JuGGler_j0e
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A friend/employer of mine has a 30+ year old Morgan mare with bad teeth. I haven't checked her teeth myself to see what the trouble is, but I will as soon as I see her again.
Anyway, because of this problem, she is unable to eat enough and has lost a lot of weight. What with winter in Oregon coming on, and the trouble with food consumption, my friend is at a loss of what to do, and is thinking of just putting the mare down. I THINK THIS IS A BAD IDEA!! :new_shocked:
This mare is a sweet, gentle grandma of a horse, who is still happy and alert, with interested eyes and ears forward. I think it is possible to change her diet, and get more weight on her before winter. I haven't told any of this to my friend yet, but last time I talked to her about the mare, she seemed open to any helpful ideas.
WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK? Here's some info I've put together.
She is currently being fed 3 pounds of Senior Complete Feed twice daily, as well as a 1 gallon amount of loose hay leaf/seed twice daily. (Alfalfa leaf in morning, grass leaf at night). It's just the leaf/seed because she can't chew anything with stems.
She has constant turnout with a run-in shed. She has no grass in her paddock -- just dirt.
She has an automatic waterer, so I'm currently unable to monitor her fluid intake.
She has no salt/mineral blocks. I will try to get her one, as having none is totally unacceptable in my book.
She is never groomed, and her feet look like they haven't been cleaned in quite some time. They are also showing some minor cracking. (They are due for a trimming NOW!)
I talked to another friend of mine (who is unknown by my first friend) who is a Licenced Massage Therapist that practices bodywork on horses and people, and is very knowledgeable in alternative medicine and organic treatments. She is also the best horsewoman/trainer I have ever met -- that's not an overstatement! :aktion033: She suggested:
The mare should be put on hay pellets along with the Senior that she's already getting. Soaking the hay pellets should help if the mare has trouble eating them. She should also be put on Probiotics to help with her digestion. (And also her detox.)
I want to bring all this information to my friend (mare's owner) as soon as possible, as I don't know when she is planning to have the mare put down. That way she'll know all the options, and maybe change her mind about killing this sweet animal. I will also offer to take care of all the mare's other basic needs -- grooming, bathing, hoof cleaning/trimming, etc.
I really love this horse, and I see a ray of hope for her. I believe she still has a few more years left in her, and killing her just because we can't find the right type of feed is just stupid.
: Better to wait until she's in some REAL pain or discomfort before having her put down. If she can get her weight back, I'm sure my friend will change her mind, and keep her alive. I know she's going to have to leave us someday, and I accept that fact. Even if this mare died in her sleep, I wouldn't be sad about it -- I'd be happy that I gave her one last chance, and that she'd had a full life as a champion award-winning show horse. (SHE WAS!!!
: )
Anyway, let me know what you think about all this. If you have any other useful info that I could share with my friend to convince her, please post! If you have any questions about the mare please ask away.
Thank you!
Anyway, because of this problem, she is unable to eat enough and has lost a lot of weight. What with winter in Oregon coming on, and the trouble with food consumption, my friend is at a loss of what to do, and is thinking of just putting the mare down. I THINK THIS IS A BAD IDEA!! :new_shocked:
This mare is a sweet, gentle grandma of a horse, who is still happy and alert, with interested eyes and ears forward. I think it is possible to change her diet, and get more weight on her before winter. I haven't told any of this to my friend yet, but last time I talked to her about the mare, she seemed open to any helpful ideas.
She is currently being fed 3 pounds of Senior Complete Feed twice daily, as well as a 1 gallon amount of loose hay leaf/seed twice daily. (Alfalfa leaf in morning, grass leaf at night). It's just the leaf/seed because she can't chew anything with stems.
She has constant turnout with a run-in shed. She has no grass in her paddock -- just dirt.
She has an automatic waterer, so I'm currently unable to monitor her fluid intake.
She has no salt/mineral blocks. I will try to get her one, as having none is totally unacceptable in my book.
She is never groomed, and her feet look like they haven't been cleaned in quite some time. They are also showing some minor cracking. (They are due for a trimming NOW!)
I talked to another friend of mine (who is unknown by my first friend) who is a Licenced Massage Therapist that practices bodywork on horses and people, and is very knowledgeable in alternative medicine and organic treatments. She is also the best horsewoman/trainer I have ever met -- that's not an overstatement! :aktion033: She suggested:
The mare should be put on hay pellets along with the Senior that she's already getting. Soaking the hay pellets should help if the mare has trouble eating them. She should also be put on Probiotics to help with her digestion. (And also her detox.)
I want to bring all this information to my friend (mare's owner) as soon as possible, as I don't know when she is planning to have the mare put down. That way she'll know all the options, and maybe change her mind about killing this sweet animal. I will also offer to take care of all the mare's other basic needs -- grooming, bathing, hoof cleaning/trimming, etc.
I really love this horse, and I see a ray of hope for her. I believe she still has a few more years left in her, and killing her just because we can't find the right type of feed is just stupid.
Anyway, let me know what you think about all this. If you have any other useful info that I could share with my friend to convince her, please post! If you have any questions about the mare please ask away.
Thank you!