Q My vet has just confirmed that my 12.2 Welsh X pony is suffering from Laminitis. He is now on box rest but I have no idea what to feed him to help him lose weight

Answers
Laminitis can affect any breed of horse or pony and it should always be treated as an emergency. The pain that horses and ponies can suffer as a result of Laminitis can be unbearable and they can die as a result of the associated toxaemia. It is important to call your vet as soon as Laminitis is suspected. Inappropriate feeding and management both commonly contribute to the development of Laminitis. It therefore follows that many cases of Laminitis could be avoided with careful feeding and appropriate management. Contrary to popular belief, Laminitis is not caused by feeding excess protein. Recent research has suggested that specific grass sugars (fructans) may play an important role in triggering Laminitis. Also, feeding excessive amounts of cereal (which contains high levels of starch) has been shown to overload the digestive system and stress it sufficiently to alter the balance of microflora in the hindgut, which may in turn lead to Laminitis.

It is important that you do not starve your pony, as this can lead to other serious complications such as colic or hyperlipeamia. Therefore weight loss needs to be gradual. Horses are designed to be trickle feeders, so need plenty of fibre throughout the day and night, they should have 2 % of bodyweight per day. For example your 12.2hh pony probably weighs approximately 280Kg, so would require about 5 - 6 Kg's total per 24 hours.

Ideally your horse's daily feed should be high in digestible fibre, but low in sugars and starch (cereal). Unfortunately this means that ideally you should avoid coarse mixes and most cubes. For example an overweight horse could be fed on just late cut hay and Dengie Hi-Fi Lite. If you only have access to early cut hay or haylage then you may wish to consider using Hi-Fi Lite as a full or partial hay replacer on a weight-for-weight basis. It is also important to ensure that your pony is still getting adequate vitamins and minerals by adding a high spec, broad-spectrum supplement like Dengie Optimum.