The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Get some other opinions on it too. That's what this thread is all about. You DON'T have to always take my word for stuff. Someone else may have differnt views.

Becky

[CindyDawg]

He lost a lot of weight when I brought him here. He's big and buff again. He will go from 3 scoops to 2 scoops of feed and I will have to give him his suppliments myself or stop them. He will change from alfapha to african star. There is no shelter out there. All the stalls are full and if I want to bring him back in if the pastures get flooded like last year there may not be an opening. Of course she wants me to keep him stalled but Eddie now pushing for me to also for the above reasons. As you say , besides cost the disadvantage is that he stays cooped up and I would rather him be able to run free.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Go to bed:)

Becky

[Superdoot]

Ok, I'm really going this time nite. :)

[CindyDawg]

True but I value your opinion. Like Eddie says, it has to be my decsion but to make it work I have to address these othere issues too.

[CindyDawg]

And I have to let her know by friday

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

He never had shelter at Celia's and he didn't have shelter here. The other day we had a hail storm everyone of my horse came running out of their stall because they didn't like the noise on the roof, they stood out in hail. They are horses:), they won't die.

He only lost the weight because of the stress of the move. You'll probably be able to stop feed altogether out on grass if it is good. He's an easy keeper. I wouldn't be giving him suppliments anyway. Suppliments, IMO, are for a specialized problem or older horses whose digestion may not be up to par. IMO, for Okie it's a waste of money.

I don't understand the part about Eddie, does he want you to keep him stalled or turn him out?

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I don't remember if you ever told me...did you ever find out what precentage of protein the feed he gets has?

Your post about him being "big and buff" makes me want to ask if you know about founder?

Becky

[CindyDawg]

He wants me to do what I want and knows my concerns and just tells me that we can afford it and I shouldn't worry about the money part and decide on the other concerns I mentioned but the cost does affect my decision too. To me it's like throwing money away to me. What I could save would make a land payment and then I get to thinking that maybe I'm just being cheap at my horses expense though.

[CindyDawg]

Founder? I was concerned he might be getting fat but it's all muscle. They estimate he has gained 50-70 pds but I don't know how much he lost first. I forgot the protein. Remember she changed.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I will just keep repeating, He's a horse, horses live out. They are happier out. Stalls can cause more problems then they help. I can't think of one good thing a stall does for a horse other then keep it's coat from fading. When we had our shed divided into stalls the horses were only kept in the stalls for no more then 8-10 hours in the winter at night, in the summer during the day. So they were out alot more then 5 hours. 5 hours is not much.

If the pasture floods what do the other horses out there do? where do they go?

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

How can it be muscle when he stands 19 hours a day?

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I meant to add, Now that my horses have free choice to go in or out as they please, they stand out. Rocky goes in his stall, but Rocky, being a stud, was always stalled before we got him, and he is a bad cribber. He has almost killed himself several times cribbing.

Becky

[CindyDawg]

Ok, I looked it up. I don't see any problems except the stumbling at times. I guess it wouldn't hurt to get the vet to look at him again. Wouldn't the ferrier notice if he was having problems though. I check his feet all the time and notice no hotness or problems.

[CindyDawg]

I just meant he's not flabby. He's solid.

[CindyDawg]

I hear you.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

To tell if your horse is getting to fat even if it looks like muscle look at his back. If he has a "trough" down the center, IOW's there is flesh on both sides higher then his back bone, he is too fat, muscle or not. His back should be flat, you should be able to feel his ribs when you run your hand over his sides.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Ok, sorry.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Hey, did your kids make it in? I haven't heard you say anything about the boys??

Becky

[CindyDawg]

No it's ok. I just meant I am listening. It's what I needed to hear because I have been worried that it might not be the best for him but it sounds like it is.