Re: RC: Re: Re: hydration and hay type

[Roger Rittenhouse <roger@vmaxept.com>]

Yes dead on  --  the add to that the blister beetle issue  - just
worth the risks anymore
rr
Sunday, September 09, 2001, 2:32:44 PM, you wrote:

>> Susan:  Don't horses that are fed straight alfalfa or an otherwise high in
>> protein diet usually take longer to recover, and have higher pulses while
>> being worked?
>>
>> I know I don't see very many people feeding straight alfalfa hay at rides
>> that run in the top ten on rides with a 60 pulse criteria.  I know more
>> used to feed straight alfalfa years ago, when the pulse criteria was like
SG> 72.


SG> I get a lot of feedback from riders that went from straight alfalfa to a
SG> grass based forage (including alot of top ten riders in all parts of the
SG> country) and part of the list includes lower pulses, faster recoveries, less
SG> general metabolic problems (tying up, thumps, colicky), sweat less, better
SG> attitude overall, thinner sweat, fewer skin problems like scratches, etc.
SG> There are physiologic reasons to explain all of those.  I also work with a
SG> lot of show people and while they don't track the performance parameters
SG> that endurance people do, most of them have noticed improvements, too.  You
SG> just have to be looking for the differences.