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This is not directly endurance related, but I saw so many nutricians and
knowledgeable people on that list, that I wonder whether you can give me your
opinions.
I was told that feeding a high-fat diet (15-20% fat) could calm hypernervy
horses and would like to try this out on a horse boarding in our stable,
which *is* hypernervy, a nervous weaver. That guy upsets my own horses
(including my sire), so I am *very* game to try out some things like that.
But I don't want to make mistakes, your mails on fatty diets were split in
judgement. The horse's owner is willing to try out some things, if chances
are it would help. The horse in question gets daily turnout on the pasture,
is certainly no endurance horse or even heavily used in other ways. He's fed
currently according to the small work he does, lots of cut grass, good straw,
a vit/min supplement, a salt stone, a bit of grain (not much, maybe 1-2
pounds). We already tried to give him more work, hoping that this would
change the nervosity, but it didn't, he simply got *more* nervous with more
work. We left out the little oats he gets and he shed pounds fast. Now
someone told me to try putting him on a high-fat diet, but I'd like to have
some opinions on that large an amount. Also - would this mean that he must
get much more work too (as so far more exercise resulted in simply more
condition/fitness to do his thing I am a bit of two minds there)? So far I
haven't experimented a lot with fatty diets or addition of oils, 4,5% is
regarded "high" over here where I live and my own never had any problems this
way.
So - is that fatty diet idea a correct one? What kind of fat/oil should I
add? How much at first and eventually? Are there dangers (given the few work
he gets) in such a high-fat diet and if which? Anyone can think of another
dietary solution (or other) for a nervy (he doesn't weave out of boredom)
weaver? What is the nutritional idea behind the why high-fat would calm? Your
input would be very much appreciated, as this thing starts to - LOL -
enervate *me*, please feel free to also e-mail me directly!
Thanks,
AT
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