 |
[RC] Nutritional Needs of the Endurance Horse - Dream WeaverHere are some links that some might find useful:http://animalscience.tamu.edu/ansc/publications/horsepubs/hrg010-perfeed.pdf http://osuextra.okstate.edu/pdfs/F-3970web.pdf http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/AnimalSciences/extension/pubpdfs/asc113.pdf http://www.turfclub.com.sg/web/tchappening.nsf/0/fec33385c5dbe72b48256c83001dcf7d/$FILE/Pagan%20Notes.pdf http://www.shady-acres.com/susan/alfalfa.shtml I've got more but that should keep anybody interested busy for awhile :). Somebody had asked about how to manage an easy keeper. Well, I know all about that! I often have been concerned whether or not my horses have had their nutritional needs met when I have to cut back their feed between rides so much, so they won't put on weight. It really isn't easy. You want a good body weight but you don't need a horse that you can't get your largest girth on when you want to ride after letting him have a week off. Most of the time my horses have all been cut back to hay only between rides. This last year I decided to finally give in and feed a vitamin supplement, which I had never done before. There are several good ones out there, I chose one that had 5 mg of organic selenium in it as well as enough biotin in it (since my horses are all now barefoot), and feel that it has been working out really well. I can send the link to that particular product if anybody wants to email me privately. I have always worried over feeding the horses more at rides, because there is no way I can feed them all the time that way. I try to always stick with the same products. To feed the vitamin supplement or E/Se supplements I put it into a little bit of soaked beet pulp or else the 10% complete feed that I use, wet it all good and usually put in a little salt. I've got a feed chart on my website here: http://members.tripod.com/ridephotos/ (scan down several links) which shows how much molasses and protein is in various feeds. I try to feed only items with a low molasses content. During a ride I am more open to letting them sample different stuff, especially at a vet check -- if they want to eat it, I usually let them. Best thing to do is read as much as you can, then figure out what works for each horse. They are all different. Oh, and they change -- so what works for them now might not work as well next year. Keeps us learning, always. ;) Karen in NV =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|