Re: RC: Feeding Babies

[Dbeverly4@aol.com]

In a message dated 10/23/00 12:51:43 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
celestem@badgermining.co.za writes:

<< My question is,
 should I worry about this and increase her food or should I not worry as she
 is growing so fast, her half sister is as round as a barrel on the same
 amount of ration. I don't want to overstress her sytem (considering we want 
>>

I'm having the same problem with my 2 year old.  He is just shy of 16 hands 
right now (purebred Arab -- must be some kind of mutant thing)  Anyway, I 
have a hard time keeping weight on him too.  I really don't want to increase 
his grain and supplement ration because I'm worried about causing joint 
problems.   I did the Panacur 5 day purge on him and that did seem to help.  
Currently, I'm free feeding grass hay in addition to forage and alfalfa 
rations, Purina Complete Advantage and an extruded pellet that all my horses 
get.  He seems to be getting a bit more fat cover on him since I added the 
free feeding of grass hay (he's always been free fed forage, but seems to eat 
more of the grass hay).  I'll be interested in what others have done with 
this type of horse.  I think you're right (that means I agree with you :) 
when they're tall, the growth pattern seems to make them more on the lean 
side, at least early on.  One thing that might make you feel better -- even 
though my baby has been lean all his life, it sure didn't stunt his growth!

Sylvia (I like FAT horses!!)