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Re: [RC] Abrupt feed changes - Susan Garlinghouse, DVMDay late and dollar short on my response, since you're probably already on the road to Bryce. I tend to be pretty conservative about feed changes, especially pasture to hay. Horses on pastures don't have to drink as much water to meet their hydration needs and are more prone to an impaction if they don't drink enough right off the bat. In addition, you're going to be hauling in hot weather, another point towards not enough water intake. If such a situation were unavoidable, I would go way out of my way to try to get mucho agua down her face. Provide a really sloppy mash in the trailer, offer her hay that has been well soaked in a tub, make sure to offer her water as often as possible and again, my own personal recommendation is syringing with small and frequent doses of electrolytes to boost the thirst response. Rider very conservatively and remin yourself that your starting out the ride with a possible strike against you---so this isn't the day to try for a personal best. Goodluck and have a fun ride. :-) Susan G, DVM ----- Original Message ----- From: "Heart 4 Horses" <heart@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: "Ridecamp" <RideCamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, August 25, 2003 9:45 AM Subject: [RC] Abrupt feed changes We are headed out to Bryce tomorrow am and we were taking 3 horses. One of the horses is sick and can't go, so I am contemplating taking different mare. She is well conditioned and ready to do a 50, however she has been on pasture only. Usually when the horses go to a ride, I have them accustomed to eating hay, beet pulp and a whatever amount of LMF they require to maintain good condition. I am concerned about changing this mare from pasture to hay and hauling her at the same time so I am considering not taking her. Am I making too big of a deal out of this? I would love to hear what you all have to say regarding this. I know that people who did the XP ride have said that their horses enjoyed the variety, but that was with different hay, not hay to pasture. Any comments would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance! Katey =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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 Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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