Could your horse or pony be prone to laminitis?
March 2007
It’s misleading to believe that only good doers and native-types can be prone to laminitis. Any horse or pony can be susceptible. Pasture, especially during the spring and autumn flushes of grass, can cause laminitis and excess starch contained in cereals can also put your horse or pony at risk.
Research recommends a high fibre diet with low levels of starch, sugar and fructans, and a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals. The Laminitis Trust recommends SPILLERS HAPPY HOOF® as suitable for the nutritional management of horses and ponies prone to laminitis. SPILLERS HAPPY HOOF® is actually the only complete chopped fibre feed to be approved by the Laminitis Trust.
SPILLERS HAPPY HOOF® is a low calorie short chopped forage which be used as a complete feed and is designed to extend eating time. It has low levels of starch and sugar (especially fructose) and is proven to produce a low glycaemic response. The addition of magnesium helps to maintain a healthy metabolism.
It contains a palatable blend of dried alfalfa, straw and grass with mint, garlic and soya oil and is formulated with added Biotin, Calcium, Zinc and Copper to support healthy hoof growth. SPILLERS HAPPY HOOF® is also enriched with a high specification of vitamins and minerals, including the key antioxidants vitamin E and Selenium, which may support the lamellae tissue.
If you think your horse or pony could be prone to laminitis, be safe and feed SPILLERS HAPPY HOOF®. Look out for the new dark green SPILLERS HAPPY HOOF® bales available from your local feed merchant.
If you would like to discuss your horse’s diet telephone the SPILLERS® Care-Line on + 44 (0)1908 226626 or send an email to careline@spillers-feeds.com. For further information visit the SPILLERS® website at www.spillers-feeds.com
Note to editors
âSPILLERS is a registered trademark.
Further information from: Bright Bay PR, telephone 01986 784562 or 07768 9958911
Case study
Linda Burniston was so amazed with the results of feeding SPILLERS HAPPY HOOF® to her laminitic pony Weydown Earlybird (Wurly) that she felt compelled to write:
“Wurly suffered two severe bouts of laminitis during the summer and autumn of 2005. Despite prompt veterinary attention and a very careful management regime she continued to deteriorate to the point that she couldn’t bear to walk out of her stable. The vets carried out further tests and she was found to have a glucose intolerance. Our hay was analysed, revealing a high sugar content of 18% and it was recommended that we should feed SPILLERS HAPPY HOOF® as a complete feed instead. By June her coat shone and her feet were great, she went to her first show and won. I would not have believed that you can turn out a pony looking so good on what most of us think of as just chaff. I am happy for Wurly’s story to be publicised in the hope that it will give help to others.”
Linda Burniston, December 2006.
View more items