[Fwd: Re: Nutrition]

Jim Mitchell (navion@lsbsdi2.lightspeed.net)
Mon, 16 Dec 1996 20:27:39 -0800

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> >
> > << You need a more concentrated form of carbohydrates--a starch powder,
> > easily digested.
> > ti
> > >>>>>>>>
> >
> > Even with greatly diminished gut sounds??? I thought that was where I made
> > my biggest mistake..not taking that into account.
> > Teddy >>
> >
> > Sorry, have no knowledge about what gut sounds genuinely mean.
> > ti<<<<
> >
> > Perhaps someone out there would then explain to me why a horse with NO gut
> > sounds in most likely going to get into trouble if allowed to continue in
> > competition. I have seen many horses PULLED from competition due to lack of
> > gut sounds...
> > Teddy

OK, I'm not the one who should be commenting on this, but since no one else has.
I know Teddy and others with much more experience than I know that diminished gut sounds
are one of several signals that the horse is stressed. At the first vet check I don't
have a problem with it (assuming other signs look OK) The horse has been working hard
and some digestive blood flow has been diverted, heat stress, what else? But if they
don't return by the lunch vet check I think you'll start to see other factors showing
up. (Loss of appetite, fatigue etc.) I decided to answer this post to again stress my
feeling that 99% of what we are trying to accomplish with our horses can be done with
well established principles. These additives, probiotics, etc. are not a shortcut for
adequate training of both the horse and RIDER. So I feel Tom's post of not knowing what
gut sounds genuinely mean could lead some new riders to discounting them totally.
Something I don't think Tom meant to do.

Jim Mitchell
Bakersfield, Ca.

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