Information and Advice Needed

["Alisa Ann Waxman"<Alisa_Ann_Waxman@notes.ntrs.com>]

Hello Ridecamp!

My name is Alisa Waxman, I live in the Chicago area, and I've been lurking
on this forum (getting the daily Ridecamp digests) since I attended
January's AERC convention.  I really appreciate and respect the knowledge
that is being shared.  I also enjoy the humor and the camaraderie that is
shared by everyone.  I feel like I know many of you!  I'd like to ask for
your thoughts/advice.

I have an 8 year old beautiful bay purebred Arab mare that I love (and have
spoiled, as she is my first horse).  I have been riding her since she was
broke at five.  She is very sweet and gentle ordinarily, but does have
another side to her.  She is very easily excitable/upset when she is away
from home (and the herd), and does not eat well on rides (she pouts!).
[Actually, she knows I want her to eat and she thinks she can punish me for
upsetting her routine by not doing what I want! :-)]

She does not enjoy being trailered, and will often not eat her grain (or
apples or carrots for that matter) nor will she drink well after we
arrive/the afternoon or evening before the ride.  She will, however, very
slowly munch on some hay overnight (but not consume enough for my liking).
During the ride, she gets excited/upset and will not usually eat or drink
until late in the race (about 35-40 miles for food, and somewhat earlier
for water).  I give her probiotics and electrolytes in applesauce during
the race to keep the gut moving.  She actually does quite well, despite
this behavior.  By an hour to an hour and a half after the race, she is
eating like a pig.

Given her fitness and ability, my friend encouraged me to put her in a
hundred, as this would cure her eating difficulties.  She did her first
hundred mile ride in Michigan in June (placed second and BC! -- I was so
proud).  Early on in the race, we had the same issues on eating ("I'm not
going to eat Mom, no matter how hard you plead/ask/beg").  However, after
going back out after 50 miles, she decided to eat and we stopped
periodically on the trail to let her eat/drink.  She finished well, moving
fluidly and very lively at her trot out.

I thought OK she's cured.  But no, no such luck; the next ride (a 50) she
was back to pouting and not eating again.

Does anyone have any advice on this topic (temperamental horses/poor
eaters)?  I keep thinking my mare will get used to traveling or will grow
out of this "pouting" behavior.  But, she raced (competitive and endurance)
in 1996 and a few endurance rides in late 1997, and its not getting much
better.  Please post any thoughts privately, so as not to clutter up
ridecamp with a less than universal topic.

I would also like to ask for some private posts on the topic of carbo
loading from you folks trying it.  I thought that giving her some
supplemental energy during the early part of the race might sustain her
better until she starts eating of her own accord.  I looked at the
archives, but the posts I read were not all that specific on type used,
where to find it, amount used, and frequency of dosage.  I realize that I
will need to determine exact amounts/use based on my mare and her reactions
to it, but I would like any and all advice you can give.

I look forward to hearing from all of you.

Alisa Waxman
and AKB Pyewacket
(Since everyone asks, Pye is named after the cat in the old movie, Bell,
Book and Candle.  {I didn't name her!})