advice needed please

[bumpsoon]

sorry this is long and we have the vet coming out tomorrow so its just a case of has anyone any ideas what may be wrong.
In may our horse developed laminitis ,we caught it really quickly ,box rest etc and he was fine ,not overly happy with his restricted grazing but fine . At the beginning of november we had the blacksmith out to take his shoes off for the winter ,which we do every year as dont have time to ride very often and shoes churn the field up . he was really foot sore after the shoes came off and we felt that the blacksmith had filed his feet really short ,we gave him bute but two weeks later he was still hobbling about so we asked for the shoes to be put back on . Since then he has been on and off bute and since the snow cleared and he has been back in the field he is really stiff ,walking like he has laminitis ,not leaning back off his front feet ,but stiff and turning awkwardly . We have brought him in again for box rest and he has hay , just chop as his morning feed ,he has lost some much needed weight ,which is good .
So what do you all think ? could it be laminitis again or has anyone any other ideas ?

[Santassnowyoldclothcatpuss]

It could very likely be laminitis. It can occur at any time of year, and in fact the frost can be a big trigger. Apparently freezing changes the molecular structure and sugar content of the grass. (disclaimer: I'm no vet but this is what I've been told by vets in the past) one of my shetlands is recovering from laminitis which ahe came down with just after the first frost hit.
I'd say it probably isn't to do with a short hoof trim, as it's still going on. I would be tempted to call the vet in again, when mine went down, she was given acp. Apparently it helps increase the circulation to the feet.
Also keep an eye on his feet, a friends horse didn't come sound after laminitis, and was found to have a horrible abcess in one foot, from the coronet band to the sole!

[Callisto]

Make sure you get a really good farrier who can do remedial shoeing and shape and balance the foot properly too.

[AlpinePony]

If a horse has been wearing shoes for years then he will be footsore once they come off. The reason being that shoes destroy the blood circulation to the foot and so when the shoes are off and the blood starts to circulate around the hoof again - it hurts, in the same way as if you come in from the cold and your fingers start tingling. If you want to persue barefoot then seek out an EP (Equine Podiatrist) to help - shoes will only "mask" the pain by deadening it - and it's only ever a temporary solution. It's like upping your aspirin dose...

[marge2]

How old is your horse?

[bumpsoon]

my horse is 16 ,its the first time he has ever had laminitis .
We took his shoes off last winter ,with no ill effect and when the blacksmith did his feet after the may incident of laminitis he said that as far as he could tell ,it hadnt effected his feet .
i did wonder about abcess as the field is surrounded by hawthorn hedges and one of the neighbours cuts the hedge bordering his garden and chucks it all into the field .
Apparently he is a bit better today after 24hrs box rest ,the vet is coming tomorrow morning

[Santassnowyoldclothcatpuss]

The trouble we have also had this year is that the grass has only just stopped growing. Usually by November it's pretty much finished. This year it was so mild and damp that it continued to grow, the horses and ponies have had far to good grazing for the time of year.

[bumpsoon]

I dont think it helped that we really fed him way too much last winter ,so he came out into spring a fat horse . I think we really need to get our heads round the fact that he is an exceptionally good doer and could live on fresh air ! no sugar beat for him this winter ,he is back on the happyhoof .

[Santassnowyoldclothcatpuss]

I've only got shetlands and a welsh at the moment, but I work on the principle that they are turned out for the winter to almost fend for themselves.( not literally, I'm still thoroughly involved) they get hay or grass nuts when it's snowy or really frozen, the rest of the time they eat the grass.
In the wild, a horse would use up it's fat reserves during the winter, then start the spring with plenty of room for the new spring grass.
I like mine to run down a little in the winter on that principle. Obviously not skinny or boney, but just the slimmer side of fat, iyswim! I worry about them constantly, and have to refrain from feeding them till they are fat and cuddly, but its for the best. As long as they feel warm,(ears and groin) they are fine. If they are hungry, they will feel cold.

[Santassnowyoldclothcatpuss]

Look up fat scoring. It will help you get the idea of wether he needs feeding. Even when mine are 'skinny' they still score well!

[bumpsoon]

thanks for all your advice ,the vet has been and it is laminitis ,not too bad though ,so he is on box rest and bute and then restricted grazing . Followed by diet and exercise ,no more paddock ornament for him