Re: Re: I'm Buying My First Endurance Horse

["mmieske" <mmieske@netonecom.net>]

EATING....I realized the importance of that after the gelding I started with
would hardly eat anything at holds and hated to stop long enough to take a
drink.  Made me CRAZY.  Malik is totally different...though we had trouble
keeping weight on him his first season, I suspect part of that was also that
he was growing and is a stallion.  He has settled down a lot going into his
6th year and when I got him out to ride two days ago, I had to let out his
cinch several holes!  I was delighted with that.  And now having a horse
that will ASK to stop and eat grass (ok, sometimes he doesn't ask politely)
and wants to drink everything in sight and will eat his beet pulp mash plus
his buddy's if we let him (actually, they will both eat better if we combine
the two rations and let them eat with both their heads in the
tub)....anyway, I must say, life is much easier and less nerve wracking
riding a horse willing to eat and drink.  It didn't happen overnight and I
do believe he "learned" that behavior...we practiced pit stops and vet
checks at home...but definitely a top priority!
Maggie