Re: Ulcers in Young Horses

["Robert Morris" <bobmorris@rmci.net>]

Susan:

How about letting this critter be a HORSE!!!

Unless you are planning to raise him for meat for next winter, I would
suggest cutting out the grain and let him grow up like a horse!

The grain is not a natural food for a young horse and could be the basic
problem antagonized by the insults to the body (leg wound, head wound and
testicle wound)

Can you imagine how you would feel if you were hurt and fed on a high
protein diet with sugar added?
Bob Morris
Morris Endurance Enterprises
Boise, ID
-----Original Message-----
From: Jpcornes@aol.com <Jpcornes@aol.com>
To: ridecamp@endurance.net <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Date: Tuesday, January 12, 1999 2:24 PM
Subject: Ulcers in Young Horses


>I have a colt I plan on using for endurance riding some day.  He will be 8
>months old at the end of January.  I had him on what I thought was a
>reasonable training program consisting of desensitizing to traffic, motor
>bikes, etc.,  basic manners, such a picking up feet, short ponying sessions
>(less than 30 minutes), and several short (less than 5 miles round trip)
>trailers rides, all with a buddy.  Did our first solo trailer ride this w/e
>which went well.   He had learned very quickly and appeared to be taking it
>all in stride.
>
>He has had loose stools since I got him at 4 months and has been off and on
>probiotics - more off than on.  Since the loose stools persisted I called
the
>vet and he believes he may have developed an ulcer.
>
>Other factors: he was weaned at 4 months, had an "upward traveling" leg
injury
>that went to the bone shortly after weaning,  which required antibiotics
and
>daily bandaging (healed nicely however).  Required 8 stiches on his face
after
>the ride to his new home (thrashed inside of the stock trailer) and then
had a
>case of diarrhea the second week in his new home.  The actual process of
>gelding did not go well, but again recovered nicely.  He has free access to
>70/30 grass/alfafa and gets 3# grain in the am and 3# grain in the pm plus
>vitamins added to the grain.
>
>Has anyone else has any experience with ulcers and young horses?  Or
chronic
>loose stools?  I thought I was doing the right thing by exposing him to as
>much as possible at a young age but suddenly it feels like it has
backfired.
>The vet suggest no trailering or stressful lessons until next spring plus
>probiotics on a daily basis.    I would appreciate any comments/suggestions
as
>I am feeling rather discouraged.    Thanks.
>
>Susan
>
>