Re: gangly Arab

["Susan Garlinghouse" <suendavid@worldnet.att.net>]

Vicki, if you want, you can increase the amount of beet pulp you're feeding
at each meal, also a bit more grain, but otherwise, your nutrition program
sounds fine.  Personally, I prefer youngsters a little lean and gangley, as
opposed to roly-poly, as it's much healthier for them.  He's pretty much
past the age when he's at high risk for DOD (developmental orthopedic
disease), but you still don't want them fat.  I personally don't like
feeding fats to immature horses---if you're going to increase the calories,
feed them something (like beet pulp) that something more in it than just
calories.

My youngsters all seemed to go through a really gangley period around three
when they were looking like jumped-up jackrabbits one day and giraffes the
next.  Eventually, they all grew into lovely horses.

Be sure his teeth don't need to be floated (they sometimes need it quite
early) and that your parasite program is in place, and that he is actually
getting his ration, not losing it to a more aggressive horse.  I know, this
is all obvious stuff.  Otherwise, I wouldn't be too concerned, IMO.

Best,
Susan G

----- Original Message -----
From: David & Vicki Wheeler <dwheeler@icx.net>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Tuesday, July 04, 2000 5:59 AM
Subject: RC: gangly Arab


> I need help/advice.  Spellbinder is my first Arab & he looks awfully
> *gangly* to me.  He is a BIG 3 yo: 15.1 at withers/15.2+ at rump (so he's
> still going thru a very active growth stage), 8.75" canon bone.  He is
> still very narrow in the chest & very lean (see ribs) in the barrel.  The
> fields he is turned out on have rolling hills & he is showing muscle
> development in the shoulders & backend.
>
> Is this normal for a 3yo?  I'm used to TWHs & App's with more development
> by this age.  He is feed 2x daily -- approx 1 lb of sweet feed (10%) +
beet
> pulp each feeding.  One field is fescue & clover, the other is timothy &
> orchard grass.  He's wormed every 8 weeks & had his teeth floated the
first
> of June.  Should I be concerned or is this just an unsightly teenage
stage?
>  I know I can add oil for extra calories, but if this is normal for an
> Arab, I'll just wait.  All the other horses are so plump right now, that
> Spell looks almost anorexic.  But he also runs & plays more than the
others.
>
> TIA
> Vicki Wheeler
>
>
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