Worried about horse management

[Beausowner]

After reading threads and my own misgivings about my horses feed management am getting really worried. He's a Section D - lost an awful lot of weight since December when we moved to new yard, where I had to go on part livery. My feeling was he was not being fed enough hay, although he was turned out for five hours every day. At that time he had one day net and one night net. I said he was underweight but was told he wasn't, then one horse had colic so they stopped the day net, saying that their stomachs needed a rest. I really was not happy about this so filled my own in afternoon to give it to him (which didn't make him put weight on but kept weight steady, so if I hadn't done that he would have lost even more). They kept the horses on same winter field until a couple of weeks ago, so during day they were only on quite bare pasture (not just bare but tufts, dirt, tufts). My vet then came out and confirmed that he should have about another 50 - 60 kilos on him, though he was not seriously underweight and with problem of laminitis better under than over. Two weeks ago they moved horses from the poor pasture to fields full of buttercups and long grass. After four hours horses brought in as they were ready and had stuffed themselves. No food then til 5.00 when bit of molichaff and night net. Because of change of pasture he has put on about 20 kilos in two weeks. He has been really grotty for the past couple of weeks and hates trotting - I am getting his back checked but wonder whether he has stomach ache? Am I being paranoid or is this affecting his health?

[Bay Mare]

At that time he had one day net and one night net. I said he was underweight but was told he wasn't, then one horse had colic so they stopped the day net, saying that their stomachs needed a rest.

OMG! OMG! OMG! :eek:

That is such crap! Stopping the hay is MORE LIKELY to cause colic, horses are 'built' to trickle feed and need to have ad-lib access to forage of some kind whether it be grass or hay!!!

How big are the turnout fields? Even if there are buttercups in the field the horses will usually graze around them as long as there is sufficient grass in the field. Buttercups are potentially poisonous because they contain something called protoanemonin which is an irritant. It causes soreness, inflammation or ulceration of the mouth There is increased saliva production and sometimes colic. These symptoms usually make the horse stop eating though but it is worth checking it out with your vet if you're worried.

Personally I would want my horse to have continuous access to grass, hay or haylege.

[Yann]

It might just be as simple as him being completely stuffed if he's been half starved all winter and then released onto lush pasture. You're quite right to be concerned about his management though, it sounds very unhealthy and likely to cause problems with things like ulcers in the long term. Your yard owner appears to understand zilch about horses - horses digestive systems are not designed to be 'rested', they are trickle feeders and function best eating little and often. Either that or it's a cynical bit of cost saving as we suggested before.

[chev]

It's more than possible that he's reluctant to trot because his feet hurt. Ask a vet to come and assess him as a laminitis risk - those conditions are ideal for developing laminitis.

The buttercups are posionous, but horses are usually pretty good at avoiding them if there's plenty of grass. The problem is that he's had a limited intake, his metabolism will have slowed down to adapt to that, and he's then been turned out on what is going to be very rich pasture. That, combined with the fact that he's still having periods with no intake at all, makes for the perfect situation in which to develop laminitis.

Run your fingers down his legs, and see if you can feel a pulse (often just above the fetlock, or below it). If there's a strong pulse (it can be quite slow, so take your time), or any heat in his feet at all, get the vet out. How does he stand? Is he standing with his legs underneath him as he normally would, or is he throwing his weight back on his heels more?

Horses, as Bay Mare and Yann have alreday pointed out, are trickle feeders, and unless they have fairly constant access to forage are at risk of ceveloping digestive problems.

Welsh cobs usually do far better on poor quality grazing or hay, rather than the lush stuff. They are a breed that is a high risk for laminitis. The fact that your boy has put on 20kilos in two weeks worries me too - that's a phenomenal gain, and again, puts him at risk of lammy.

I would get him checked out though - sore feet is far more likely to make him reluctant to trot than tummy aches, and sore feet in this case makes me think laminitis before anything else.

[Beausowner]

Have just been to see another yard today - well not exactly yard, five stables, one big field which yard owner is happy for me to fence some off with electric fencing if I want and sand school. The owner is also AI (as you all know I need the help!), together with I can turn him out whenever I want (all night as well which I think he needs). Very quiet place - no scary monsters around school as there are at the moment. Downside is that there may be noone around when I ride, as YO does not live on site, but I think that as it's so quiet and he'll have all day turnout (and night) he will go back to being as he was last year - very dependable and unspooky (she wants to go back to basics with me and him with the groundwork and I don't intend to ride alone until he is back as he was). That aside as you know I have been really worried about his management - oh, don't know if I mentioned his bottom lip under his tongue is ulcerated, as is one of the other horses. Today when I said it was probably the buttercups (he's eating them because as soon as he is out he is gorging everything and anything) the yard manager said "can't do anything about that". Great. Let my horse have an ulcerated mouth then. So all in all, although I really don't want to unsettle him by moving him again I think I have no choice and gut instinct is that this new place is ideal. I have to give a month's notice, but may cut my losses and move him after a couple of weeks. Would you insist on him being put on a lower pasture field with not so many buttercups? Thanks everyone as well - you've made it easier for me to decide on the move.

[Pickles]

Sounds like you're right to try to move him, and 24 7 turnout may suit him.

I often ride/handle my horse on my own, I always have my mobile on me and if I'm going hacking I tell someone where I'm going. It's nice to just wonder about on your own in the field etc, very peaceful.

[Moomin]

Move move move!

They sound like loonies and you'll only worry yourself sick in the long run if you think they're not looking after your horse properly.

Buttercups can increase sensitivity to the sun.