[Lucky Duck]

I'm sure some of you remember my post about my senior mare and her weight loss... for those of you who missed it: She is 26 and this Spring started dropping weight and not shedding out. At the time I was feeding her 6lbs 10% Protein, 6% Fat grain plus soaked beet pulp (3 cups dry) in the evening. I increased the grain 2 lbs and the beet pulp in the morning too and started to add Rice Bran as well as vegetable oil. I also noticed she was leaving a lot of her hay. Had the Vet out, she had her teeth done and blood work which indicated she has a tumor, low blood sugar and anemia. I also switched her to a 10% Protein, 11% Fat grain and started her on Red Cell.

Anyhow, she is not my mare, I adopted her. I notified the adoption place about the problems and apparently they think I am starving her!!! I am feeding the mare a total 14lbs of grain a day plus beet pulp, rice bran, red cell and veggie oil. They told me I should feed her 30lbs of grain a day! Doesn't the fact she isn't eating hay well and her medical reports count for anything??? What do you guys think?? Do you think I should be feeding her 30lbs of grain a day?? I am so frustrated... I would never purposefully starve an animal!!

[Blistering Winds]

Um NO! Tat would be TOO much. 30lbs should INCLUDE hay in the "weight" calculations!!!

[Lucky Duck]

Even the Senior feed bag says that you shouldn't feed any more than 5lbs of it per feeding!! The lady at the adoption place also said I shouldn't feed her beet pulp or rice bran because it could cause impaction... isn't the point of fiber, to get things moving?!? I am feeding shredded beet pulp soaked, not dry!

This mare is about 14.2hh and should probably be at most 900lbs. This is what I am feeding her twice a day right now:

5lbs Triple Crown Senior feed
2lbs Vitality 10 Sweet feed
3 cups beet pulp shreds soaked
1/2 lb Rice Bran
1 fluid ounce Red Cell
1/4 cup Veggie oil

And
2 flakes of hay (of which she leaves 1/2 to 1 flake)

Is this adequate??

[Gretajack]

I truely think that you are doing the best you can for this horse. Can your vet call the adoption facility and give his medical expertise? Ask them if they would like to do a barn visit with their vet. Just make sure they know you have nothing to hide and you are going the most in all your power to provide for this mare. Best of luck.

[Dawn]

This is what people don't realize can go wrong with adoption facilities.

No, your feed plan sounds completely reasonable. 30 lbs a day could kill her.

There's obviously something else going on.

[Equine Health Freak]

The best thing to do is get your Vet to call them.

[Lucky Duck]

She said if I couldn't commit to feeding her 30lbs a day, I would have to send her back!

I just am so upset, frustrated and mad all at the same time I just don't know what to do.

Right now, I am waiting for the vet to call me back...

[Cowgirl2135]

You need to tell her that 30lbs of grains could kill her! Why don't you talk to her in person WITH your vet.

[Blistering Winds]

Tell her to SHOVE IT and if she comes to take the horse, have a vet's statement with you! ANd tell her to take you to court!

THEY will kill the horse feeding the horse like that! You are doing AWESOME!

I personally would turn in the RESCUE!! Inform the Humane society of that. Even they can check into the amounts to feed and then drop in. OVER feeding is just as bad as UNDERFEEDING, especially in horses.

[spyro1]

Dont panic LD, jsut have all documents in order, including a feeding plan (the one you have her on is fabulous, btw) that is approved by your vet. Do you have an adoption contract signed with them? IF so, get it out and read it thoroughly. With her medical history, all of which I should point out was found out by you, NOT the rescue, (a little more ammo for ya) 30 lbs of grain is not going to do her any good, and would probably end up killing her. Stay in contact with your vet, he/she will be more than willling to help you with the rescue problems, I am sure