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Lynn D. Hoover
New Member
Username: Jlrhoove
Post Number: 1
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, Aug 25, 2005 - 7:11 pm: |   |
Hello. I have an 8 y.o. Peruvian Paso, gelding. His former owner warned me that he is an easy keeper and needs only hay (no alfalfa!) and grass (won't overeat) and a handful of oats a day, and selenium (we live in a state that's selenium deficient.) I ride him almost daily, and he's turned out almost every day. He eats hay, grass and oats. I worry that he should be getting a higher caliber feed than oats - maybe a sweet feed...or he won't get a healthy balance of nutrients. What do you think?
Thank you! |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 13591
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Friday, Aug 26, 2005 - 5:50 am: | |
Welcome Lynn,
Start with out article on Overview of Nutrition, it addresses this exact question but let me ask you: does he look unhealthy?
DrO |
Lynn D. Hoover
New Member
Username: Jlrhoove
Post Number: 2
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Friday, Aug 26, 2005 - 10:22 am: | |
DrO, I read the overview of nutrition and other materials on horses nutritional needs. So my question is, since my horse does look/act quite healthy, is it possible that his nutritional needs are fully met by the mix of high-quality hay (cut on the property), grass and oats, and selenium? I don't mind substituting a high-caliber feed for the oats, or 1/2 sweet feed (or other recommended feed) & 1/2 oats....But his former owner said she & her veterinarian agreed that he is an "easy keeper" and shouldn't be getting the higher-caliber feed, i.e. as if it would work against him.
I ask because I've seen the concept "easy keeper" applied to Peruvians and Rocky Mountain Horses and others and wonder if it has validity...or is something owners like believing about their horse, and like having as a selling point for certain breeds....or are some horses such "easy keepers" that higher caliber feeds will work against them?
Thanks! |
Aileen
Member
Username: Sunny66
Post Number: 958
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Friday, Aug 26, 2005 - 10:35 am: | |
Hi Lynn, the one thing I've learned is that "if it ain't broke...don't fix it" ...if he looks good and isn't fat...I say stay with what you have. You may talk to your vet about pulling a blood panel or checking for specific deficiencies (magnesium/selenium) but other than that, I would stay the course...but be sure that if his exercise decreases, you also remember to decrease the calories.
Aileen (owner of pregnant gelding  ) |
Lilo
Member
Username: Lilo
Post Number: 185
Registered: 4-2000
| | Posted on Friday, Aug 26, 2005 - 10:47 am: | |
Hi Lynn,
I own a Rocky Mountain horse gelding and can attest to the easy keeper label. I only feed him timothy hay (weighed, 14 lbs per day) and Purina Horse Chow 100 (a handful or two) and he is still fat. He has a dry lot and is always nosing around in it - he must gain weight on old dry roots and air. The only thing that helps is exercise!
Lilo |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 13601
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Saturday, Aug 27, 2005 - 11:35 am: | |
Lynn the answer to both of your questions is yes. High quality forage may be all your horse ever needs. There is a huge variation in the amount of energy horses need, even if they are the same size and doing the same work, and even within the same breed. The trick with these guys is getting in adequate amounts of the other nutrients like protein and vitamins which will be in a high quality forage.
DrO |
