Management of Tying Up

Stoots, Tish (tish_s@erc.montana.edu)
Thu, 9 Jan 1997 10:15:14 -0700

I had to go through a tying up management problem with two endurance
horses (a Thoroughbred and an Arabian) and this is what I learned for
them:

1. no molasses, not no way, not know how, not ever!
2. no alfalfa hay except at rides (but limit), and give grass hay at
the same time
3. free choice grass hay as normal diet
4. free choice Purina 12:12 mineral salt (they love it)
5. 1/2 oats, 1/2 corn feed (add corn gradually to the diet since it is
a "hot" feed)
6. electrolyte with 1/2 dolomite and 1/2 Morton lite salt about once an
hour at a ride for thick muscled horses such as the thoroughbred I was
working with and once every 2 hrs for Arabs. Also electrolyte before
leaving home. The evening before the ride, electrolyte and go for
about a 2 mile ride and lead them to water after that. They will be
fully hydrated for the ride start.

The tying up problem went away if I was real strict about this.

Tish Stoots
Bozeman, MT