Ridecamp: Re: [RC] musings re "the good old days"

> As I mentioned in my other post to Heidi, I do absolutely agree that it's
> too easy to reach for a bucket of rocket fuel rather than do the homework
> first.  So maybe that was an advantage to the old days---the rocket fuel
> wasn't available, and you had less room for error.

Yes, when there were no shortcuts available, you HAD to do your homework.

>  I don't think the endurance-formulated high energy feeds really make that
> much of a difference over any other grain mix.  It's mostly a marketing
> thing IMO.

Amen to that.  We used to feed rolled barley, and it worked just fine, with
the same effects.

> I think beet pulp is terrific, just because of the hydration aspects.  I
> doubt it would seriously make a huge difference in pushing a middle of the
> packer up into top ten, but it might prevent some hydration-related
problems
> in a borderline horse, and that's what I care about.

The increase in the use of beet pulp IS a biggie--but then again, it isn't
exactly a high-tech "Miracle Feed"--just one more natural feedstuff for
which we understand the benefits better now.

> As for the sugar powders, I think they're used as a shortcut too often.
Fine
> in their own way for the top competitor, but IMO, they're the icing on the
> cake, not the entirety of the cake.

And too many folks aren't taking the time to bake a good cake before
worrying about the icing.

> > As for the research, Good research is very necessary. Poor
> > research causes more damage than the good research can
> > overcome.
>
> You're definitely preaching to the choir on that one. <vbg>  Any examples
> you have in mind?  Just curious.

Dunno what particular examples Bob had in mind, but one thing comes to my
mind under this heading--although it isn't the fault of the research, it's
the fault of basic math.  Folks have now calculated the amounts of e-lytes
an endurance horse needs, and they are indeed large.  HOWEVER, the advice
coming from many folks, many of which have initials after their names, is to
 replace ALL of that in the form of supplementation.  Now, you know as well
as I do that there are significant amounts of e-lytes in forages.  And I've
been blessed with horses who will happily slick up 40# of grass hay a day,
given it is in front of them 24/7 so that they can just keep on munching.
When they start out with that kind of a gut fill, and eat every blade of
anything that grows at every vet check, and any time the rider gets off to
pee, or open a gate, or any other opportunity, no matter how brief, they
have a significant load of e-lytes already.  Even my alternative school kids
who don't know squat about horses but who have memorized the 5th Amendment
and are getting A's in Street Law and are eagerly working on an Algebra I
credit to go with that can tell you that to solve for "x" in this case (the
amount of e-lytes you have to give), you have to set up an equation to the
effect that total need = intake + x, or in other words, x = total need -
intake.  x in this case is NOWHERE NEAR the total need, especially for the
Hoovers out there for whom the intake is voluminous.  And if the intake is
not voluminous, you are going to run into calorie problems--ok, so you can
squirt in Miracle Goo every hour, but that still doesn't address the needs
of the GI tract to continue functioning, etc., etc., so bottom line still
suggests that perhaps eating and drinking are an integral part of this deal,
and that stuff like e-lytes and Miracle Goo should only be, as you say, the
icing on the cake.

Heidi


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