Help, Apophysis just found in my 11 Month old!

Originally Posted by trailhorserider    

I thought the modern theory is that epiphysitis is caused by a nutritional imbalance, not excess calories or protein as previously thought. (Try Googling it). I know I did some research on it one time because I am raising my first foal.

I'm not so sure a vitamin/mineral supplement wouldn't be a good idea. Nothing major, just something to make sure he isn't lacking any vital nutrients. I've been giving my guy ShoGlo by Manna Pro. Not the most expensive thing in world and it can be bought at Walmart. I put a couple scoops into 1/2 a small coffee can of Purina Strategy or oats.

My guy has always been big, from the time he was born, and knock on wood, no epiphysitis issues and he is almost 2 years old now.

I used to feed about a 50/50 mix of alfalfa/bermuda hay, but unfortunately my feed store went out of business so I am feeding straight alfalfa. No pasture grass because we don't have any. I think a 50/50 grass/alfalfa mix is pretty close to ideal.

You might want to make sure he at least has some grass hay in front of him most of the time so he has something to chew on. Otherwise they can take to eating dirt.

Originally Posted by samg4813    

So I bought a rescue off a feed lot, knowing that its risky buying a horse with no history I know of and all that. Which was fine I wouldnt be shocked if something was wrong, kind of. Anyway I got him when he was 7 months had a vet check as healthy as could be. So we have him on a grass pasture with three other gelding right now. He gets 1 scoop of stable miz pellets a day, and a flake of grass hay a day. He has never been in a stall of night let alone been in one for more than an hour. We use clinton anderson methods at our ranch. I do some light round pen work with him, pressure, and desesitizing for now. The farrier came out to trim his feet for the first time today, he did AMAZING. But there farrier looks at me and says he has apophysis. I was like what the He** is that?! He told.. anyway his knees are swollen and his pasterns too. I had no idea.. She said it will stunt his growth and all this other scary stuff. But she said I could help and so I took him off the grass pasture put him in the dirt lot were I will continue to feed normal. My trainer said to give him grow colt but the farrier said no supplements and to just do lots of trotting work with him. I will get a second opinion from the vet but so far I have heard keep him in a big open area and don't let him in a stall. Any opinions will work, please help!! I put a picture from today you can kind of see his knees.. ( I think I put a photo at least)

Originally Posted by Cat    

I would hold off until you talk to your vet as well. I had a farrier try to tell me one of my horses we had several years back had "swollen knees" as he called it - my vet said he was full of it.