This message is from: "Vanessa N Weber" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Hi Jean, Well we measured the hay today and a flake is 4 pounds. All the Fjords are getting 2 flakes in the morning and in the evening - so 16 pounds a day. That didn't seem to be enough for Zipper. She started losing weight on that even with the Grow Colt. We then put Zipper on Nutrena Complete. She's been getting about 3.2 pounds of it twice a day. Mind this is a pellet, not a grain (unless you classify pellets as grain - which I've always thought of as oats or sweet feed - which may be my mistake.) Zipper has been improving and gaining weight. She has also been wormed, by the way. So if we want her to maintain her weight or gain slightly, how much hay should we be feeding? Do you know anything about Nutrena Complete? Best, Vanessa -------Original Message------- From: Jean Ernest Date: 08/09/05 17:45:48 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Feeding This message is from: Jean Ernest <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I don't think her recommendations would apply to Fjords, youngsters or no. Sounds WAY to rich for Fjords. I think you could increase the hay, but keep doing what you are doing with the Grow colt and supplements. If he is gaining weight it is working! How much does 4 "flakes" of hay weigh? Go with your gut feelings! Fjords are definitely different than thoroughbreds, quarterhorses, etc! Jean in Fairbanks, Alaska hot and sunny! At 04:12 PM 8/9/2005 -0400, you wrote: >This message is from: "Vanessa N Weber" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Hi Everyone, > >I'm sure you have all discussed this kind of thing before but I wondered if >you would give me your feedback on this situation. > >Recently, as you may recall, I've been a little concerned about Zipper, my >new 2 year old Fjord. After arriving here in late May from New Mexico (I'm >in Connecticut), we fed her primarily hay (2 flakes twice a day) as >instructed. We gave her some pellets to get her daily wormer down. Then it >was suggested that we also use Grow Colt (sp?). > >Zipper began to lose weight. I could see her ribs. So we started giving her >more pellets and she now seems to be coming around. The pellets had a low >protein content as advised by a close friend. I want to say 10% but I'm not >sure. She is currently eating about 6 1/2 pounds of pellets a day over two >feedings. > >Then today the man who runs the barn had someone from Purina come to give a >presentation. The gal was young and not very organized. As a longtime 20 >year dog breeder, I am usually guarded about these kinds of sales pitches - >but never having had to care for all these horses myself, I figured out that >I'd probably learn a lot by attending this - if nothing else. The best part >about the entire experience was finding out how much my horses weighed and >being given a tape measure for height and weight! Zipper currently weighs >760 pounds. > >This gal's goal was to get all of our horses to eat 'Strategy', a >performance food. It has 16% protein and is 1500 calories a pound. She >advised that I transition all three Fjords over to it from what they are >getting now and cut out the Grow Colt for the 2 and 3 year old, and Source >for the 10 year old. The only supplements she feels can be given with >Strategy' are biotin, glucosamine or Athlete for calories. The rep couldn't >give me any advise on the needs of growing horses but could only reiterate >that both 1 year olds and adult horses require 1 to 2% of their body weight >in hay. > >As I said above I am guarded about these sales events. Could anyone please >tell me if this all makes sense to you? I am concerned by: > >1. The discrepancy in % of protein in both feeds. >2. The fact that all supplements are being pulled. >3. The lack of direction regarding growing rates and what this means - if >anything. >4. The lack of attention to the fact that I have traditionally 'thrifty' >horses. This felt like a cookie cutter approach. > >Other comments are welcome. Just remember that for all practical purposes I >am a novice and this is just my gut reaction. > >Many thanks, > >Vanessa N Weber >[EMAIL PROTECTED]
