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When I first got my mustang she was 9 months old and would only eat the
coarsest most unpalatable parts of the grass hay she was fed for food and
all of her straw, which was supposed to be her bedding. She would then
defecate on the 'good' hay. She stopped doing this after she was put out
on pasture, up to that point she had been confined in a round pen until I
could catch and halter her without difficulty, which took a while.
I know this does not directly answer your question, but I am wondering if
it is a phase they go through? Possibly related to teeth development. I
got cubes for treats and my horses did not really like them because of
their size and having to pick them up just right to mash them good. The
only pelleted stuff I feed now is calf mana in very small amounts (1/2 the
recommended) mixed with rolled barley.
Good luck!
KcA
>Hi
>
>I have a question knowing I may have the answer, but need some reassurance.
>
>We have raised many, many foals and have never run into this change in
>eating habits. (consider her a potential endurance pony so this is list
>related)
>
>Foal born may 15. Weaned at 4 months (Arab Welsh 1/4 horse cross, we
>aquired her a few days later. This is not standard procedure at our place.
>If possible we like to leave with mom at least a full 6 months. Any way,
>She grew in leaps and bounds , faster than any horse around here has grown.
>(knee plates look normal) Her food intake was about as much as my 3 year
>olds to keep body mass to support her bone structure (Not over weight)
>
>6 days ago her eating habits abruptly changed from consuming 3/4 coffee
>can full of grain substitute (pellets) 2xday to nothing. She will eat poor
>quality grass but when given a nice quality alfalfa (which I borrowed from
>the neighbor due to not eating her cubes any more. She is eating all of the
>sticks (very fine, not tree trunk size, and does not eat the leaves)
>
>First of all we thought she may have a problem in her mouth, from the hay
>cubes. Can't see any thing in teeth, throat or gums. My feeling is she
>would have eaten the leaves and left the sticks if that were the case.
>
>Decided today to sprinkle 1/2 c milk replacer over about 2 cups of
>pellets. She licked up the dry powder and left the pellets. (what a job
>working around those pellets........)
>
>Is it possible that she abruptly stopped growing and is pulling herself off
>the amount of food has had up to this point? Any Ideas. We will worm her
>again tomorrow for a (just in case). So far her weight is stable I would
>like to keep her on alfalfa and hay to make sure she is maintaining some
>level of nutrition.
>
>She is not down although she lays her ears back when she eats. So she is
>not happy when eating for some reason. She is happy and greats you when
>"bringing" feed. She has never been a picky eater. Slow eater though.
>Feel her water intake is a little lower, but that could be due to not as
>much dry mater being consumed. I personally feel her stool is a little dry
>(to formed and would like to see the apples a little less compact and
>individual. At this point she is on what we call watch, with the
>vet......(any change call) Any one ever run into this? It is a first for
>us......... If you don t have the answer, make one up and we will think
>about it. I don't like unexpected behavior changes although she is not
>that old.
>
>Thanks for any thoughts, suggestions, comments, similar experiences etc..
>
>Sigrid and Mollie (Who's Mom is just a little worried.)
>
>
>
>The Space Cadet
--- end forwarded text
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