Feed, Hay & Feet

I had my hay analyzed in August. I had bought my entire supply for the year off the same field. It was cut on the property I board at. I figured that it would be good to know what they are eating. When I got the results, I didn’t know quite what to do with it. It started putting the values in a spreadsheet, with the idea of adding in the rest of what I feed and seeing how it all stacked up. I only got so far before other priorities came up and I never finished.

Last night, I took Lily down to the indoor to ride. Rain was pounding on the roof, like thunder. We were snug and dry inside the lighted arena, while the storm raged outside. I check Lily all over without her sheet. I hadn’t done a ‘hand grooming’ session for a couple of weeks. I like to do this regularly. I run my hands all over, massaging and finding any lumps, bumps or other issues. She did have some scabby spots around her rump and flanks. This seemed odd, as she’s been wearing her rain sheet. She couldn’t have gotten scratched or have rain rot, so they must be sores from something else. She used to get oozy spots on her crest years ago. Those went away when I started feeding flax. She’s been getting it ever since. That was 3 years ago. These spots looked like that. The other thing I noticed was that her saddle area on either side of her spine was hard and unyielding.

When I asked her to walk off after massaging her, she did not want to move. When she did, she was lame. At a trot, most definitely. Rats! I checked her legs and feet. The left front coronet was pretty warm; the right less so. I immediately though founder (laminitis). Without access to the net to do some quick research, I decided to cold hose her feet, give her some bute and put her in a stall for the night. I wrote a long note on the white board and gave her some hay. I also bedded her stall pretty well in shavings.

Then I headed back to my horse’s paddock area. I have all my hay and feed up there. It’s away from the main barn. I looked over my feeds and the week’s worth of supplements I had set up. I found some beet pulp without molasses and put it aside for Lily. Then I redid all her supplements to only flax and Equery vitamins, both at half what she’s been getting.

I suspect that the cold snap and substituting Equis Senior for their regular BP is the main culprit. Though I do think that this has been building for a while. when I look back at photos I’ve taken and remember her attitude, it’s apparent that she was not quite right. I thought that she was just tired of the cold and wet and not getting much time with me. I’m not thinking this way to second guess myself, but more to learn what might have added to this happening.

Since it is Christmas, I’m not going to call the vet today. I will follow up when the office is open. I’ll consider x-rays and blood work for a more definitive diagnosis. I’ve also joined the yahoogroup on Equine Cushings and am in a steep learning curve reading up on diet. Members there have already been a huge help. My biggest frustration is having an hour round trip drive to the barn. I can’t just pop out and see how she’s doing. It’s a push sometimes to get there every day. I’ll have to do that now that she is in a stall, just to clean. With her in her paddock/shelter, I could manage 4 days a week and it was just fine.

I also have two tons of timothy (also local) saved for the last couple of months of Lily’s pregnancy. I’ll have to send that for testing too.

Today, Lily was better. She was not lame trotting. I turned her out in her paddock and let Cirro in with her. Cirro wasn’t too sure about being allowed in with boss mare, Lily. Once he was there, he had a great time running and bucking, showing some bravado. I figure that he will help keep Lily moving. She is definitely lead mare and pushed him around some.

I had a nice talk with the barn owner today. Lily will be staying in a stall with turnout in her old paddock. I removed the divider in the shelter and the electric cross fencing, so it is back to one paddock instead of two. Cirro will have almost an acre 24/7 with Lily visiting during the day.

Any spare healing vibes for Lily are welcome. I am also happy for any advice on laminitis for me.

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