Feeding Pellets

Hute · Feeding Pellets

I have a horse that is really hard to get weight on. It's suspected that he has ulcers. So I have been treating him with Aloe, GUT, etc. I have also tried feeding him free choice hay - didn't do him any good, he was so picky and inconsistent about how much he ate that he did not gain any weight (in fact I think he lost weight). So now for the past couple weeks, I have been feeding him pellets in an almost freechoice fashion. He finally did gain weight. Whether it's a fluke or not, time will tell. He seems fine to me, but the people at the barn think he's going to colic. I have been into horses ten years, never had a horse colic under my care (although I've seen other people's horses colic), and I don't see what they're seeing. My horse seems happier since I took him off Purina Senior and put him on Hubbard Feed's Horsenorth Rescue Formula that can be freechoiced. They say he's rolling more and has runny stools. Thing is, his stools have always been on the runny side. I've seen him twice a day at least for the last month and haven't seen anything unusual, other than he seems happier to me. They haven't liked or agreed with all my efforts to help him out, so I'm wondering if they're just trying to persuade me to stop, or do you think there's something legitimitely wrong going on here? I don't want to make him colic. The Horsenorth Rescue Manager assured me she's never had any problems with the feed. For more information on it, you can go to www.horsenorthrescue.org and click on the Donate section. It gives the story and analysis there. Is feeding him high in fiber feed risking gas colic? I think everything's fine, but I don't want Beacon to pay if I'm wrong. What do you think? Thanks for any thoughts.

PasoBaby_CarolU

Horses are meant to eat 24/7. The only problem with big pellet meals is that horses tend to wolf them down and then go the next 12 hours with nothing in their gut. This causes ulcers and can lead to colic. But, that doesn't sound like what you are doing.

What you might try is adding a haybag of free choice grass hay for him to nibble between meals.

As for loose stools, some horses are prone to them. You might make sure your pellets have priobiotics and prebiotics in them so you know he is getting enough digestive enzymes.

Other then that, I wouldn't mess with what appears to be working for him. You might buy a weight tape and measure him weekly. It's not the best weight measurement, but it does help you monitor on a week to week basis. Eye balling can be deceiving.

Hute

Thanks for your thoughts! Yes, he does have hay available to him at all times, but since I've started the pellets he hasn't been eating much of it. From what I've seen, he's been pretty good about not wolfing down the pellets - eating a scoop's worth, going off and eating what little grass there is, then coming back. I do weight tape him on occasion. My vet warned me not to do it every day as it can make you crazy. LOL!! He said it can take time for results to show up. I just don't want him to colic. Thanks!!

whisperingwindfarms

Laura,

Make sure you feed him the aloe at a time when his stomach is the most empty. It suppresses acid production so it can interfere with digestion.

Hute

Hey, I think you're right! It was after I started the aloe thing that he lost some weight. He's gained it back now, but I was quite perplexed as to why it had happened. In that case, I'll give him the aloe when I feed him his pellets in the morning. I think that would be the best time, because now that he's with someone else I feed him less in the morning. It's that or put it in his water, but I'm not sure the concentration would be enough to have an effect.

Thanks Erin! You always amaze me with how you always see the things I overlook.

learningthedance

A bit of alfalfa can really help with ulcers too. Sounds like maybe he could benefit from the extra protein.

Ours are all on straight grass hay, but when they need a little boost, nothing seems to work like a good grass/alfalfa mix.

Concentrates make me a little nervous. I can't imagine feeding it free choice. Mine wouldn't touch their hay if that was the choice. LOL

Hute

Yeah, feeding pellets isn't my first choice. I did try feeding him alfalfa for awhile but it didn't seem to help. Thanks for your comments.

whisperingwindfarms

Can you get the alfalfa cubes? If you can, soak them good and let him rip. My horses loves the alfalfa cubes. Just make sure the alfalfa is no more 20% the total diet because of the high protein.

I get them in the winter and soak them in hot water for a treat. Of course, no one at Whispering Wind Farms, including me, has trouble keeping weight on . . .

Hute

Well, ever since I switched to only feeding the aloe when his stomach is most empty, there has been a steady weight gain.

So far about 20-30 pounds. I'm aiming for 90 more...but maybe that will be too much. We'll see what he looks like!