This message is from: "Pasqual, Patricia A" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
I had a problem with a low-energy, borderline anemic Fjord last year. I now have Elph on Strategy, which is a complete feed (you just add the fiber of grass hay), and some supplements. He seems pretty content with his quantity, and the hay provides entertainment and fiber, and his energy level is much better, he is no longer anemic (and as you can imagine, new training challenges have arisen!!!) My vet has pointed out that getting hay tested is probably a good idea but that quality can vary from bale to bale, field to field, shipment to shipment, you would need to do a lot of it to know that the complete nutritional spectrum was being covered. A complete feed eliminates all that testing, although of course it is not without its down side. Elph is also on complete drylot ALWAYS unless I hand graze him for a few minutes after a good workout, that is just the way it has to be. In the past I have used the muzzles, he wore holes in two of them, and also was getting wear ho! les on himself (not pretty when you're showing). No matter how much work he gets it is not enough to match free access to pasture. I think he looks pretty good for having had almost no work all winter, and hope to never be without an indoor again while living in a climate like Minnesota. On another topic, our new place is great, the drive out can be daunting at times (40 minutes at best w/o rush hour) but once I get out there I can train in a great big grassy field where my cones are always out, go down the dirt road to forever, and when it rains (and it has been doing nothing but that for weeks and weeks) I use the nice indoor! Plus they are building trails through the woods this summer, and if it ever does stop raining they will finish the outdoor arena as well. (Pinch me!) Worth the extra miles to get there and the extra bucks too. Plus he is with a bunch of mares who bat their eyelashes at him, he is particularly fond of a palomino I think because she looks like him, so he's loving it out there. Although how I am going to get him clean for the Memorial Day w/e show, I don't know. Right now I am just scraping off the mud from the parts that the harness would touch because as soon as we're done he goes out and rolls around again. Maybe I should wash! him during the next big downpour and then stable him until the show. I am ruthlessly moving aside all of the plans that seem to be popping up like gophers around the time of the B/E show - I'm calling it summer's magnetic week - and really looking forward to attending after an absence of 2 years, looking forward to seeing everyone and celebrating 20 years. Happy Fjording All! Tish and Elph in Minneapolis
