Fw: early nutrition for future distance horses

["Sullivan's" <greymare@jps.net>]

>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Carolyn Burgess <carolyn_burgess@hotmail.com>
>
> > Michelle:
> >
> > Can't help on the feed question, but can on the ponying.  > Start
slowly,
> based on the age.  I wouldn't start before they were a year
> > old.  Start by ponying at a walk for short distances, let the horse set
> the
> > pace.  When they have some conditioning, lenghten the distance, still
> > letting them set the pace (slower is better).  Then once they are
> > comfortably at 10 - 12 miles, start raising the pace (but not beyond a
> light
> > trot) until they have the minimum of 1000 hours.  If you start this as a
> > yearling, they should be ready to start light saddle work at 2.  As with
> all
> > training programs, you should be consulting your vet to make sure that
> there
> > aren't any specific issues with your horse.  I'm sure there are others
out
> > there who will add to this.  Good luck with your new baby.
> >
> > Carolyn Burgess
> > carolyn_burgess@hotmail.com
> >
>
> Hi Carolyn and Michelle,
>
> I bought a weanling fall of 99, with the idea of a future distance horse.
> Aside from getting all the info I could here, I talked to my vet about a
> good feeding and conditoning program.  My vet was pretty adamant about not
> feeding too much alfalfa; said grass hay was adequate, and about half the
> reccomended ration of foal pellets.  My filly grew very fast (14.2 at a
> year), so I was worried about joints and didn't want to push growth.  I
> didn't see any problem with beetpulp mashes, with the foal pellets added
in;
> in cold weather.  I feed a variety of alfalfa, oat and grass hays, beet
pulp
> and a little bran.
>
> Carolyn, I am not sure why you think to wait until the first year for any
> kind of conditioning, although I see what I have done as more of ex
ercise.
> Didn't we see, several weeks ago, a study that showed the first 6 months
> were the most important for exercise and running in babies?  Since so many
> these days are paddock raised and just stand around, the exercise is even
> more important.  My baby was lucky to have pasture turnout with other
foals.
> When I got her home, I buddied her up with an older, kind mare and gave
them
> turnout.  I only have 3 or 4 acre pastures, and she  really didn't run
that
> much.
>
> My vet encouraged me to exercise her DAILY.  I started at about age 6
months
> hauling her out in the triailer and doing short trail rides, not daily,
but
> at least every other day.  I started only 20 minutes flat, and gradually
> worked up to rough terrain, hills, and always ambling along on the mare,
> with the baby running LOOSE.  I feel strongly this helps a trail horse
learn
> how to negotiate obstacles by themselves and also learn to think.  If you
> always pony then, they are learning to always stay next to a buddy, and
can
> become fearful if left behind or asked to go first!!  When loose, they
> graudally learn it is okay to hang back and graze, then run to catch up,
or
> venture in front as they develop confidence.  Anyway, taking them out the
> first year and getting some exercise and strength is what the body of the
> horse is designed to do in a natural state!!
> If they run loose, they learn to make mistakes, such as going too fast
down
> hill and having to skid to a stop on the edge of a bank, and handle their
> feet and bodies.  They are better balanced and surefooted when you start
to
> ride them!
>
> On the other hand, I feel it is not good to overdo it, and having worked
up
> to an hour to two trail rides, I feel no need to
> PUSH this until my filly is 3 as I really don't want to overly stress
> growing joints too much!!  I don't think a true CONDITIONING  program
should
> begin until somewhere in the third year or even four.  This is also
> supported by Dr Nancy Lovings book where she says to wait until the 4th
year
> to start much conditioning.
>
> I do believe ponying is important, especially as they get older, because
> they learn to lead nicely, and can be taught voice commands before being
> ridden.  My baby has carried a very light saddle, and is used to all sorts
> of noisy things being hung fron it.  Another very important thing I
observed
> from letting youngsters run LOOSE and follow, is that they will, on thier
> own, investigate puddles at an early age, and learn to drink on the trail!
>
> I also tend to disagree with much riding at age 2-the growth plates in the
> legs probably won't be closed, and the back definately not mature enough
to
> ride, EVEN if the baby is big.  I do think, sometime in this second year,
> with my filly, we will slip on and off her back briefly, and perhaps learn
> some basic cues, but nothing over 5 minutes!  She is currently about 15
> hands and very husky, at age 20 mos.  But I will talk to my vet about it
> first!
>
> I think this next year (year of age two), we will just keep doing the
trail
> rides, but nothing too extreme or long.  I can't see going more than 10
> miles, but we can sure fine different terrains to go on.  I need to
> concentrate more on ground work, since she is getting a bit full of
herself
> lately, and is BIG!  But, at age 20 mos, she ties reliably, leads, picks
up
> her feet, hauls great in trailers, carries a saddle and pretty much does
> what I ask.
>
> I'm sure if I was a serious competitor I would push the conditioning more,
> but I am much more concened in longevity than competing.  My intent is to
> have her confident and relaxed in a trail environment, when I start riding
> her.
>
> I do remember asking the Waltenspiels about starting their youngsters.
They
> are broke to ride at age 3 and a half, as I remember, then turned back out
> unitl age 5, when the serious riding and conditioning starts.
>
> Karen
>