Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Need HELP Regarding Hay

Any bearded hay can give horses sores in their mouths!

A few years back, my old horse, Sam, was eating bearded barley.  The 'barbs'
would work into the gum line between teeth and lip or cheek and cause sores.
Some would fester and come out the hair side of his mouth and up in this
face.

The best way I found to stop the problem was to make a warm water solution
of salt.  About a palm full of salt into a three cups of warm water.  Then
using a PLASTIC turkey baster, squirt it up and into his mouth.  Sam really
developed a taste for the salt water.  It cleared up the sores and fester
spots and I asked the owner not to feed the hay anymore which he did.  Even
if I had to go buy my own hay -- I would have and have done that a couple
times I didn't like what my horses get fed it.  Bearded wheat can do the
same thing although some horses can eat it and not have a problem, mine
can't.

Warm salt water rinses are good for any horse.  A sore mouth from a bit or
when a horse is 'teething', after floating.  Just as a matter of principle I
use a warm salt water rinse every three or four months.....

Bonnie Davis
----- Original Message -----
From: "Val Nicoson" <sweetmare55@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, November 30, 2002 3:54 PM
Subject: [RC] Need HELP Regarding Hay


> Thought there was a post some time back and did try to
> search the Archives with no success.  So will thus try
> and ask here...
> Horses at the stable where my horse is boarded at are
> getting sores in their mouths from the hay.  A friend
> showed me her horses, one of which had alot of sores
> and needed the vet.  She said other horses had the
> sores too.  She helped me check my horse...sure enough
> she was a silver dollar sized sore on her right...of
> course right where the bit would irritate it too of
> all things (no it's not the bit!).
> Anyway friend told me that the grass was cut late due
> to the drought and thus went to seed.  She said the
> seed has little barbs or whatever that attach
> themselves to different places in the horses' mouths
> creating sores.  Think I've got that right with what
> she told me, feel free to correct this if I don't have
> it right.
> She told the stable manager who didn't want her to
> spread the word about this hay.  Friend had asked the
> manager and doesn't understand why she won't have the
> supplier provide better hay.  Either way it appears
> the stabled horses will continue to get this hay.  In
> checking some hay laying near the manager's horses it
> looks like HER horses aren't getting this stuff and I
> pointed that out to my friend.  Apparently another
> barn in the area has had this problem too.  According
> to friend it appears all the barn managers are being
> defensive about this complaint from their boarders...
> interesting huh?  So it doesn't appear taking my horse
> elsewhere is going to alleviate this problem.
> So my question is---what can I do to help my mare?  So
> far her sore is not infected.  Is there any way to
> help ensure it doesn't get infected or is this an "at
> risk" situation like I think it is?  I can get some
> better hay but would not be able to provide it on a
> daily basis or regularly...doing so would risk my
> already shaky situation at this stable.  The stable
> manager already thinks I'm too picky regarding my
> horse's care (I'm just trying to be a good provider to
> my mare...I CARE).  I could throw a flake to her in
> the evening when I go out to the barn but other than
> that...even friend suggested that this would be rather
> risky and the manager would be really really ticked
> off.
> Aside from the mouth sores are there any other risks
> that could be involved (ie colic or anything)?
> If you could provide me some advice or give me a more
> in-depth knowledge about this hay problem that would
> be greatly appreciated.
> Thanks RC,
> Val
>
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 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
 Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

 If you are an AERC member - PLEASE VOTE in the Director at Large 
 and By Laws Elections.

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