 |
Re: [RC] Finicky eaters - Larry & Helen McMasterHere's a thought - your hay may have been fertilized with something that your horse can detect. We have cattle as well as horses, and sometimes spread manure on the hayfields. The horses will not eat the hay if it has been fertilized with the horse manure. Nowadays, there is a lot of really icky stuff being used as fertilizer - it could make the hay look great, but not taste good. Try some other hay and see if your horse will eat that.Helen McMaster Ontario, Canada ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ridecamp Guest" <guest-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, April 04, 2005 4:31 PM Subject: [RC] Finicky eaters
I recently bought a 8 y/o arab mare and am having a hard time getting her to eat hay or grass. To give some backgroud, the mare is a seasoned distance horse that takes great care of herself on the trail, she eats well and drinks well. However, at home she only seems to want to eat grain and nothing more. She won't eat grass in the field but will eat it out of my yard. Now here is the kicker, she has not always been this way. When I first bought her, she ate well and then after we moved (and bought new hay) the mare will not eat it. I have tried not giving her grain and seeing if she would eat the hay when she got hungary but she won't...she does clean up her grain. Right now I am trying to keep the weight on her b/c she is in semi-heavy conditioning. She is eating a beet pulp, Legends 12 pelleted, and rice bran mix. I am sure she is getting enough calories to maintain but it concerns me that she will not eat the hay. The hay is last years 1st cutting, good hay by industry standards. I am just baffeled....can anyone offer any suggestions? I am open for anything at this point. I have seperated her to an adjoining field to monitor how much she is/isn't eating but she still has companions across the fence to alleviate any seperation anxiety that might occur. You know that phrase, you can lead a horse to water but can't make him drink, well you can give a horse food but can't make him drink! Thanks...
Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.0 - Release Date: 3/31/2005
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|