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Funny i was just reading  the articles at   "safergrass.org" yesterday. --- 
And other things on founder and laminitis after my  hoof clinic. A hard 
cresty neck are not normal-- a sign of insulin resistance. ie  sort of type 
II diaebetes. (Stallinons are an exceptions but it is different  kind of 
crestiness)--look also for fat pads  above the eyes  and other unusual 
places,....
  I personally know of 2 horses that were that way, overfed for years then 
became Cushings....
Unfortunately one was a trainer who told me to keep my horses fat 
,especially going into winter...
 On the  grasses, perennial  Rye is one of the highest in sugar--yikes!-- 
Certain  breed s are more prone to insulin resistance, ponies, mini's, 
arabs, morgans, norweigians etc.. those from 'food scarce areas"----
  We get tons of rain here in spring, and last fall thru winter, then 
roughly once a week in summer.Usually . I only have two grass paddocks. I 
try to only let them out a few hous at first, then  alternate them. When the 
grass gets growing,I have to stop feeding my  arabs any beetpulp, pellet mix 
(maybe 3 lbs non working)-- But my tb always has to have  his.
 If the grass is growing, that is when thier hooves grow faster too.

> From: "Karen Sullivan" <greymare56@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [RC]   green grass, founder  and  body shape and condition
> Date: Mon, 23 May 2005 07:45:38 -0700
>
> I keep meaning to ask this, especially this year...
>
> In Northern Calif, we have had unusual and consistent hard weekly rains 
> well into May, which is unusual.  The wildflower display is incredible, and 
> more grass in my pastures than I have ever had.
>
> I have been ultra cautious with moving horses in and out of pastures, so 
> they don't get too much green grass.
> They all adapted gradually to the green as they had access to the back 
> pasture last winter when  grass was emerging;still I have two mares who I 
> feel can only go out several hours.
>
> My pastures are a combo of grass and weedy stuff; never planted and 
> certainly not lush compared to neighbor next door who has planted irrigated 
> grass-mix pasture (rye, fescue, orchard grass)  His pasture is as lush as 
> you can imagine, grass now up to horses bellies.  He has three horses out 
> there full time; all as fat as can be.  One mare, in particular, was once a 
> "normal" and lovely looking Morab; now looks like a gigantic Shetland pony. 
>  Her belly is down to knees; she has 6 year accumulation of fat overall.  
> She is off the top of the body condition scoring scale.  I often watch her 
> move; for the past several years she got so she could barely trot.
>
> I simply cannot understand why these horses do not FOUNDER??!!!  This fat 
> mare has regular shoeing (though hardly ridden), and I know the shoer would 
> pick up any signs of impending laminitis.....
>
> This time of year, I chat with my farrier and hear all kinds of laminitis 
> stories, about people who routinely founder their horses every year when 
> the grass comes up....
>
> Next equestion involves the thick or "founder" neck.  Why do some horses 
> tend to put weight on at the crest of the neck?  I mean, otherwise 
> lean-shaped horses. Another friend has a gelding who has had several minor 
> scares with laminitis (lives on irrigated, green pasture)....so has to be 
> rotated on and off.  Again, all his weight goes onto neck, not over ribs.  
> He currently has visible ribs; still quite heavy neck.....
>
> Another friend has an Arab gelding; pretty lean when she got him last 
> fall.....has had regular exercise all winter and good hay and the sorts of 
> things you give a hard feeder (beet pulp, rice bran, etc)...as he was a bit 
> ribby when she got him, pointy hipbones, prominent spine....while he gained 
> weight GRADUALLY over the winter, and overall looks better, some months ago 
> he started to develop that cresty neck...while still almost 
> ribby.....again, the question is, is that just this horse's particular 
> physiology, or does that maybe indicate a prior bout with laminitis???  His 
> access to green grass is only hand grazing
>
> Are some horses more prone to put weight on the neck...and are those more 
> likely to founder?
>
> Then again, this is California.....all non-irrigated pastures dry out by 
> end of may (I waiting for my front field to dry up so I can put the horses 
> out there, right now it is too green) but, how the heck do folks in other 
> parts of the country manage their horses, in areas where there is more 
> consistent rainfall and pastures stay green all year?
>
> Karen



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