Re: Rolled vs Crimped vs Hulless (Naked) vs Re-cleaned OATS

["Susan Garlinghouse" <suendavid@worldnet.att.net>]

Still catching up with email, so I'm a bit behind on this one.  My guess is that the methamine is causing the poor appetite---it's very bitter and so tends to put them off the whole idea of eating.  I think the ration itself is pretty much okay, though if your vet suggested that dietary vinegar will help with bladder problems...well, it won't.  You can't acidify the urine with feeding something acidic, doesn't work that way, and at any rate, 2 oz of anything other than plutonium won't do a darn thing.  I'm also a bit cautious about feeding alfalfa AND bran, especially in So Cal.  If your horse is already having bladder problems (are calculi the problem), then the last thing you need is to invite enteroliths on top of that.

 

My suggestion would be to limit the alfalfa to a flake a day or less---if you're feeding alf/bermuda pellets, I'd say skip the alfalfa hay entirely and replace it with bermuda.  Get rid of the bran, increase the beet pulp pellets, keep the oil, add a couple pounds of sweet feed (the mill is your area is Star if I remember right, their sweet feed is just fine), add some free choice, loose, white salt and don't mix the methamine in the mash, give it separately in an oral syringe so he gets it over with and can get back to eating something that tastes good.  Take the maple syrup home for your pancakes, there's plenty of sweetening in the sweet feed.  Make sure his worming is up to date and be patient about him putting on weight.  Bet he'll start eating well once that nasty methamine isn't ruining his appetite.

 

Good luck.

 

Susan G

----- Original Message -----

From: LindaK

To: RideCamp

Sent: Friday, February 02, 2001 12:04 PM

Subject: RC: Rolled vs Crimped vs Hulless (Naked) vs Re-cleaned OATS

Hi list,   

I'm hoping someone can suggest which of the above type of oats would be the best for putting weight on my horse. 

He is not a good eater and just plays with his food taking one or two bites, then walking around/away from his food.  I had his teeth floated in December, but no noticeable improvement in his eating.

I just brought him home, yesterday, from the stable he was boarded at so I can work as getting some weight on him.  He will be five yrs. next month.

I will be feeding 2 flakes alfalfa hay, beet pulp pellets, Alfalfa & Bermuda Hay Pellets, with 1/2 c corn oil, twice a day. (Will feed less hay if he doesn't eat it all)

He is also on Methanamine for a bladder problem, mixed with 2 cups of bran, 2 oz vinegar, 2 oz maple syrup, twice a day.  People have suggested I feed him a pound of oats at lunch to help put on weight, but which type is best?

Thank you,

Lindak

Perris, CA