reducing neck/crest

[stravellerandprincess]

And please before anyone tells me to diet it really is not an overweight pony ! He is very cresty and thick in throat area (sec a) and wondered what if anything I can do to reduce this , crest is very hard and thick. Pony has had lami and is recovering, however it was not diet induced (raised acht) which is being managed so obviously any suggestions would need tobe safe for him, but there are occasions when his little neck seems so tight it can't be comfortable, besides the cosmetic appearance. My vet tells me not to worry so would appreciate some advice :-) thanks

[Em5]

My pony was same as yours, we tested him ems and was negative. He had very mild concussion lami at the end of November. He wasn't over weight, but since reducing his weight further, working him more and only soaked hay, top spec anti lam and top chop lite, and turn out in paddock with little grass his neck has reduced and soft.

[stravellerandprincess]

There is no way I could reduce his weight further :-( he would be an rspca case ! He is on fast fibre, happy hoof and hay/high fibre horsehage mix as he desperately needs weight gain, feel like I am stuck between the rock and hard place as can't do right for doing wrong !! X

[Em5]

Check the sugar content on happy good as although its ok'd by the laminitis trust it apparently has high sugar content for a laminitis (from several threads on here).

My ponies used to go up if he'd been out longer on grass or if he'd got into the long grass. I think it can just be the way they are built as well sometimes. Must be difficult needing to gain weight on a laminitic :-( . Does his neck change with work?

[GinaGeo]

Is he on the required medication either prascend or metformin depending on whether the high ACHT count was due to Cushings or EMS? If so, and there's been no change in his crest I'd be looking at blood counting again to check all is as it should be and the dosage doesn't need increasing.

I would ditto the removal of Happy Hoof from the diet and would suggest feeding a good balancer with increased Magnesium levels. I'd suggest something like Equimins Meta Balance which has been designed specifically for horse's with Metabolic issues. You have to speak to Equmins direct though over the telephone to order it, the service is very good and postage in my experience is very prompt

Regarding weight gain, Micronised Linseed is safe for laminitic's as it's very Low starch <3.70% and doesn't contain sugar. Fenugreek would also be an option and I've seen some very positive results since I started to use it.

[stravellerandprincess]

Yes he is on prascend to reduce levels but not seeing a great change in neck! Bloods were run 2 weeks ago where his acht levels were raised but not dramatic so he is on one everyother. All other bloods were normal!. I have started soaking hay, cut out happy hoof and replaced with hi fi light also started on a product called freestep super fix, which has been raved about and designed especially for reducing cresty neck in lamanitics as well as helping to control the symptoms :-) will let you know how it goes!! Hi fi now do a molasses free with soya oil and fenugreek but need to get his symptoms under control then worry about condition later I think. Thanks for the advice x

[Em5]

Keep us posted how you get on :-)

[gillwales]

put a hood on with a plastic bag next to him to sweat it off over night, not very comfortable I know but should do the trick, or 2 hoods with the plastic inbetween

good luck

[09rebel99]

Other than that maybe speak to simple systems about their metaslim. It is suppose to reduce fat pockets/cresty necks I think :-)

[mini]

I dont normally post on here so please dont think im butting in... There not fat pockets its called adipose tissue when a pony insulin rises the adipose tissue swells and this is when u get the " fat neck and bottoms" Freestep Superfix are researching this and have some very helpfull information re this subject www.freestepsuperfix.co.uk