Ask Clare

SPILLERS ™ registered nutritionist Clare Barfoot answers your feeding questions

The owner: Lucy Simpson The horse: Mo, a 13-year-old Welsh Cob gelding The problem: Mo had a mild bout of laminitis in the autumn

It’s the first time Lucy has known a horse with laminitis and she wants to do everything she can to prevent Mo getting it again. He has always been slightly overweight since Lucy bought him three years ago and on her vet’s advice she’s spent the winter months slimming him down. Mo is now a healthy weight and Lucy rides him six days a week.

Clare says: As spring arrives, it’s great to hear that Lucy is on Mo’s case. The best way to avoid the pain and stress of laminitis is to be prepared. As soon as the fields start getting even slightly greener Mo’s grazing should be restricted. Lucy could try strip grazing or fit a grazing muzzle during turnout, which can reduce grass intake by up to 80%. Overnight she could try a low starch and sugar, fibrebased feed and use it as a partial or total hay replacer. Regular exercise and weight monitoring should also help to reduce the risk of another bout of laminitis.

SPILLERS™ HAPPY HOOF™ is a low calorie, short-chop forage containing all the vitamins and minerals needed for good health. It has been used successfully in important laminitis studies. SPILLERS™ HAPPY HOOF™ Molasses Free is a blend of soft fibres, garlic and rapeseed oil and a high level of biotin (5mg per kg) to support healthy hoof growth. It also contains no added sugar. Both feeds can be used as total or partial hay replacers and are approved by The Laminitis Trust.