jj in foal? new mares pictures/soon jewel too!

[crisco41]

chanda

No it hinkI understood you. I mixed up your recommended feeding and divided it in half. I want to start them slow. When i said I would just feed the chop..I meant give up on hay totally and feed the chopped hay in its place. But I intended to keep up the other feeds you so kindly gave me amounts of. So I hope i got it right. Am still feeding some hay. until i get them switched or find nonfescue supplier I may have no choice. thanks all.

have never seen the mini cubes..i will look on next trip

 

[chandab]

chanda

No it hinkI understood you. I mixed up your recommended feeding and divided it in half. I want to start them slow. When i said I would just feed the chop..I meant give up on hay totally and feed the chopped hay in its place. But I intended to keep up the other feeds you so kindly gave me amounts of. So I hope i got it right. Am still feeding some hay. until i get them switched or find nonfescue supplier I may have no choice. thanks all.

have never seen the mini cubes..i will look on next trip

I think I gotcha. And, starting slow is always good.

If your TSC has the Standlee mini cubes, the bag should look like this:

Looks like the mini cubes only come in tim/alfa mix, but that would be just fine. I've tried them once or twice; my closest TSC is 3 hours one-way and I hate going to that town since the oil boom (its just scary with traffic, these days); so, I don't get standlee products too often.

 

[paintponylvr]

Can't wait to see more pics of your little ladies!

Really like both the pinto mares (I'm a sucker for pinto spots & silver dapples, LOL) and your other little mare looks like one of mine (the one that looks like may be a silver buckskin - dam of Snowflake).

And snoflake looks alot like a cremello mare I have, too.

We had lots of problems with that filly - first when I saw her in the breeders pasture and she followed us arouund - she had a huge abcess in the left side of her check - right in front of her jaw bone. Also her left hind leg was mis-shapen - thought maybe she'd been stepped on "early-on" (maybe at birth) and the strange look was new bone growth grwoing over the bruised/injured, possibly broken, bone... Well, he said if I could catch her, I could add her to the group I was buying (for a low price...personally should have been 0). Well, that turned into a wrestling match - both of us ended up upside down in the dirt, manure and dust of that pen - but I got the culprit out of her jaw (a huge, thorny, thisle pod) - when I cleaned it - hole went all the way thru her cheek. And I put her in the back of the trailer. 4 of the 7 ponies on the trailer weren't halter broke or handled at all - 3 were that year babies, 2 had basic halter handling skills but loading the trailer was one whale of a rodeo!! One mare was "wet" and nursed the other two foals all the way home (1200 + miles). We'd been on the road back, spent the nite at a truck stop, and 1/2 thru the next day when I got the frantic call that I had the wrong foal and that the "little white one" was only about 5 or 6 weeks old... Well, I said if she lived it would be a miracle (she was not doing that great and I was worried), and that the other mare had adopted her and was nursing her - no problems. 2 weeks after we got back, I weaned the mare's real colt and the other filly off of her and kept her with the "little white one" - she'd been started on antibiotics when we got back. Off and on, the filly would come down sick and the first 1 1/2 yrs were rough! A lot of vet visits and sometimes lots of extra special care from us - while still trying to leave her to live like a horse.

Now I can say - she's finally developing into a nice little horse! She's almost 3 1/2 yrs old - still smallish (may take her with us to the AMHR show in NC in April to see if she'll measure in) and very refined. She'd been for sale, but recently our oldest daughter intimated that she'd like to have a foal out of little "Kechi" - so may be pulling her off our our sales list and thinking about breeding her. She has a good bite and her other legs are good - so stillthinking that the "funky" left one is due to an early day injury rather than a genetic deformity. If you have followed any of the driving horse threads, she's pictured there as I recently had her 1st three hitches. If you want to see more pics - her name is Kechi and she's on our Jr mares page, then click on her and go to her page.

So, Snowflake should be coming along really nice!! Glad that she's in your hands now - that is the most important.

 

[crisco41]

kechi is adorable.

Thank you for sharing your experience. Hairey! glad it all turned out.

Snowflake has put on some wt. Not a lot. She is very sweet. I am concerned about her though..her bad leg..well..even the hoof looks funny .a little. .smaller..like it hasn't really formed properly from her not using it as strong as she should.

question on the mini cubes..can you NOT soak these? thanks

 

[crisco41]

do you think I should give my 2 bred mares shots? at least the pneumobort? and tetanus? know they aren't current but not sure of their histories.

both ESTIMATED due end of May first part of June ..although I wouldn't be surprised if jj goes sooner as she is getting big..at least to me.. Tummy will be on one side one day..then the other the next

 

[Jamie Hunt]

What about chaffhaye? I feed it to my goats and horse, instead of pellets and I love it! All my girls look better on it vs alfalfa pellets. I think they do a coastal version too. Where I live it is affordable compared to baled alfalfa and more reliable than pellets.

 

[crisco41]

I was at the vet the other day..however my regular vet wasn't there and so waiting to ask her.I know you all are so sick of me and my questions..the same ones over and over again..i am just confused cuz i have had so many folks tell me opposing things.

I remain so confused on feed. My vet told me no straight alfalfa for my minis..and also not to be graining them. She does not want the foals to get too big prior to birthing. Ok so fine by me. Neither one has a need to gain weight. But I want them to get all the vitamins. proteins and minerals they need. My hay is so -so..and it does have fescue. It is a round bale with 24/7 access. I will be pulling them off fescue with in 60 days of foaling. Have heard everything from 45 days to 90 days.

Right now all the horses are getting a lil soaked beat pulp ( like 1/2 c to share between 5) and 4 pounds of soaked timothy /alf cubes divided between them. I am adding in 1 c of omalene 300 and 1/2 c calf manna for the skinniest mare daisy and her 11 month old skinny half starved snowflake to share. Daisy is finally almost where I want her, and snowflake is not so boney but has a way to go still. I would think snowflake as a higher protein need...could i fill that by giving more straight alfalfa cubes? I have started the vitamin dumor vitamin gold..at 1/4th the dose as a large horse/ foal. They also have a regular salt block and a mineral salt block,,,

ok feed guru's. Help me finally put this issue to rest. I have had mature bighorses for ever...basically hay or grass , water and a mineral block. NEVER had these issues to deal with before/

 

[AnnaC]

As I'm in the UK I cant really give you much info regarding the feed you have available over there, but one thing I will say - that vet wants shooting!! Research shows that for a mare to go through labour and birth is on par with a fit racehorse running a very hard race and, as we know that racehorse is not going to be able to perform without plenty of good quality food!!

It sounds to me as though you may be mixing too many types of feed together - making things more complicated for yourself than is necessary. Do you have pasture (of any sort)? If so keep them out on it as much as possible it will help them 'trickle' feed which is good for their wellbeing. Then settle on a good quality feed with a 14-16% protein level and preferably a low starch level and feed this at the recommended amount for those who are underweight, young or breeding, and a little under the recommended weight for any who are looking good body wise. Find a good quality mineral lick - many horses are not that keen on the 'blocks', preferring those that come supplied in containers - and leave it with them free choice.

Soaked beet pulp can be good for them - some of mine cant stand it! - but remember that your minis might not be able to cope with more than 3lbs of feed in any one meal, and once you get them to the full amount of your chosen feed, adding the beet pulp may push the total amount of feed per meal too high. Of course this can be solved by increasing the number of feeds given! Likewise if feeding alfalfa cubes/other high fibre cubes to help with fibre levels (depending upon the grass available or lack of it) will require these to be fed separately so as not to overtax their tummies or digestive systems. If you can get a new supply of safe hay then they can have free choice access to this (if no pasture) as once used to it, they will 'trickle' feed as necessary, just as they would on grass.

Give them as much space as you can to move around in - a lot of folks with dry lots put hay out in small piles dotted around so that the horses move around between piles - horses ultimately get fat through lack of exercise rather than the amount of food supplied in my opinion!

Hope some of this may be of help to you - you are doing a wonderful job with your little ones, keep up the good work.

 

[Eagle]

I too am in Europe so I can't help much with types of feed but I totally agree with all that Anna has said. It is hard re-learning everything when you go from "big" horses to minis but we have all had to re adjust so don't worry about being confused as most of us went through the same situation when we switched to minis.

Good for you for wanting the best for your chips

 

[chandab]

I was at the vet the other day..however my regular vet wasn't there and so waiting to ask her.I know you all are so sick of me and my questions..the same ones over and over again..i am just confused cuz i have had so many folks tell me opposing things.

I remain so confused on feed. My vet told me no straight alfalfa for my minis..and also not to be graining them. She does not want the foals to get too big prior to birthing. Ok so fine by me. Neither one has a need to gain weight. But I want them to get all the vitamins. proteins and minerals they need. My hay is so -so..and it does have fescue. It is a round bale with 24/7 access. I will be pulling them off fescue with in 60 days of foaling. Have heard everything from 45 days to 90 days.

Right now all the horses are getting a lil soaked beat pulp ( like 1/2 c to share between 5) and 4 pounds of soaked timothy /alf cubes divided between them. I am adding in 1 c of omalene 300 and 1/2 c calf manna for the skinniest mare daisy and her 11 month old skinny half starved snowflake to share. Daisy is finally almost where I want her, and snowflake is not so boney but has a way to go still. I would think snowflake as a higher protein need...could i fill that by giving more straight alfalfa cubes? I have started the vitamin dumor vitamin gold..at 1/4th the dose as a large horse/ foal. They also have a regular salt block and a mineral salt block,,,

ok feed guru's. Help me finally put this issue to rest. I have had mature bighorses for ever...basically hay or grass , water and a mineral block. NEVER had these issues to deal with before/

To be honest... Ask 100 horseman, you'll likely get 101 answers as to how to feed horses.

Personally, I don't like to feed straight alfalfa, and prefer straight grass or grass/alfalfa mix. I feed a low volume grain (small amount packs enough punch to get their nutritional needs met for the average to easy keepers). [i do feed a higher volume commercial feed to two hard keepers, and senior feed to my senior stallion.]

Minis are still horses, and many should be able to eat like you fed your big horses with hay/grass, water, and salt block being just fine; but sometimes there are exceptions. I came to minis from big horses, still have 2 big horses (they get hay/pasture, salt and water); and I still have problems with my feed program, not really sure why I think all my minis need "grain", except perhaps because they are on drylot most of the time, so I feel sorry for them, and give them grain as compensation. I really don't know.

At the moment, I'm rather happy with my feed program after a few years of trial and error (changed from one program that was working due to rising feed costs). I feed homegrown grass or grass-mix hay (we have cattle, so put up our own hay, and I pick the best grass or grass mix bales we have to feed the horses), an extruded horse feed (I think its 12% protein, and the 8 horses on it are doing well on just 3/4# daily) and I have been feeding beet pulp (will be dropping it after my current supply is gone, its a hassle to get and a hassle to feed for me and I haven't seen that much benefit for me, just feel like I'm lining the feed guys pocketbook). The two hard keepers are on a high-end Low Carb feed; its doing wonders for one and ok for the other (she has lots of issues, so its always trial and error to get it just right), along with the same hay. And, the senior stallion is on senior feed, he does great on it; he can eat hay, but goes through bouts of pickiness and won't eat it, so I have to increase his senior to keep his weight where it should be. Last summer, when the mares were pregnant and lactating; I top-dressed their normal ration with Triple Crown Growth, just 1 cup 2x daily for each did the trick to keep them in shape (I have to special order all Triple Crown products, so don't use them excessively, even though I really like their products). [FYI - my mares are mostly B-size, so larger than what many have. All three pregnant/lactating mares last year were large B-size mares, all 38" tall.]

I'll just share a couple pics of the shape my mares were in last summer on this program; which they also got daily grazing time while nursing their foals.







Misty, the silver dapple, is my chunky momma and she is always heavier than the others; she looked the best I've seen her while caring for her foal (and she still looks pretty good now).

 

[crisco41]

your horses look wonderful

I have no pasture to speak of right now. I should have a small amount this sumer for them to graze. I will have to dry lot the bred mares soon to get them off any fescue.

Things are further complicated by the fact I am hoping to move in May...so need to get there place set up there as well as having someplace for them now. I have been looking for non fescue grass hay. So far not much luck. Perhaps that is my most difficult problem. My big horses have never been bred..so a hay mostly diet has alwatts been adequate. If I do find non fescue hay..my problems will pretty much be solved.

I truly am not comfortable using hay cubes as an only source of roughage. My vet said it would be fine..a breeder lady with big horses said its fine..but something in my gut tells me it is wrong.....not that I know squat mind you

 

[Eagle]

Chanda you seem to do things different than most of us here. I will leave feeding advice to you as I don't know enough about Crisco's horses, location or exercise received to feel comfortable.

 

[chandab]

Chanda you seem to do things different than most of us here. I will leave feeding advice to you as I don't know enough about Crisco's horses, location or exercise received to feel comfortable.

I think the biggest difference is probably what's available; both for feed items and pasture or drylot situation. There are huge differences between here in the states and other countries; and amazingly different ideas just here in the states. [Diane swears by alfalfa, I typically swear at. A large part of the differences comes down to what's available and what you are comfortable with.]

 

[chandab]

your horses look wonderful

I have no pasture to speak of right now. I should have a small amount this sumer for them to graze. I will have to dry lot the bred mares soon to get them off any fescue.

Things are further complicated by the fact I am hoping to move in May...so need to get there place set up there as well as having someplace for them now. I have been looking for non fescue grass hay. So far not much luck. Perhaps that is my most difficult problem. My big horses have never been bred..so a hay mostly diet has alwatts been adequate. If I do find non fescue hay..my problems will pretty much be solved.

I truly am not comfortable using hay cubes as an only source of roughage. My vet said it would be fine..a breeder lady with big horses said its fine..but something in my gut tells me it is wrong.....not that I know squat mind you

Thank you.

If we didn't put up our own hay, which many of you would likely not feed your horses (some of it is a bit coarse or overly mature when harvested), I would likely buy more hay cubes or even bagged chopped forage products; but since we do put up our own hay, I'm going to use it and put that savings towards other care expenses.

Hay cubes can be the only source of forage in a horse's diet, and 99% of horses do just fine on it. There is nothing wrong with an all cube diet; but since we have access to decent hay, I'm going to feed hay.

Oh, and we have no pasture at this moment, its winter, there is no grass, everything is dormant and won't be trying to green up for at least another month (maybe longer, winter lasts so long here, I just can't remember when spring actually comes). And, even though I have grass in the summer; I don't have mini safe permanent fencing, so I move portable panels all summer around our hay yard and a few other areas that aren't fenced for cows, so that the minis can spend part of most days on grass (they are in their drylots at night for safety).

 

[Eagle]

I think the biggest difference is probably what's available; both for feed items and pasture or drylot situation. There are huge differences between here in the states and other countries; and amazingly different ideas just here in the states. [Diane swears by alfalfa, I typically swear at. A large part of the differences comes down to what's available and what you are comfortable with.]

Yes I agree

 

[Eagle]

Yes we had a very sad story here a while back with 2 pregnant mares that were on fescue

A little piece of info for you all, alfalfa here in Italy is called "erba medica" which translated means "medicinal grass"

 

[crisco41]

posted on main forum how our nice little sunday mini walked turned in to an attack from a GSD. We are all so very lucky. shok up but lucky and will be prepared next time

 

[chandab]

A little piece of info for you all, alfalfa here in Italy is called "erba medica" which translated means "medicinal grass"

Very cool information. Thank you.

 

[crisco41]

well heck..i have loved that vet for 18 years

ok then I will just go ahead and find some alfalfa hay. I see a ton of it advertised just been afraid to get it. I imagine it would be good for my coming yearling skinny filly also?

 

[chandab]

Can't overly fault most vets for limited nutrition knowledge, unless they seek out extra classes and schooling, they typically only get a semester or maybe two of nutrition classes, and if they aren't an equine specialist, then those classes probably cover all species they may cover in their practice.

There are numerous good books on nutrition out there, there is always the internet (gotta take some of the information with a grain of salt), feed companies have nutrition specialists (although, they will promote their brand over others - many of the company websites have fantastic information sections). [Progressive Nutrition has a pretty good "library" on their website with informative short articles on feeding, yes they are somewhat geared towards feeding their products, but still good reading. http://www.prognutrition.com/library.html ]