End of the Road Farm

11/12/2025

During Opal's grooming session, Ranger acts as a great table. Mini horses serve a vital role here at the farm.

11/12/2025

11/09/2025

Or a few goats???

11/04/2025

COLD-INDUCED LAMINITIS

Why winter discomfort can be every bit as serious — even when X-rays look fine

Every winter, someone says: “It can’t be laminitis — the grass is gone.”
Yet horses go pottery overnight, reluctant to turn on frozen ground, or stand shifting weight from foot to foot. Sometimes they’re mildly uncomfortable; sometimes they can hardly move. This is what we call cold-induced laminitis — and it can hurt every bit as much as the summer kind.

When the temperature drops, blood vessels in the hoof constrict to preserve core warmth. In healthy horses, that constriction reverses easily. In those with Equine Metabolic Syndrome, PPID, or a past laminitis history, circulation may already be fragile. The cold adds another layer of stress: perfusion falters, laminar tissues run short on oxygen and glucose, and the result is real pain — sometimes crippling pain — even if no structural damage occurs.

WHAT’S DIFFERENT FROM “WINTER LAMINITIS”

Cold-induced laminitis = pain and inflammation caused by poor hoof perfusion during cold snaps; may or may not involve lamellar separation.

Winter laminitis = true laminitis triggered by insulin dysregulation or sugary frosts; a metabolic event that can cause structural failure.

Both need attention, but the mechanisms differ — vascular versus endocrine.

SIGNS TO WATCH

Sudden stiffness or pottery movement after a frost

Difficulty turning, weight-shifting stance

Cool feet, inconsistent digital pulse

Improvement when warmed, or worsening during prolonged cold

Don’t dismiss it as “just the ground.” Severe cold-induced laminitis can floor a horse.

MANAGEMENT & PREVENTION

1. Warmth matters: rug appropriately, provide shelter, and keep bedding deep and dry.

2. Protect the feet: avoid frozen or rutted ground; consider hoof boots or pads for insulation and shock absorption.

3. Keep them moving: gentle, regular movement supports circulation.

4. Monitor metabolic status: EMS and PPID control are year-round priorities.

5. Treat early: if a horse shows pain, assume laminar stress until your vet says otherwise.

TAKEAWAY

Cold-induced laminitis is not a “mild winter version.” It’s a different physiological route to the same suffering. Some horses recover as soon as the weather softens; others need full clinical support. The difference lies in how vulnerable the system already is.

So when frost bites and a horse goes pottery, don’t argue over terminology — act. Warm them, protect them, and call your vet.

10/26/2025

She had to stop eating her breakfast to roll in her new shavings. 😂

10/22/2025

Great hay!!

Hay's In The Barn‼️ Great year in all our fields...would even have taken a 4th Cut if we had not voluntarily stopped irrigation in late August to help salmon move up the Nicola River for the 1st time since the catastrophic flood of Nov. 2021 Plenty of LOW SUGAR horse hay for those that require; ALL DRY alfalfa- orchard, brome, timothy grass mix; 4x5' Rounds or Sm.Squares approx 70lbs
Hay Tests and messaging at website: Clappertonranch.com phone: Alan or Chris 250-315-2447

09/23/2025

Fabio Jr is in great spirits this am. You can see his breath due to the fall morning temperatures.

09/21/2025

So true.

So true ❤️