I really hope you guys can help me. I'm getting VERY worried about
Special.... She's way too skinny.
Some background--In about October I started working her in the arena 2-3
times a week & about 3 hours a day (dressage stuff). We were getting a
long trail ride (12 miles) once a week. In about December she started
looking too skinny. She was getting 3lbs of grain (sweet 12% protein
cob) a day, and about 4 flakes of hay twice a day. At that point she
wasn't being worked a -whole lot- so I didn't want to increase her
grain. I added alfalfa pellets instead (about 1 1/2 pounds a day),
and made sure she -always- had hay. Her weight picked up. She wasn't
heavy, but looked ok.
Then about 3 weeks ago, I started working her hard again.
Basically, put her into training for the endurance season. Last week we
put in 52 miles (80% trot, 10% canter, 10% walk). Her weight started
dropping, so I increased her grain, and switched her to dry cob. I
increased it gradually. She's now getting 12 pounds a day (9% protein,
dry cob), NW supplement and hay. The problem is she's still losing
weight!!! She's too skinny. And I'm worried! I've slacked off her
work. She didn't have a hard ride all week, one easy one and that's it.
I'm not going to take her on a training ride at all this weekend.
I'm going to start adding corn oil to her grain. I've been told to start
gradually, and get her up to 1 cup a day. I'm going to worm her tonight
(Zimectrin), she was last wormed at the end of October. The big problem
is, that she doesn't want to eat all that grain, and she's quit eating
her hay. I gave her 4 flakes last night, and this afternoon she still
had about a flake left. She just nibbles at her grain. I'd like to add
something to it to make it more tempting. Any suggestions???? I'm
having a hard time finding 12% proteing -dry- cob, so she's getting 9%.
Is it really important that she get 12%??? Does anybody have any other
suggestions?? Is there something else I could give her to help her put
on weight?? Should I keep working her, only more lightly, until her weight
picks up?? Or should I slack off on training rides totally?? Since
she's getting 12 pounds of grain, is it normal for her to slack off her
hay?? Should I increase her grain again?? Is 15 pounds a day too much??
Does anybody think I ought to have the vet out to look at her??
Her attitude is good, and she has *TONS* of go when we ride. She doesn't
seem low energy or depressed at all.
I would really appreciate all the information, and opinions I can get!!
Please, PLEASE, help me *:)
BTW--I've met, and been riding with someone who's lurking on this list
(Hi Curt and Marion!!) They're wonderfully nice people, and Marion's a
ton of fun to ride with! Plus, she's shown me some GREAT -all weather-
trails. Come on out to Oregon, and we'll have a rainy, endurance ride!
We decided we'd call it the MUDDY 50 *:)
Thanks alot Guys, I'm really looking forward to your answers.
@-',--- MARISA ---',-@ **********************
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ** Gravity **
purpl2@teleport.com ** Sucks! **
Portland, Oregon **********************