him. He’s about ten.

[gypsymare]

Soaked hay pellets?

[Pehsness]

I believe I’m an idiot. Of course that is the answer. Why did I not think of that?! :o

[maunder]

Have you and your vet discussed testing your little guy for Insulin Resistance? Cold weather founder is exactly how my mini showed me this was his issue.

The cause of the founder should help determine what diet should or could be.

[Pehsness]

We haven’t, but it’s not off the table. The irony of this is she has been my vet throughout years of trying to sort out my old mare’s problems (similar, though there was never actual rotation). So here I am, finally have the old girl in a really good place, she’s happy, healthy, I bought her a farm (literally… though a small farm) and a buddy to keep her company and whammo, her buddy is now the problem. If I didn’t know better I would think I was the problem - but truly there’s nothing that I’ve done or not done in this instance.

When I have the vet back out in the spring (assuming no more acute problems in the meantime) we’ll discuss further. I think her thinking is… just keep it to hay. Don’t mess around right now.

[maunder]

My little guy’s IR hit me out of the blue. He was six when he was diagnosed with it in December of 2014 and he didn’t make it. Diet changes did not prevent his foundering from being chronic, until in June 2015 the laminitis escalated and he had to be put down.

If you’re not sure about IR and want to wait to test then feeding with IR in mind is a good way to go. It sure can be tricky and it can be a nightmare if it doesn’t work.

I’ve also got a mini with metabolic issues that haven’t been diagnosed successfully with testing, but the vets and I are treating it as if he is IR. We do know that if he doesn’t get a steady amount of a basic hay and has any stress he will have a hyperlipidemia episode and that was baddddd. He also was experiencing some stretching of the laminae and some bruising but he’s never (thank goodness) experienced a full founder episode. He didn’t develop these issues until he was 7.

Laminitis and metabolic issues in minis are horrible and I hope your little guy can have a successful treatment.

[Fairview_Horse_Cente]

We had a very small pony - not quite mini, that re rescued. She had foundered many times, and just layed down all of the time. Her feet were extremely neglected, so we started with aggressive trims, to get them back to normal.

Our only feed was a sweet feed, and she ate a small handful twice a day, when the others were eating. She also received about 2 lbs of hay, twice a day, in a dry lot paddock.

She fully recovered, sound after a year, and then was able to be turned out in our overgrazed pasture (28 acres, 25 horses). I believe the size field really helped her as they moved constantly, but only a bit of nibbling grass. With the field turnout, she only received 1/2 a flake of hay, once a day in the stall - stalled nights winter, days summer. Her feed and hay remained the same for the next 10 years, with no more issues.

[reignthealarm]

How has anyone without a dry lot managed their mini prone to founder? What sort of diet/exercise were they on? How do you exercise your mini other than lunging? (he gets quite bored with that)

My farm is a rental and landlord does not want me to tear up her grass to make a dry lot. My mini has mildly foundered a couple times. Never gone down or anything- just noticed that he was walking stiff/standing still a lot. Always able to catch it before it gets bad. Vet prescribed Metformin and he seems to do okay on that, He wears a grazing muzzle most of the year and only a handful of TC Senior to keep him busy while other horse eats (will be cutting that out soon). He eats very little hay.

He is completely sound and has not foundered this year but his weight is still concerning to me. Without a dry lot even winter grass is still more grass than he needs. I have made him a small lot in a corner before but it still has decent grass in the summer and he kept breaking out of it anyway.

[Scribbler]

You might also want to test your hay for NSC. Our coarse local “pony hay” is a shocking 25% NSC and a metabolic horse should be under 11%.

[reignthealarm]

@Scribbler

You might also want to test your hay for NSC. Our coarse local “pony hay” is a shocking 25% NSC and a metabolic horse should be under 11%.

I have thought on this but haven’t yet since he eats so little hay. But you’re right its a good idea to test. Are there national agencies that do this or would I be better finding somewhere local?

[Scribbler]

You just want to make sure they will.give you a readout tailored to horses not dairy cattle which is the largest market.