>>> I was "taught" to never feed (especially grain) or water a hot horse,
always waiting a half hour for water and hay, and an hour for grain. And yet
I read in this list that when you come into a vet checkpoint with horses
that must be quite hot, that you apparently immediately water and feed the
horses and quite frequently are back out on the trail in a half hour or so.
I was also "taught" not to work a horse for an hour after feeding grain. Now
I think that endurance horses must surely be in excellent condition to
compete, and perhaps THIS is why you can feed and water your horses when
they're hot? Or do you just give them a limited amount to replenish and
recharge until the next stop? Have I been misinformed or maybe it just
depends on the individual horse?
Walt<<
Walt: Think of your car engine..you can add water when hot..just keep it
running. Very basic, not that simple really. Let me try to explain.
Firstly..our horses aren't really running HOT. A steady trot (or canter) for
miles and miles in a fit horse hardly breaks a sweat (that you can see), but
they are losing water..so you must add some. Cold water is a shock to their
stomachs just as to ours (try an ice cold drink after running and you'll get
cramps...so will horses). Water is the most essential nutrient..you MUST
keep a horse hydrated. Let him drink all he wants on trail and in all
liklihood he will drink modestly at vet checks (3-4 galons is not unusual).
As far as grain goes...the horse is using up energy as well (which produces
th heat which in trun is displeted by sweating)..you must also replenish the
horses stockpile of energy. You can feed a horse well at home and during
training..thus "teaching" his body to store fuel for energy, but what we ask
in endurance is far more than the body can store..hence, feeding at vet
checks.
If gut sounds aren't there, the gut is shutting down (non-essential to
life-support). So if a horse is really stressed, his gut may shut down
because his busy is putting all its efforts into basic survival (heart,
brain, etc.) If you feed grain to a horse who is this badly stressed and/or
without gut sounds you are asking for trouble...his body won't be able to
both digest feed and keep life support systems going. The idea is to have
your horse fit enough that he is not stressed and add feed to keep gut sounds
going (and the body able to utilize the feed given as energy). Hence it is
important to KNOW your horse, condition him properly, feed him right at home
(teaching the body to store as much as possible and USE what is given
orally).
So you see, even if I try to explain it in a non-complicated way, it is far
from simple. Experience is very much the best teacher. Before you actually
compete, it is VERY wise to volunteer to help at a ride.. You will learn a
great deal more this way than by trial and error...you will see what other
riders do and ask them why it works for them. Each horse is different, but
there are many basics that apply to all and each rider may has his/her own
way of dealing with them. AND, you will find that people in this sport are
happy to share information..the only problem is assimilating it all.
Teddy