[RC] Q for vets and equine nutritionists (Susan G?) - Cindy Stafford
Hope you can educate me, or point me to where it might have been discussed before in the archives. Doing some research for some barn buddies.
First - some of the horses in the barn where we board are looking a little ribby, yet have round bellies. Their ribs are showing (under winter fur) more toward the upper part of the back and spine is visible, but bellies look wide and rounded. They get free choice hay, although the hay may not be the best quality (my novice opinion only), due to the drought we had last year. We can't change the hay (cause we board...). Are the horses too skinny because their ribs are showing? They are arabians in performance mode - endurance or H/J, consistently ridden. If they are too skinny, is it because of poor quality hay and while they may be getting volume, not getting the nutrition they need? If so, what should be added? Fat? Beet Pulp? Ultium? Since they are performance horses, would probiotics help?
Which leads to my next topic - how do you give probiotics? I see it in the catalogues, but I don't get if it's just a 'use during stress' type of thing? Or is it a daily supplement? I only see the paste/syringe types, if that is to be used daily, how much do you use? Or how do you estimate dosage?
