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Re: [RC] The nutritional guide to lame babies - Heidi SmithDo only arab breeders over feed? No, but *some* Arabs are digestively very efficient and so can get fat on a diet that would barely keep an average thoroughbred sucking air. Same for a lot of the foundation-type Morgans, thus maybe a factor in the incidence in that breed as well. > If it is genetics that preposition a horse to over sensitivity to imbalances inthe diet - it still is genetics. Why knowingly breed for it?If overnutrition is indeed the factor that predisposes to clubfootedness, then is it a fault of the horse? I could turn the same argument around and say that XYZ line of horses can stay fit and healthy without being fed a ton of concentrates, supplements and rich hays. That sounds more like a Good Thing to me. :-) I would think he effort neds to go into owner education instead. Indeed, efficiency with calories IS something for which many of us actively try to select. And while overfeeding calories is not the only nutritional aspect responsible for club-footedness, it is a part of it. So Lauren, are you suggesting that we select AWAY from the sorts of endurance horses that can easily meet their caloric requirements on normal feeds? I'm with Susan here--I wish we could convince owners to let youngsters eat optimally and run out, instead of suggesting that we select away from efficient horses, just because some folks can't quit "killing them with kindness." Heidi =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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