I have a stallion that paces constantly. He is in a large pen. When he is on grass in a confined area, he still paces. It is hard to keep weight on him because of this. Should I eliminate some of his protein intake? He gets a grass hay mixture with not much alfalfa. His protein comes from a mineral and vitatmin supplement and oats. thanks, dionne
Why would you decrease the protein intake? What I would do, is put a mare or gelding in the stall / lot with him to keep him company. A friend of mine had a big time stall pacer, and she put a steril mare in with him to keep him company. He would work himself down to skin and bones and drip sweat if he was left alone.
But i dont see why you would decrease the protein, if anything, you would think that you would need to INCREASE it to meet the work he is putting himself through. I have a gelding, who will pace the fence line for hours if my father turns one of his big horses out in the next pasture over and i normally bring him in and stall him if its to warm out, he will just work himself to where he is almost in a panic.
I would "give him" a gentle friendly gelding or steril mare (or even a mare you are breeding to him) to keep him company.