mizbeth
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- Nov 30, 2002
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Hi
I would certainly get her off the prairie grass too and feed with more protein in it. Some horses simply do not do well on so much hay and will look bloated when eating it. Since you must have recently gotten her I would try to "purge" her for worms and see if that part of the belly problem. Perhpas she has hooks on her teeth as well? If she cannot digest her food properly that will also cause the big belly.
She does need to have a lot less hay and more other feed. It is true that lots of miniautre horses will look large in the belly from not enough feed, just like the example above of the starving children. I cannot tell you about her back. That too could be from "lack" of proper feed, poor trimming of her rear hooves. Could be she has walked "down" on her heels for some period of time. This can cause that/look too.
I think she will be fine. Perhaps smaller feeding three times a day rather than two feedings per day? Does she have a larger area to move around in than where these photos were taken? You can use cattle panels and T Posts to make her a larger area, even if you have limited room at your place.
I would watch the dogs tho., in a larger area. They LOVE to play with the horses and can hurt, mame, or even kill her. Even your "sweet house dogs", but especially dogs with the breeding yours have can get carried away sometimes.
Good luck and let us know how she is doing. I bet in one months time, we won't recognize how nice she looks!
Beth
I would certainly get her off the prairie grass too and feed with more protein in it. Some horses simply do not do well on so much hay and will look bloated when eating it. Since you must have recently gotten her I would try to "purge" her for worms and see if that part of the belly problem. Perhpas she has hooks on her teeth as well? If she cannot digest her food properly that will also cause the big belly.
She does need to have a lot less hay and more other feed. It is true that lots of miniautre horses will look large in the belly from not enough feed, just like the example above of the starving children. I cannot tell you about her back. That too could be from "lack" of proper feed, poor trimming of her rear hooves. Could be she has walked "down" on her heels for some period of time. This can cause that/look too.
I think she will be fine. Perhaps smaller feeding three times a day rather than two feedings per day? Does she have a larger area to move around in than where these photos were taken? You can use cattle panels and T Posts to make her a larger area, even if you have limited room at your place.
I would watch the dogs tho., in a larger area. They LOVE to play with the horses and can hurt, mame, or even kill her. Even your "sweet house dogs", but especially dogs with the breeding yours have can get carried away sometimes.
Good luck and let us know how she is doing. I bet in one months time, we won't recognize how nice she looks!
Beth