ridecamp@endurance.net: got a thin horse FAT and health

got a thin horse FAT and health

The Metcalfs (metcalfs@wizzards.net)
Thu, 23 Oct 1997 22:05:54 +0000

I have never owned a thin horse before but I bought one and changed
his looks and energy level in 10 months. His breeding is TB and a
cribber. First I stopped the cribbing by letting him have pasture
continually and hot wiring any thing he could get his mouth on
(including around his water) Next I keep grass clover
hay and oat hay infront of him always and I feed him 1 flake of alfalfa
a day. For supplements I feed once a day 3 pounds of dry cob
1 cup of corn oil 1/2 cup of cider vinager, 1/4 cup of premixed vitiman
mineral supplement and 6cc's of Digestive Enhancers called
"Ration Plus" (I read about this product in Michael Plumb's Horse
Journal Feb 97 to use for skinny horses) The product is different then
probiotics in that in contains no live organisms. Ration Plus is
prepared by a multi-stage fermentation process that utilizes safe
beneficial bacterial growth.The article states that the processed
product results in the production of various metabolites that encourge
the health and reproduction of beneficial bacterial strains. Benefits
seen in studies include: weight gain, reduced or eliminated undigested
feed found in manure, increased stamina, decreased digestive
disturbances, weight maintenance under stress, reduced flatulence,
decreased recovery time from injuries, improved appetite, and improved
hoof, skin, and coat quality. I have also been slowly getting this horse
fit and muscled riding in dressage and trail riding. The only thing I
have changed in his feed was at the beginning I fed this horse TDI 12 (3
pounds a day) (its a complete feed supplement with high percentige of
soy bean) but it wasn't helping the horse with his weight so I quit and
went to Ration Plus. Most people would not beleive how nice this horse
looks now but it took awhile. This is how I feed all my working horses
except for the grain change if not working that day the horse gets only
1/3 his grain amount.
Nancy

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