TB owners?.. not TBs but appys and they are home! update 4/11 NEW PICS

[welsummerchicks]

You said hinky.

(reference to The Fugitive)

 

[scbatz33]

When I looked at the video, the very first thing that popped in my head is why is he moving like that. The video is n't great with him being ridden in the snow. I didn't notice the reins being held that tightly, but I though the head being pulled in that harsh was odd. Also, he's not under tack, I'd echo the sentiment that he should be tacked up and ridden with a saddle. Some horses are great bareback, but put a saddle on them and they act stupid.

Secondly, the wraps are horribly done. I would also be concerned that they are covering up a flaw. Folks who use wraps regularly, don't do it like that! Also I don' like the way he moves out when they jog him. It really concerns me that he may have a back issue. he just seems uncomfortable.

He may be a sweet horse, but all I can think is - medical issues. I may be wrong. It may be a really bad video with really inexperienced people, but It's itching the back of my brain that something in underlying here.

 

[scbatz33]

Quote:
I don't spend that much on feed for 6 thoroughbreds! And I have growing yearlings and brood mares. Have you had bloodwork done on him? Also I'd consider changing the feed. What protein, fat and fiber content is in what you feed? My one mare IS a hard keeper and we were feeding her a ton of feed when we first got her, then we made some changes and now she eats normal portions, just tweeked with a higher fat supplement and more protein.

 

[Peaches Lee]

Quote:
I agree with this. To me, it appears as though they are trying to spiff him up a bit, make him look more prospective to buyers from a 'sport horse' angle. He also had a body clip, I just think they were trying to make him look sharp. They did indeed trot him on pavement and I didn't see any lameness.

OP, from the seller's website via your video link, I seen that they have a contract which allows you to return the horse if it doesn't work out. I also see they are certified by the NYS Dept. of Ag and Markets, so if they have any shady business practices, this approval would probably be revoked by my guess per complaints by customers.

Good luck to you.

 

[TriciaHowe]

Quote:
I don't spend that much on feed for 6 thoroughbreds! And I have growing yearlings and brood mares. Have you had bloodwork done on him? Also I'd consider changing the feed. What protein, fat and fiber content is in what you feed? My one mare IS a hard keeper and we were feeding her a ton of feed when we first got her, then we made some changes and now she eats normal portions, just tweeked with a higher fat supplement and more protein.

We feed Nutrena Safe Choice 14% protein 7% fat. Had bw done on him end of last year and everything was normal. His teeth are phenomenal for his age and he is a spry guy. I wish I knew why he was such a hard keeper. I would love to lower my feed bill as he takes up most of it. If you don't mind my asking what do you feed? With him, anything less than what I am feeding him and he drops weight seemingly overnight. It's awful

The vet suggested Safe Choice because of the high protein and fat and also it's low sugar. It does keep the weight on him, I will give it that.

 

[welsummerchicks]

Do you do the power pack procedure for tapeworms?

Do you have fecal counts done periodically?

Have you changed dentists? I had one I loved for years and thought the world of - then I changed to a new one and found things had been missed by my old one.

With our old horse we mix the concentrates with soaked beet pulp shreds - the fiber and pectin seem to help him digest the other concentrates he gets.

And the other thing I've always felt is that older horses do better on a better quality hay as they just get inefficient at breaking down coarser forms of fiber - and so tend to lose weight in winter.

 

[TriciaHowe]

Quote:
I have not done a power pak since last summer. I can do one again if you think it will help. I was planning on doing it again this summer, but can do it sooner if you think it would make a difference. I do the standard rotation of wormers - although now I am hearing more about resistance and rotation isn't as good as it once was. He has not had a fecal count done since I have had him. The dentist is the one my vet uses because it's easier for them to coordinate (the dentist comes from about 2 hours away) and he has to be here to sedate the horses so she can do the teeth. I couldn't tell you if she did a good job or not. Neither horse or pony drop feed or seem to have problems chewing. She did pull the pony's wolf tooth. I have to wet down pony's feed because she bolts the feed and chokes (she's a goober-and a pig). I am sure I can get a 2nd opinion from another dentist. The TB is also the s.l.o.w.e.s.t. eater ever! Him and the pony are in separate pastures because she would eat all of hers and then push him out of the way and eat his. He also stays on Sand Clear everyday because he tends to carry a large sand load if I don't. When I was doing it only once a month he ended up with sand colic. Vet did the mineral oil drench and he was pooping solid sand for a couple of days. Vet said that his sand load could also keep him from absorbing feed the way it should be. I do check for sand every couple of months (fresh poo apple in zip lock bag, add water to dissolve and look for sand sediment on the bottom of the bag). He gets good quality alfalfa hay (not fed on ground so he doesn't pick up extra sand). I am very open to suggestions. Please PM me if you want to. I feel bad hijacking OP's thread.

 

[scbatz33]

Tricia,
We went from a processed, mass produced feed to a local mix. It is oats, cracked corn, soybean oil, dried molasses, vit/min, alfalfa pellets, fasttrac and a fat supplement called Amplify. It yields a 14% protein and I'm not sure the fat content. I can't seem to find the breakdown I had.

I think the biggest part to this mix, and what helped our mare is the combination of the added fat content of the amplify and the probiotics in the fast track

Amplify Breakdown:
CRUDE PROTEIN MIN 14.00 %
CRUDE FAT MAX 30.00 %
CRUDE FIBER MIN 5.00 %
CALCIUM (CA) MIN 2.00 %
CALCIUM (CA) MAX 2.10 %
PHOSPHORUS MIN 0.60 %
COPPER (CU) MIN 55 PPM
SELENIUM (SE) MIN 1.40 PPM
ZINC (ZN) MIN 225 PPM
VITAMIN A MIN 16000 IU/LB
VITAMIN E MIN 150 IU/LB

http://horse.purinamills.com/products/naturesessentials/ECMD2-0032705.aspx

Fasttrac is made by Conklin. I've seen it in several forms. The mix for 500# of feed is one 5# bag. So a little bit goes a long way. But, it helps with digestion and processing/absorption of food.
http://www.conklin.com/content/products/an/equines.cfm

BTW, I'm not a vet or a nutritionist. This is what has worked for our horse.

 

[lockedhearts]

Quote:
Love Amplify, using it on my 22 year broodmare, she keeps easy when pregnant, but pumps everything into the foal once it is born.

 

[welsummerchicks]

I don't know that additional power packs without the fecal count supporting the idea that there are tapeworms, would be something I'd do.

I was just asking if it had been done. If it's being done on your vets schedule then it's unlikely to be the issue.

If I have a skinny horse my first thought is teeth, then worms, then some type of malapsorption issue.

As far as whole/crimped grain vs the more processed cooked feeds, I've actually seen more that would indicate older horses that are getting more inefficient in digesting, can benefit from the more processed cooked products.

I would probably be falling back on my old tactic of soaked beet pulp shreds, mixed in with the concentrates for the older horse. I also have fed some alfalfa pellets to the older horse when I was having problems keeping weight on him.

The other thing we have that a lot of people don't have is we can get incredible hay that tests out to up to 17% protein. It is a orchard/timothy/alfalfa mix and not that much alfalfa. We cannot get it in winter so it is actually only in the winter that my old guy gets anything other than our pasture mix and that orchard/tim/alfalfa hay. The poorest horse in the world will get fat just watching you carry it around the barn.

And I have the dentist every six months for the older horse, so the older horse's teeth are good.

And if you are feeding hay in a group well that can be at least a part of it as older horses often will get less aggressive as they age and other horses take a lot of their hay. We always have to remember as much as 90% of their calories may actually be coming from hay so differences in hay make a big difference.