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Dennis Taylor
Member
Username: Dtranch
Post Number: 10
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, Dec 10, 2003 - 12:19 pm: |   |
4 year old App filly with prominent tailbone. I see this on my mares occasionally after foaling but soon build back up with regular feed regimin. However, on this filly, can't seem to build rump back up. All other features look great, ribs, neck, etc .. just the rump is boney. Also have a neighbor with a gelding now showing this boney rump. Any idea what I am dealing with here. I am sure they will come out of it but am wondering about the root cause. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 9607
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Thursday, Dec 11, 2003 - 6:27 am: | |
Without looking at the horse Dennis it is hard to know if this is conformational or the horse is just a touch skinny: can you post a picture that clearly shows the horses condition. I went and looked at your profile to check out your management and you have not filled this out. It helps in answering your questions if we have this information, please consider filling it out.
If you think it is simply needing a bit more weight be sure you are following one of our deworming programs and check out » Care for Horses » Nutrition » Equine Nutrition an Overview of Feeding Horses. It has a section on feeding thin horses under the "How Much Do I Feed" heading.
DrO |
Dennis Taylor
Member
Username: Dtranch
Post Number: 14
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, Dec 11, 2003 - 8:15 am: | |
Thanks DrO. I will do that as soon as possible. It is not conformational as this filly generally has a well defined topside with a nice crease in the rump area. I will try and get picture on as well. I do have a regular deworming program and all of my horses are in general good condition. I do have a bout with sand colic occasionally as we are in a very sandy area. |
Dennis Taylor
Member
Username: Dtranch
Post Number: 15
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, Dec 11, 2003 - 9:33 am: | |
DrO ... Profile completed .. picture to follow
I would appreciate you thoughts on feeding regimen
Thanks |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 9614
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2003 - 6:18 am: | |
Can you tell me a bit more about the forge in the horses diet: what type hay, quality, and weight. In general the way you write it up sounds a bit rigid (3 lbs grain mix twice daily) and not allowing for individual variation. Is this true?
DrO |
Dennis Taylor
Member
Username: Dtranch
Post Number: 17
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2003 - 8:30 am: | |
DrO
The hay is primarily an orchard grass with some alfalfa and timothy .. approximately 4 to 8 pounds daily or sometimes free feed when round bales are available. We grain each morning and evening with the oat / corn mix. Turn out daily, but as I said grass is sparse. Please expand on the variation question ... I will go back and read nutrition articles as well.
Thanks |
Dennis Taylor
Member
Username: Dtranch
Post Number: 18
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2003 - 10:04 am: | |
Sorry DrO ... the hay is 4 to 8 pounds (2 flakes) fed "twice" daily, not daily as my previous post states (total of 4 flakes per day). Also, I do have horses ranging from foal to 20yo and I do vary feedings based on size, activity, and age .. I was trying to give an average, which I know is hard to do. My basic plan is 1000 pound horse = 15/20 pounds hay and grass with 6 pounds grain daily. Hope this info helps. All of my horses are generally in good condition at all times |
JANETTE MCDOWELL
Member
Username: Westks
Post Number: 158
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2003 - 11:38 am: | |
most horses need at least 15 - 20 ponds of hay roughage a day to survive. my bred mares are eating 40 lbs each of alfalfa and another 30 pounds each of grass hay, and are not over weight, according to the vets and experienced breeders they are in perfect condition for the stage of developement of the foals.
with that said my 2 yr old filly eats 30 lbs alfalfa and 30 lbs grass hay each day and if you want i will go out and snap a picture of her. she is not over weight and is wormed regularly.
Right now I would say you are starving your horse. |
Aileen
Member
Username: Sunny66
Post Number: 306
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2003 - 11:50 am: | |
Then that would mean I am starving my horse. I feed 14 pounds a day....and he's absolutely beautiful and in GREAT condition... He's also 1100 pounds so now what?
|
Dennis Taylor
Member
Username: Dtranch
Post Number: 19
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2003 - 11:57 am: | |
Janette .... I DO NOT STARVE MY HORSES ....
All are in good condition .. If anything, I may be overfeeding grain and underfeeding hay, when grass is down, but believe me, they are not starving. In fact, I am always complimented on the condition of my horses. If a problem arises, I try to fix it and that is why I posted. I'm looking for information, not insults. Sorry, don't want to be rude ... remember ole Bob. Do you feed any grains or just the hay? |
JANETTE MCDOWELL
Member
Username: Westks
Post Number: 159
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2003 - 12:07 pm: | |
I apologize for the use of word starving but grass hay at most has 2-6% protien on average if you have it tested. first thing i would do is increase protien roughage not grain. |
JANETTE MCDOWELL
Member
Username: Westks
Post Number: 160
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2003 - 12:10 pm: | |
Personally unless a horse is in competition or heavy work or in bad condition I don't believe they need any grain to be in perfect condition and prefer not to grain at all. |
Dennis Taylor
Member
Username: Dtranch
Post Number: 20
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2003 - 12:16 pm: | |
No problem ... I love these animals and the last thing I would do is starve them. I guess that is the basis of my question. I am considering lowering the grain perhaps and increase the hay. This would probably be a cost savings to me, but I want to make sure it is good for the horses as well. |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: Dro
Post Number: 9618
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Saturday, Dec 13, 2003 - 9:05 am: | |
Lets see, some of Janette's posting need straightening out: - The amount of forage needed for optimum health is dependent on weight, age, and perhaps to some degree how "easy a keeper" the horse is. 1.5% of body weight (15lb hay per 1000lb bwt.) would be a healthy minimum average though many show horses get by with as little as 1%. Though a little light according to this rule of thumb, as Aileen states, 14 lbs for a 1100 lb horse is a very workable amount.
- Grass hay with less than 5% protein would be very poor quality good quality grass hays have 8 (orchard grass) to 12% (fescue) protein. For more on each of these statements see the article on Roughage and Forage.
- It would be unusual for a horse to eat 6% of its bodyweight in hay a day. Janette have you actually weighed the hay? But the weight is not what is important here: if the horses are cleaning it all up and their condition good, this is the proper amount.
DrO |
