[Dawn]

Originally Posted by Shannon

Maybe two of the places I called within a 50 mile radius carried the TC 30%. Now that we know that it was just the ridiculous amount of RB making her fat (and she wasn't even quite as fat as I thought-- just very well sprung ribs, a deep heartgirth, and slightly wasp wasted creating a "beer belly" illusion LOL), maybe I DON'T need to go with something super low in calories. TC Complete is very readily available, though I don't know if that would make her hot.

I was honestly considering maybe just giving her a little rice bran and a good multi vitamin, and while I don't even know if that would compare to an RB, I don't have a water source near the paddock/her feed bin. I mentioned in the OP I think that the barn worker feeds her supplements since I just have them bagged and ready for him, and I can't expect him to walk all the way across the barn to put water in her bucket. I guess I could get a big jug of water and refill it every so often.



Nope. I'm sure the oat hay could be the culprit too. I really can't afford to switch to all grass hay at this time though since I lost my job She was owned by the lady who owned the huge equestrian facility she lived at for the past few years, so I'm sure she could afford to feed her caviar with her rice bran if she wanted LOL.

I'll get pictures tomorrow

If you fed Complete, not only would you have to feed a much higher amount (6 lbs as opposed to the 2 you're currently feeding). But it's also higher in calories than the Lite. (1596/lb as opposed to 1150/lb, overall daily difference of 7,276 calories.) A better option would be Triple Crown Senior. But really not a huge difference there at all when you're talking about 'that many' calories.

Your issue will be finding a 'good' multi-vitamin. And then you'll most likely also need to add an amino acid supplement as well. And in the end you're going to end up spending quite a bit of money between the rice bran and vit/min supplement (especially if you also have to add an amino acid on top of that).

And some horses do have really well sprung ribs. They just don't cover. Not saying that's the case with her, but it is a possibility.

So if you really think that she needs that many calories, look at Triple Crown Senior, not Complete. Another possibility would be Low Starch (but I'd go with senior over that all things considered).

[pantha11]

I am just a little curios here....before you brought her...your visits to see her, where they to see if you like her to buy her....or was whe just a horse you where working, then decided to buy/get her.

[Dawn]

Also since the behavior started right after she was moved, maybe it's the opposite of what I suggested. As in, it's a result of her not being 100% comfy and settled in yet? Just a thought.

[Shannon]

Originally Posted by Dawn

If you fed Complete, not only would you have to feed a much higher amount (6 lbs as opposed to the 2 you're currently feeding). But it's also higher in calories than the Lite. (1596/lb as opposed to 1150/lb, overall daily difference of 7,276 calories.) A better option would be Triple Crown Senior. But really not a huge difference there at all when you're talking about 'that many' calories.

Your issue will be finding a 'good' multi-vitamin. And then you'll most likely also need to add an amino acid supplement as well. And in the end you're going to end up spending quite a bit of money between the rice bran and vit/min supplement (especially if you also have to add an amino acid on top of that).

And some horses do have really well sprung ribs. They just don't cover. Not saying that's the case with her, but it is a possibility.

So if you really think that she needs that many calories, look at Triple Crown Senior, not Complete. Another possibility would be Low Starch (but I'd go with senior over that all things considered).

Ah okay. I forgot that that you have to feed quite that much TC Complete. Nevermind!

Forget the weight issue then, as it's probably just me being nitpicky. I'll still get pictures though.

Main concern is definitely her attitude I forgot to mention that she just isn't very friendly and acts "sour." She doesn't come up to you in the paddock and will actually walk away and halfheartedly avoid being caught. She just wants to chill in the corner of her paddock with her friends. At any given point in time, this is how you find them...



She was lovey-dovey at the other barn, and when she first came everyone couldn't get over how sweet she was out in the paddock-- everyone would go visit her. There is definitely a HUGE difference there.

Originally Posted by pantha11

I am just a little curios here....before you brought her...your visits to see her, where they to see if you like her to buy her....or was whe just a horse you where working, then decided to buy/get her.

I'm really not concerned about her being drugged or anything. The vet I had do the PPE has been her vet for years, and when I asked if I should pull blood to hold in case we had any issues, he laughed and said no. This vet is very very reputable in my area.

I did show up one time unannounced, but most of the time I did have to tell them I was coming because the horse she was stalled next to and turned out every day with, an old retired gelding, absolutely could not be separated from her without nearly having a heart attack. I actually had to wait to move her until he had been transported to his new retirement home She was FINE when separated from him though.

She also has a pretty darn decent show record, all of which with amateurs, which supports this.

Originally Posted by Dawn

Also since the behavior started right after she was moved, maybe it's the opposite of what I suggested. As in, it's a result of her not being 100% comfy and settled in yet? Just a thought.

I guess it IS possible, though I just gave her 9 days of zero work, only being handled once in case that was the...case LOL. No difference. She was a show horse for years, and when I brought her to this barn, she walked off the trailer like a champ and just went straight to chilling in her new paddock.

I'm wondering if maybe I should be concerned about ulcers?

[Dawn]

Ulcers could be a possibility certainly. You might try using ranitidine to see if her 'symptoms' improve. If so, then move on to actually treating.

But, I'm wondering what her 'turnout' situatoin was at the other barn. Was she by herself? In a small group? Larger group?

Where she is now, does she have any buddies in the same enclosure she's in? I think I saw you mention that she did (unexpectdly), not sure how many and if they were still in there or not though.

Sorry, just running down some trains of thought!

[Shannon]

Originally Posted by Dawn

Ulcers could be a possibility certainly. You might try using ranitidine to see if her 'symptoms' improve. If so, then move on to actually treating.

Ooo, never heard of that. I'll have to look into that.

But, I'm wondering what her 'turnout' situatoin was at the other barn. Was she by herself? In a small group? Larger group?

She was turned out with said madly-in-love gelding. I guess he had a chronic attachment issue and would get deathly attached to any horse he was with often, and they had to move him when she was sold because they didn't have another horse that could spend all day with him. He was over 17h and was a danger to himself and others if separated.

She was stalled between him and another horse. She really was fine when separated from him; it was him that was the problem.

Where she is now, does she have any buddies in the same enclosure she's in? I think I saw you mention that she did (unexpectdly), not sure how many and if they were still in there or not though.

Luckily they cleaned out the other paddock and that horse is now in there. He's still right next to her, but she is by herself.

Sorry, just running down some trains of thought!

Noooo worries whatsoever LOL

[Dawn]

I would be inclined to think that it could be a 'seperation' issue. Not isolation. You can tell she's not by that one photo, but she's not actually with another horse and directly interacting with them like she's used to. Shared fence lines are definately better than nothing, but it might not be enough to avoid an issue like this with her. (Then again, I could be totally off as well )

Ranitidine requires adminstration several times a day. You use a lower dose than would be used to 'treat' ulcers, but it still must be administered frequently. (It's not a long acting acid suppressor like GastroGuard is (for instance). Which is why it has to be administered so often.)

[Shannon]

Originally Posted by Dawn

I would be inclined to think that it could be a 'seperation' issue. Not isolation. You can tell she's not by that one photo, but she's not actually with another horse and directly interacting with them like she's used to. Shared fence lines are definately better than nothing, but it might not be enough to avoid an issue like this with her. (Then again, I could be totally off as well )

I honestly kind of doubt it-- she was with that gelding for about two weeks, and was just the same She is very low in the pecking order, and he would chase her off her food, so it's not really an option to put them back together. The barn worker was having to hold him at lunch time because he didn't get a lunch and would eat all of hers

Ranitidine requires adminstration several times a day. You use a lower dose than would be used to 'treat' ulcers, but it still must be administered frequently. (It's not a long acting acid suppressor like GastroGuard is (for instance). Which is why it has to be administered so often.)

That might be kind of an issue then I'm closer than you are to your barn LOL, but still a whole 9 miles from the barn! Okay that's not that far, but I am driving a V8 truck now.

Is that the only thing that could work in my situation?

[Dawn]

Originally Posted by Shannon

That might be kind of an issue then I'm closer than you are to your barn LOL, but still a whole 9 miles from the barn! Okay that's not that far, but I am driving a V8 truck now.

Is that the only thing that could work in my situation?

A whole 9 miles! Oh my goodness, so far away I'd love to find a barn 9 miles away, I'd even settle for 10!

Just kidding (well a little). Ranitidine seems to be one of the easiest ways to determine if a horse has ulcers without sinking a lot of money into treatment, scoping (which is nowhere near 100% anyway), etc...

I'm thinking the ranitidine has to be given every 8 hours? But I might be wrong on that. If she's fed twice a day, then that would only leave you twice that you might have to go out and give it yourself? I believe you should be able to see a difference in a week at most from what I remember. (Keep in mind I've never actually used this method personally, just read other's results.)

[Dawn]

Wow it must be my bedtime. If it's every 8 hours, that would mean you'd only need to go out once. But spacing of her meals by barn staff might not be right as well....I could also be way off on that 8 hours.

(Double checked, it is every 8 hours. So maybe this would be an option for you?)