Re: No Appetite

[Laura Nielsen <lsn@bellsouth.net>]

Shannon,
Tez eats just about whatever is offered him at home.  I've had some success on
training rides enticing him to eat (usually just a couple of handfulls of beet
pulp with either applesauce or wet alflafa cubes mixed in). Lately, I've been
trying to entice him to stop and eat clover or any other delicacy while
riding.  Again, a few bites seems to be his limit. He is so very intense, think
this is the root of the problem.  His displeasure at standing still or going a
slower speed than he likes is voiced by audibly grunting.  This has improved
markedly over the past month, as have my training ride strategy, goals and
speed.  He was much calmer when out training with a group this past Saturday
and even ate better than ever before.  No arguing about speed and no grunting!
Giving up on him has never been an option.  He's to good a game of chess--I
want to figure this one out and out maneuver him.
You, and everyone else that have taken the time to reply, have supplied me with
many more options.  Many, many thanks.
About his breeding, I've been told that he is almost straight Egyptian, with
just a touch of domestic.  RH Almitez (sire on top?) out of Niki Hamiel.
Laura & RR Teznik (the grunting Pegasus)
ood.shannon wrote:

> Laura,
>
> Ti's suggestion to have bloodwork done to assess muscle enzymes/ damage
> gets my vote, too.  I did this with Yaled and learned that he wasn't in
> trouble with tying-up or chronic muscle soreness, but it was good peace of
> mind and I had a good idea where to go from there.   I hadn't though about
> ulcers, but that makes sense, too.  What's he like at home when he eats? Is
> he "finicky" when at rest or just when he's being worked?
>
> If Tez is as much like my boy as he sounds, experience and maturity will
> play a big part in how he does on the trail. (But he'll ALWAYS be trying to
> catch those horses in front! <vbg>)   As someone else (Dr. Newell?) pointed
> out, he may only improve to a degree and you'll have to learn to live with
> his limitations.  But don't give up yet!!  He may surprise you once he
> figures it all out.
>
> Tez isn't straight egyptian, is he? <g>
>
> Cheers,
> Shannon
>
> > I think we're in-laws!  These two horses, Tez and Yaled, are most
> > certainly related.  You have described my horse perfectly.  His grain
> > intake most definitely seems to be related to his degree of muscle
> > soreness.  Unfortunately, his idea of the ride is to catch the horse
> > ahead of him, whether he can see said horse or not.  Yes, the adrenaline
> > rush sounds, oh, so familiar.  And, again, yes, he does much better
> > alone, although he still thinks his mission is to catch whoever is
> > ahead.  I'll try the probiotics again, but didn't notice any improvement
> > with them in the past.  Perhaps just additional years and careful
> > management will bring this goofball around. I've made it a point lately
> > to try to entice him to eat during training rides.  The best he has
> > managed on the trail is an occasional bite of clover.  Speed has been
> > slow and we usually train alone.  He is one intense puppy when there is
> > a rider up.
> > Thanks again for the encouragement,
> > Laura & Tez
> >