Re: Ulcers in Young Horses

["Mary Rose" <sloryder@fix.net>]

O.K. Here is my opinion.
Horses in the wild eat grain. Oh yes, I know it is a scary thought. Where do
you think grain comes from? It comes from grasses. In nature a horse would
graze on several species of grasses and leguemes and forbs. During the
spring and summer the grasses produce seed the seed is grain. Nature also
blesses the grazers so that the young are born in early spring so that as
the milk production declines the natural grains are available for the young.
Horses do not grow up to their full healty poteintal on just hay, they do
need some sort
additions to their diet.   I aint no  scientist, but I do know about what
grows out it those there hills.  Any other comments??

Mary Rose
-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Morris <bobmorris@rmci.net>
To: Jpcornes@aol.com <Jpcornes@aol.com>; ridecamp@endurance.net
<ridecamp@endurance.net>
Date: Tuesday, January 12, 1999 2:04 PM
Subject: Re: Ulcers in Young Horses


>Susan:
>
>How about letting this critter be a HORSE!!!
>
>Unless you are planning to raise him for meat for next winter, I would
>suggest cutting out the grain and let him grow up like a horse!
>
>The grain is not a natural food for a young horse and could be the basic
>problem antagonized by the insults to the body (leg wound, head wound and
>testicle wound)
>
>Can you imagine how you would feel if you were hurt and fed on a high
>protein diet with sugar added?
>Bob Morris
>Morris Endurance Enterprises
>Boise, ID
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Jpcornes@aol.com <Jpcornes@aol.com>
>To: ridecamp@endurance.net <ridecamp@endurance.net>
>Date: Tuesday, January 12, 1999 2:24 PM
>Subject: Ulcers in Young Horses
>
>
>>I have a colt I plan on using for endurance riding some day.  He will be 8
>>months old at the end of January.  I had him on what I thought was a
>>reasonable training program consisting of desensitizing to traffic, motor
>>bikes, etc.,  basic manners, such a picking up feet, short ponying
sessions
>>(less than 30 minutes), and several short (less than 5 miles round trip)
>>trailers rides, all with a buddy.  Did our first solo trailer ride this
w/e
>>which went well.   He had learned very quickly and appeared to be taking
it
>>all in stride.
>>
>>He has had loose stools since I got him at 4 months and has been off and
on
>>probiotics - more off than on.  Since the loose stools persisted I called
>the
>>vet and he believes he may have developed an ulcer.
>>
>>Other factors: he was weaned at 4 months, had an "upward traveling" leg
>injury
>>that went to the bone shortly after weaning,  which required antibiotics
>and
>>daily bandaging (healed nicely however).  Required 8 stiches on his face
>after
>>the ride to his new home (thrashed inside of the stock trailer) and then
>had a
>>case of diarrhea the second week in his new home.  The actual process of
>>gelding did not go well, but again recovered nicely.  He has free access
to
>>70/30 grass/alfafa and gets 3# grain in the am and 3# grain in the pm plus
>>vitamins added to the grain.
>>
>>Has anyone else has any experience with ulcers and young horses?  Or
>chronic
>>loose stools?  I thought I was doing the right thing by exposing him to as
>>much as possible at a young age but suddenly it feels like it has
>backfired.
>>The vet suggest no trailering or stressful lessons until next spring plus
>>probiotics on a daily basis.    I would appreciate any
comments/suggestions
>as
>>I am feeling rather discouraged.    Thanks.
>>
>>Susan
>>
>>
>
>