Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Title: Re: [RC]   Horse food at rides

I think the problem with feeding feeds other than what you would feed at home has to do with the amount and type of intestinal bacteria that are cultured in your horse’s gut. Each feed requires bacteria to digest it properly and if a horse doesn’t have the bacteria needed for a particular feed then that feed causes problems for that horse. I am trying to offset that effect by feeding probiotics to my horse. Hopefully that way he will have an abundance of bacteria in his gut to be able to handle whatever new feed comes along at the vet checks. I think it will also help if he suffers a “crash” of the bacteria in his gut from stress.

Linda


On 9/17/05 10:48 AM, "Jonni" <jonnij@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

> 2 - everyone always says, make sure your horse eats at home what you'll feed at a ride - does anyone have any hesitancy about feeding strange hay/feed to horses at VCs?<<<
>  
> I have had no problem feeding what ever hay my horse would eat, as long as it looked and smelled good to me. I never feed alfalfa at home, but at the remote crewless vet checks on Tevis, that was all they had. Some people have said their horses have problems if they eat something very different. I just want mine to eat. The more the better. And those who have done a few rides, and have had their horse eating next to another horse, know they always decide what the other horse is eating looks better than his lunch. If they want to trade, I don't care as long as it meets my standards (wet sloppy mashes, prefer beet pulp based) Of course if I have mixed something special, with electrolytes etc., I will insist on not sharing. But, if it means eating or not eating because they decide what you brought is yucky, then just eat!