ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: Thumps? Prevention?

Re: Thumps? Prevention?

KIMBERLY PRICE (PLOUGH1@ix.netcom.com)
Wed, 2 Apr 1997 14:49:55 -0600 (CST)

Hi Karen and Ridecamp,

I'm still catching up on the digest, it is a great way to copy and
paste to a single file of the same name, in fact, I'm gathering info
for FAQ's for the future.

Karen, I think I see the point of calcium is not to overfeed it but
allow the system to become depleted once in a while to train the body
to "kick in" when needed. Anytime I think of depleting or not giving
enough of a mineral a red flag goes up. It is a very interesting idea.
I am trying to absorb as much about all these factors as possible from
borrowed Trail Blazers and the archives.

Is there a correlation between % of protein and % of calcium. FOr
example, if alfalfa has 12% protein does it have ?? calcium? Mystery
will be getting one flake of alfalfa a day where I board him, and since
he is in a pasture group I cannot control this...

Sorry if this is an ignorant question. It is coming together slowly
but surely....

Thanks again!
Kimberly (&Mystery the Morab...presently being referred to as the "fat
boy"). :-)

REPLY TO:
From: "Karen Steenhof" <steenhof@cyberhighway.net>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Subject: Re: Thumps? Prevention?

> So, what you are saying is keep the mare on calcium supps but also
make> sure she gets enough during the ride?
>
Personally, I would keep the calcium diet low most of the time--no
calciumsupplementation and little or no alfalfa. (In other words,
feed grasshay or keep them on pasture). Then just before, during, and
after theride, you can give calcium in yourelectrolytes or feed (of
course, an abrupt switch to alfalfa could causeother problems!). I try
to give my horse a good workout (one that makes him sweat out some
calcium)about 4 days before a competition. Theoretically, that drop in
calciumwill trigger the parathyroid hormone so that everything will be
in primeworking order for the endurance ride. BTW, some think this
might be one ofthe reasons that many horses do so well on the 5th day
of a multi-day ride.

Kimberly- does this answer your questions, too? I'm sure a vet could
offerbetter advice and a clearer explanation than I can. I suspect
horses,being the individuals they are, have varying susceptiblities to
thisproblem (maybe some sweat out more calcium than others???) . I
happen tohave one that is particularly senstive, so I've learned to
deal with it.

Karen Steenhof
Boise, Idaho
steenhof@cyberhighway.net

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