[bay_blnd jmpr07]

Two in one here...

Fist...I'll be in contact with the coach about Mars's future as a stallion. I'll be taking pictures and sending them and possibly taking Mars up for another "interview".

The coach knows one of my vets (the old Irishman, knows his stuff) and really likes him. Coach wants basically a pre-purchase exam done on Mars.

Does that mean x-rays? I was thinking x-rays of the hoovs and knees? Anything else that is included in a PPE?

Second...

Legz...as most know she went through a tough time when Lucy got sick and I had to move her to the vet clinic and she never came home. Legz lost weight and struggled a bit. She and Mars are on a RB. She was getting quite a bit for a "companion mini" (as in she isn't exercised beyond whatever she does on her own). I put her on BP too because I wasn't seeing improvement. It worked and it put the pounds on. I took out the BP and have since been decreasing her grain...she's getting a little bit round (I don't think she's too bad to be honest, but I don't want her getting fat, she's only 16 months old). She's getting just under 1/4 of what she had been getting. It's like a big handful.

She also gets grass hay. A flake a day. I have heavy flakes.

I wouldn't mind taking all grain out, but it's almost time for it to get cold (ok, it is time for it to be cold but it's almost 90* today! ). I know horses use hay to keep warm, add more hay before grain, right? I dole(sp?) out the hay like it's going outa style on cold days. I don't blanket either, so I'm very generous with hay.

But I don't want to get in a position where I end up having to struggle to get weight back on when it's cold.

If I take all grain out, should I give her something else? I've read about giving vit/min supps. Any info on those? She's a 16 month old miniature filly.

[imacowgirl2]

As long as the amount of RB you are feeding her is what is recommended for her weight (meaning she is getting all the nutrition she should), I would keep feeding it, as IMO the benefits outweigh the calories. RB's are low in calories compared to most feeds, and especially when they are looked at in the scheme of the calories of the whole diet. As a growing horse she needs the high quality protein (and amino acids to utelize the protein) found in RB's that you just aren't going to find in a vit/min. supplement (plus RB's are generally easier to feed IMO).

[JBandRio]

PPEs can include xrays, but don't have to. Pretty much a PPE can be whatever you want/need it to be - flexions, xrays, etc. Xrays could include feet (never a bad idea to have baselines), and hocks and stifles looking for signs of OCD or other (potential) issues. In-hand w/t, and w/t lunging is a good idea as well, both on a hard and soft surface to make sure there are no changes in soundness based on direction or footing.

For Legz, you may be really suprised how well hay works to keep her warm. If you feel things might get out of hand, put a weight tape on her every week or 2 so you can adjust things quickly. Beet pulp would be a safe way to add calories. I would not use anything with any actual grain in it for a mini.

[1rish]

If I am paying over 10k for a horse they get xrays of the knees, hocks, front fetlocks and front feet. If questionable their stifles as well. They also get their airways scoped.

If I am paying 4k for a horse I usually have them flexed and longed w/t/c on hard surface and any area's that are the slightest bit off get xrayed.

It all depends on what the purchaser wants and how much they are willing to spend.

[bay_blnd jmpr07]

^Mars isn't up for sale LOL The coach would be free leasing him and train him (with my help) and get him ready for the 100 Day Test. And if he passes and gets his breeding lisence he'll be stationed out of the college's barn and used for their breeding program as well as outside mares.

And I get a discount at the vet for working there and Mars is my free pet now.

[bay_blnd jmpr07]

Originally Posted by JBandRio

PPEs can include xrays, but don't have to. Pretty much a PPE can be whatever you want/need it to be - flexions, xrays, etc. Xrays could include feet (never a bad idea to have baselines), and hocks and stifles looking for signs of OCD or other (potential) issues. In-hand w/t, and w/t lunging is a good idea as well, both on a hard and soft surface to make sure there are no changes in soundness based on direction or footing.

For Legz, you may be really suprised how well hay works to keep her warm. If you feel things might get out of hand, put a weight tape on her every week or 2 so you can adjust things quickly. Beet pulp would be a safe way to add calories. I would not use anything with any actual grain in it for a mini.

So you're saying I should/could take her off the RB and if she starts dropping add it back?

[Dawn]

You're using RB to stand for ration balancer right? What exact product are you using and how much are you feeding?

If it is a ration balancer, then 99.9% chance, there is no grain in it.

[bay_blnd jmpr07]

RB is Ration Balancer. That's all I'm feeding her right now plus grass hay.

Mars is on 3-4lbs a day plus beat pulp. She used to get about 1lb a day but has been getting cut back since she gained the weight and has been maintaining. She's getting a handful or two now. I had added beat pulp to her grain too to get her weight up and once it was up she's been maintaining and actually continuing to gain and is getting chunky.

I don't know how much she weighs (will be weighing both horses tomorrow).

I use Born to Win for both of mine. The bag only has 400lbs as the lowest weight for feeding...Legz is nowhere near that LOL

I was saying grain before because it's pelleted...sorry. It looks like every other grain out there and I just keep calling it grain.

[Dawn]

16 months old and weighs what, 200 lbs? According to their recommendations, that is a little over 1/2 lb a day. (Take their recommended amount for horses her age, divide it by the weight given and then multiply it by her weight.) You can double check with them (contact them through their website) on that too.

If she's only getting 1/4 of what she was getting, then it's not enough. Try moving her back up to a little over 1/2 lb and see how she responds.

[bay_blnd jmpr07]

Originally Posted by Dawn

16 months old and weighs what, 200 lbs? According to their recommendations, that is a little over 1/2 lb a day. (Take their recommended amount for horses her age, divide it by the weight given and then multiply it by her weight.) You can double check with them (contact them through their website) on that too.

If she's only getting 1/4 of what she was getting, then it's not enough. Try moving her back up to a little over 1/2 lb and see how she responds.

She'll get fat LOL I cut beat pulp out of her diet 2 months ago and she continued to gain even with just what she was getting. So I took it down...still gained and cut it down again.

Does she honestly need a grain or Ration Balancer? I think she's more a pony...gets fat on air and just thinking about food haha

Is there something I could just give that would get her nutrients she needs with out it having calories and her gaining anything?