I know you are no vet,,,,,but I need for you to be

[CharmedMinis]

If you really think she is tying up, which sounds to me like she is..........

Try putting her on a super high dose of Vitamin E (2500 IU/day), you can't give too much as she will just pee out the excess.

There is also a supplement called Tie Free here is the link, Peak Performance Tie Free

 

[wpsellwood]

This is what we what we feed our racehorses dailey when we would have one with tying up problems

Su-Per® E-SE POWDER here is the link http://www.gp-equine.com/feed.html of course check with your vet as I definately am not a vet and dont claim to be.

 

[Mercysmom]

In draft horses, there is a condition called Equine Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy - 50% of draft horses and draft crosses cannot process carbs and the condition is diagnosed by a muscle biopsy. It is not limited to draft horses, however.

I'm pulling at a straw here but our Freedom would not put on weight or muscle as a yearling until I tried the same diet Libby was on, on her. It made a big difference until she matured and then she started getting fat so we had to back off of the fat and she is on a lite feed now.

www.ruralheritage.com has Dr. Beth Valentine's articles on the condition (she designed the diets with another veterinarian) and the different diets and I spoke with her when Libby died to see if we did something wrong as our vet was baffled why a 7 year old draft mare on an EPSM diet under no stress would contract anterior enteritis (she felt it was due to the fact Libby was neglected for so long prior to her being seized by the authorities from the person who abused her).

Maybe consult with your veterinarians to see if this diet may help with your minis....

Denise

Silversong Farm

 

[Marty]

Carolyn, I think you may have more than one thing going on

part of this sounds like what us old fok calls Monday Morning Azuria such as Rabbit suggested. I've seen this a million times in quarter horses.

Also what about plain old arthritis ?

Could be bursitis, seismoiditis, any one of the "itis" brothers

Hey, you said you were buried in wet and rain, and cold, right? Makes sense to me.

Last but not least, she could have gotten herself cast and uncast and strained something, or hurt by another horse.

I'm thinking equine chiropractic, acupuncture........something like that.

Maybe X rays are in order.

 

[Just Us N Texas]

Jane, thank goodness for old codgers like us on this board. Most people have never heard of Azoturia, because I don't think it is considered a modern day illness. It not only affected TB's, hunters and etc., but also work horses. With the work horses, according to my "old" , trusted and most revered veterinarian of long ago happened because the farmers fed corn to the horses all the time. (High protein ) On weekends, when the horses were rested, they would stiffen, have a hard time walking, or moving, and it would be noticed on Monday morning when put back into service, thus the name Monday Morning sickness came into being.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

And Potatoes- work horses were fed "chats" potatoes- it was fine if they were being worked hard as they processed them OK but at w/ends they had to lay off the tatties and just give hay or they were in trouble come Monday morning- I had forgotten the Draught horses!!

Brain is getting tired, you know!

I would leave her off the hard feed for longer than four days- I would not put her back on it again for a couple of weeks if she improves.

I did not mention, sorry, that it is imperative to keep her warm- a good, warm blanket and a quiet life- we were instructed to cover all windows and keep them in the dark but I am not sure about that- I am pretty sure that would stress a horse more than just being quietly with it's friends, surely??

Just remember that a lot of horses actually do manage without any feed at all- just good hay or grass- for example mine, all summer!!

Honestly, no supplements no feed nothing, just ad lib grass, and a good hay would be as good as that.

Is there a reason she has to have feed (apart form vitamins etc- although mine do not get those either and they are not dead yet

)- I do , obviously, feed the horses that are being shown, but not yet, not for another month, in fact, they are all just on their ordinary diet of grass and bulk feed at the moment.

I am NOT criticising here BUT I honestly do think we make a lot of the problems and overfeeding - I do not mean grass and hay here- seems to be one of the prime causes of the problems I see on this board.

 

[ChrystalPaths]

Caro...a picture may help some of us.

 

[bevann]

Have you considerd a reading by Bonnie?She has been right on the money with several of my horses.She just pointed out areas to have the vet check and when they did, there was the problem.good luck&keep us posted.

 

[Mercysmom]

And Potatoes- work horses were fed "chats" potatoes- it was fine if they were being worked hard as they processed them OK but at w/ends they had to lay off the tatties and just give hay or they were in trouble come Monday morning- I had forgotten the Draught horses!!

Brain is getting tired, you know!

I know I can't process the tatties with my type one, insulin dependent diabetes...and never could, despite my Irish mum trying to pump them into me at every meal!

:

Dr. Valentine's websites were mentioned to me from a fellow draft person and it was a Godsend for Libby and Freedom.

:

My old farrier (an old timer) said he remembered days where draft horses got 2 ears of corn and a helluva lot of hay for a meal. :bgrin

Since we have had colic problems in the past, a change to our wet, high fiber, low carb diet seems to be helping our somewhat sedentary crew (although things will change as the weather warms up!).

Denise

Silversong Farm

 

[h2t99]

I agree on the draft horse theory, we had a couple of belgians and one had the tying up problem and was exactly like you are describing. We followed the rural heirtage suggestions and added corn oil to our feed. We no longer have the drafts but I still use the oil because of the benefits it gives all of our horses!!

: Good Luck with her!!

 

[kaykay]

jayne i agree. One of my first vets told me that people feed way too much grain to horses, because it makes US feel good not because its good for horses (he was speaking in particular about sweet feed) He went on to say that idle mature horses that are not working or under stress just need good hay and or pasture. This is what their bodies were made to digest.

Because I do not have a huge pasture to graze them in I do feel strongly about supplementing young growing horses with complete feed

 

[HGFarm]

Here's a link to the Azoturia- we used to hear it called Monday Morning Sickness.....

http://www.equine-world.co.uk/horses_care/azoturia.htm

 

[Frankie]

Thanks so much for all your thoughts and ideas.

I do agree with Jane,,,,,sometimes your gut knows best.

I have spoke with Bonnie,,,,,,,she has saved us more than once.

She had a much better day today. Kept her stalled last night, way less grain, kept her warm, added electrolytes,,,,,,,has good consumption of water.

Took her for a walk this afternoon, much more steady on her feet. So if she improves again tomorrow, will add more minutes to the walk. She will get the same grain tomorrow, and then the next day we will cut it again. Just trying to do it slowly so she has no added stress. She acted especially better in the front end.

When I took her back up to the barn, she got a full body message,,,,,,,,,and she seemed to enjoy it. Pushing on me, turning her body to me so I got to the right spot.

thanks again to all

 

[nassaunellie]

Please keep us posted on her progress! It sounds like you're on to something that will work.

My fingers are crossed.

Wendy

 

[Margaret]

I did have a mini mare that was cresty at one point and looked overweight, and showed the tender feet syndrome one morning. It was as if she did not want to take a step, as the pain was too much.

She was on pasture and I assumed that she was starting to founder, although I could not detect any significant heat in her hoof area.

Feeling desperate for answers, I treated her for founder, only giving small portions of grass hay, and doing cool foot soaks frequently, for the first few days. She regained her sound footing about a week later.

A month or two later, the vets came out and inspected her, and found no visible symptoms of any founder.

I realized that this had to be caused by a overload of nutrients, and questioned the children in my family about giving extra treats.

Sure enough, one or more of my kids was sneaking extra portions of black oil sunflower seeds, and other types of suppliments to this mare durring the time of the problem.

After judging her condition, the vets told me to put her on a "burmuda grass hay only diet", and to measure her portions to encourage weight loss. It took around a year, but she did take it off, and looked great.

We dont use suppliments around here anymore, unless it is for pregnancy, as mine stay healthy year round basically on grass hay, and a 12-12 mineral block, with a seperate salt lick.

Its so easy to feel like more is better, but really I have found that less suppliments is best for mine.

 

[Frankie]

Thought I'd update and let you know she is better yet this morning.

Much more steady on her feet and even displayed a little bit of attitude! She is being stalled at night, after the rest had finished their grain I let her out, and she was ready to go. No thinking about which foot to put forward,,,,,,,she was just out of there!

 

[ChrystalPaths]

Good that Bonnie could help.