Just want to thank you all for keeping this informative list going and ask for some input. On Monday, Safi my 7yr old gelding, was diagnosed with "MILD, mechanical laminitis" which means it was NOT caused by food or grain. But rather, his physical condition, A week ago we had a great ride with some big horses, we'd just lay back and let them get ahead then run to catch up. He was jumpin' creeks. He was full of it and having a blast. He got symptomatic on Sun. 29th. The day after our ride, I noticed he was stiff and assumed it was muscular. He started to improve by mid week, then on the following Sunday he got worse instead of better. I called the vet. She said it was a combination of him being overweight his feet were too long the hard ride we took last week. She said it will reverse itself with time, rest, meds and a new "natural" trim. I fixed a stall for him with a small run out with 4" of sand to cushion his feet and keep `em cool. (it took over 3 tons!) Had his feet trimmed by a certified "natural balance" Ferrier He's on 1 gram of Bute and two doses of ACE P---- (some other med to help his circulation) daily. And a SERIOUS diet. No treats, no carrots, no supplements and ½ of his regular ration of hay This is supposed to go on for 2 weeks. The vet plans to come out in one week to check him out. He's doing so much better already. After just a couple hours on the sand he started walking better and after the trim he was better yet. You can imagine how awful I feel. The long toes is what really surprised me, He was just trimmed April 11th I check his feet regularly and never noticed anything. I'm sure they didn't look long when I road last Sat. (just 2 ½ weeks after the trim). I wonder if the condition didn't cause them to grow out, or the wet weather we've had this past week. My questions to you all are; I'm obviously not looking at his feet objectively. The new farrier took off ¼ to ½" of toe. Any recommendations on where I can get info on "natural balance" trimming. The diet thing is hurting me more than him. I thought (and so did my riding buddies) that he looked better than ever. It seems he lost some "baby fat" he's not so big around the barrel as he's been in the past. BUT the vet showed me how to check weight by observing "fat pads" he's got `em on his crest, has love handles in the girth & sheath area and he has butt cheeks! I'm committed to his weight loss but are there any low cal treats I can give him? What about supplements, he had been getting "born to win" for the vitamins and minerals what are my options now? He's confined, he's bored, he doesn't have much of a play drive, I've put in several play toys but he's not interested. Any ideas? I've got a call into the vet. I'm not in full agreement of "complete" confinement. As I said he did much better after a few hours on the sand and the new trim. I think (and the new farrier agrees) that he would really benefit from some walking. Any input on that? Thanks for letting me vent. I've already found a lot of info just by searching the archives. Anything would be appreciated.
Janine n- Safi Berthoud, CO
