Re: horses chewing wood and hay
This message is from: Robin Churchill <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --- Tamarack Lamb & Wool <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > This message is from: "Tamarack Lamb & Wool" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > Hay should always be tested, but as a general rule, > you should feed the 1:1 > ratio with legume hay, and the 2:1 with grass hay. > > Janet > > The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: > http://tinyurl.com/rcepw > > I give my fjords a vitamin-mineral supplement designed for horses that are on a diet of grass hay. In SW Florida, people do not generally buy large quantities of hay because it does not keep in the warmer weather unless you air condition it. My feed room is air-conditioned but I can only keep about 50 bales max in there. We end up buying what we can get on a frequent basis making hay-testing impractical at best. There is no good consistent source of local hay and timothy/orchard grass types of hay are not grown here. We have coastal bermuda but I don't use it because of the colic risk. We also have something called Pangola but it is very inconsistent in the quality and mostly seasonal. Hay here is quite expensive as well because it is shipped in from northern locations. We usually pay anywhere from 11-17 dollars for a 50# bale and I have paid as much as $25 for the larger square bales. We are constantly struggling to find good quality hay and I have to drive about an hour or more each way to get it. The other day I had to drive an hour to one of the feed stores to purchase 22 bales of straight timothy for my friend and I that I couldn't take home at the time because it was raining. The hay had come that day and they only had 60 bales. I got there at 2 p.m. and bought all that was left then had to come back 2 days later to pick it up. We have a sort of "hay phone chain" and call each other when we find good hay. We also secretly tip one of the feed store guys who calls us when they get decent hay in. I am complaining about my hay struggles but I never have to slog through the snow to take care of horses so I guess it all balances out. Robin in SW Florida where we have been freezing with 50 degree weather (I am sure you all feel so sorry for me. I have become a total wimp concerning cold since I moved here) Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta. http://new.mail.yahoo.com The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
horses chewing wood
This message is from: "Tamarack Lamb & Wool" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Boredom is always one cause, but another cause to consider is a lack of phosphorus. Horse minerals often come with a choice of 1:1 calcium phosphorus ratio or a 2:1 calcium phosphorus ratio. You need to know the forage test on your hay before you decide which ratio is correct. Some legume hays run very high in calcium and are very unbalanced for Ca:P and can cause phosphorus deficiency symptoms. One sign of a P deficiency is wood chewing. Hay should always be tested, but as a general rule, you should feed the 1:1 ratio with legume hay, and the 2:1 with grass hay. Janet The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
RE: Horses chewing wood
This message is from: "Skeels, Mark A \(GE Healthcare\)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I don't think you want them to eat black walnut, and pay attention to your chips you might get delivered if from a city or other chipping crew that they aren't chipping black walnut as it can cause lameness or other feet defects. It don't take much. Do a google search on "black walnut and horse". That's about all I know about wood and harmful effects on horses. Mark Skeels -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Robin Churchill Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007 9:06 PM To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Subject: RE: Horses chewing wood This message is from: Robin Churchill <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Maybe I gave the wrong idea in the original message. Except for a few of the trees that I don't want them to destroy, I am not really worried about the trees. I worry that eating the bark and wood will make them sick but so far they seem to have suffered no ill effects so maybe I should just stop worrying about something that I can't do much about. Has anyone else had a problem with illness from their fjords eating trees or wood? Robin in Florida --- Jean Ernest <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > This message is from: "Jean Ernest" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Well, let's face it, Horses, (Fjords especially) were born to eat > vegetation: The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
RE: horses chewing wood
This message is from: "Karen Keith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Another reason for wood chewing -- teething. I had a horse years ago that I found chewing the bark off a pine tree. I went to check him and was horrified to see him bleeding at the mouth. On closer examination of the "wound" site, I found a loose incisor cap ready to come out! Karen in England _ Join the millions of Australians using Live Search. Try live.com.au http://ninemsn.com.au/share/redir/adTrack.asp?mode=click&clientID=740&referral=million&URL=http://live.com.au The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Re: horses chewing wood
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] How timely the wood discussion has been. Went for a walk with the pony in the woods today and he was gobbling down small trees, branches, etc. My daughter was quite concerned about why he would be eating trees, so now I can chalk it up to typical fjord behavior. Very blustery today, with the horses galloping and leaping wildly about the pasture. Joe had a marvelous spook in the woods (at something unidentifiable) which had him hopping and squealing like a colt. Made me glad my lead rope was (a) 12 feet long so I was well away; and (b) I had a good grip on the lead rope so he did not dash well away!! Kate and Joe The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Re: horses chewing wood
This message is from: Robin Churchill <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I don't know about Joan's horses but my horses don't crib, they eat bark and wood of trees which is different from cribbing. Robin in Florida --- ruth bushnell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > This message is from: "ruth bushnell" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > I did a quick search and came up with a few sites > that address > cribbing. Two of the main reasons listed were > pellets and sweet > grains, confinement boredom, also mineral > deficiencies, and even the > condition Pica. Reference excerpts here below. > Ruthie, nw mt US > > "Occasionally old horses cannot chew their feed well > due to problems > of the mouth, such as excessively worn or missing > teeth. These animals > may require ground food or a complete pelleted feed. > Complete pelleted > rations for normal healthy horses can be fed, but > horses often become > severe wood chewers, cribbers, or weavers as a > result. The reason is > simple. They can eat the pellets very quickly and > are bored for > something to do. Pellets also do not have enough > bulk to keep a horse > feeling full, so they feel constantly hungry." > http://ohioline.osu.edu/b762/b762_3.html > > > "There are several oral stereotypies in captive > horses; wood chewing > and cribbing are the most common. Diet can modify > them. Wood chewing > decreases when hay rather than pellets is fed > (Willard et al., 1977). > Cribbing occurs most frequently subsequent to eating > grain - the > sweeter the feed the more the horse cribs. > Increasing the amount of > hay or decreasing or eliminating sweet feed will > reduce cribbing > (Kusunose, 1992; Gillham et al., 1994). Providing ad > libitum access to > hay is the best way to avoid the development of > cribbing and wood > chewing in stalled horses " > http://www.awionline.org/pubs/cq02/Cq-horse.html > > Pica in horses: > http://www.usask.ca/wcvm/herdmed/applied-ethology/behaviourproblems/pica.html > > The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: > http://tinyurl.com/rcepw > > > Have a burning question? Go to www.Answers.yahoo.com and get answers from real people who know. The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
RE: horses chewing wood
This message is from: "Gail Russell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I am in Northern California. When the weather turns wet and cold (well...sorta...it's all relative) my horses immediately develop an appetite for chewing wood. Nothing else has changed. They are in drylots that are big enough to run in, and they always get the same hay. SoI always thought it might be a wintertime instinct to get fiber. Gail The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Re: horses chewing wood
This message is from: "ruth bushnell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I did a quick search and came up with a few sites that address cribbing. Two of the main reasons listed were pellets and sweet grains, confinement boredom, also mineral deficiencies, and even the condition Pica. Reference excerpts here below. Ruthie, nw mt US "Occasionally old horses cannot chew their feed well due to problems of the mouth, such as excessively worn or missing teeth. These animals may require ground food or a complete pelleted feed. Complete pelleted rations for normal healthy horses can be fed, but horses often become severe wood chewers, cribbers, or weavers as a result. The reason is simple. They can eat the pellets very quickly and are bored for something to do. Pellets also do not have enough bulk to keep a horse feeling full, so they feel constantly hungry." http://ohioline.osu.edu/b762/b762_3.html "There are several oral stereotypies in captive horses; wood chewing and cribbing are the most common. Diet can modify them. Wood chewing decreases when hay rather than pellets is fed (Willard et al., 1977). Cribbing occurs most frequently subsequent to eating grain - the sweeter the feed the more the horse cribs. Increasing the amount of hay or decreasing or eliminating sweet feed will reduce cribbing (Kusunose, 1992; Gillham et al., 1994). Providing ad libitum access to hay is the best way to avoid the development of cribbing and wood chewing in stalled horses " http://www.awionline.org/pubs/cq02/Cq-horse.html Pica in horses: http://www.usask.ca/wcvm/herdmed/applied-ethology/behaviourproblems/pica.html The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Re: horses chewing wood
This message is from: Lauren Sellars <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Our herd has many polar or cotton wood trees in their pen and at certain times of the year ie. early spring if we drop a tree they will debark it in no time. They don't bother with them in the summer. An old Indian herb book I have says it is a good dewornmer. Interesting craving Lauren Beth Pulsifer wrote: This message is from: "Beth Pulsifer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> "Has anyone else had a problem with illness from their fjords eating trees or wood Robin in Florida" We've had several different breeds of horses and they've all chewed wood at one time or another. Out in pasture they chew bark off trees... in their paddocks they chewed the fence. Sometimes it can be maddening but I guess it goes along with having horses. I now have the Fjord mare and I am finding she chews wood less than the arab or mini. She would rather back up to the fence and have a good tail or butt rub!! ( has broken a couple of boards in the process!) Our barn is 20 years old and the stalls have very few chew marks. If the horses have to be in for any length of time we throw a chunk of" poplar " in each stall and they love chewing on it. Keeps them busy! My husband cuts down a few poplar trees each year and cuts them up.. We have them stacked behind the barn. If they are in their paddocks we usually have chucks of poplar out there too. Seems to work for us and they've never been sick from it... but I do believe where there are horses there will be chewing no matter what. Beth in Maine where we've had around two feet of snow and it's cold and windy. Finally winter has arrived!!:) The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw __ NOD32 2066 (20070216) Information __ This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. http://www.eset.com The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Re: Horses chewing wood
This message is from: "Jean Ernest" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> No, Jean, no flowers and green grass yet: not till MAY1 But I can dream of all the lovely dandelions, and fireweed and green stuff. But they ate the aspen bark in the winter and tend to chew more on the 'Poplar"chunks in the winter also . Jean in Fairbanks, Alaska, still winter, but sunny and bright. Jean, has the snow left Alaska or are you describing the summer tree eating and misc. flowers etc. ? Author 'The Colonel's Daughter" Occupied Germany 1946 to 1949 Send: $20 to Three Horse's Press 7403 Blaine Rd Aberdeen, WA 98520 The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw _ Play Flexicon: the crossword game that feeds your brain. PLAY now for FREE. http://zone.msn.com/en/flexicon/default.htm?icid=flexicon_hmtagline The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
horses chewing wood
This message is from: "Beth Pulsifer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> "Has anyone else had a problem with illness from their fjords eating trees or wood Robin in Florida" We've had several different breeds of horses and they've all chewed wood at one time or another. Out in pasture they chew bark off trees... in their paddocks they chewed the fence. Sometimes it can be maddening but I guess it goes along with having horses. I now have the Fjord mare and I am finding she chews wood less than the arab or mini. She would rather back up to the fence and have a good tail or butt rub!! ( has broken a couple of boards in the process!) Our barn is 20 years old and the stalls have very few chew marks. If the horses have to be in for any length of time we throw a chunk of" poplar " in each stall and they love chewing on it. Keeps them busy! My husband cuts down a few poplar trees each year and cuts them up.. We have them stacked behind the barn. If they are in their paddocks we usually have chucks of poplar out there too. Seems to work for us and they've never been sick from it... but I do believe where there are horses there will be chewing no matter what. Beth in Maine where we've had around two feet of snow and it's cold and windy. Finally winter has arrived!!:) The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Re: Horses chewing wood
This message is from: "jgayle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> The only time I have had "trouble with trees" is when my colt got to the apples under the tree. He blew up and the Vet laughed when he tubed him as you could smell the apples. Down came the tree!! Jean, has the snow left Alaska or are you describing the summer tree eating and misc. flowers etc. ? Author 'The Colonel's Daughter" Occupied Germany 1946 to 1949 Send: $20 to Three Horse's Press 7403 Blaine Rd Aberdeen, WA 98520 The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
RE: Horses chewing wood
This message is from: Robin Churchill <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Maybe I gave the wrong idea in the original message. Except for a few of the trees that I don't want them to destroy, I am not really worried about the trees. I worry that eating the bark and wood will make them sick but so far they seem to have suffered no ill effects so maybe I should just stop worrying about something that I can't do much about. Has anyone else had a problem with illness from their fjords eating trees or wood? Robin in Florida --- Jean Ernest <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > This message is from: "Jean Ernest" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Well, let's face it, Horses, (Fjords especially) > were born to eat > vegetation: > > _ > Find a local pizza place, movie theater, and > more .then map the best route! > http://maps.live.com/?icid=hmtag1&FORM=MGAC01 > > The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: > http://tinyurl.com/rcepw > > > Want to start your own business? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business. http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-index The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
RE: Horses chewing wood
This message is from: "Jean Ernest" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Well, let's face it, Horses, (Fjords especially) were born to eat vegetation: brush, trees, tree roots, grass, broadleaf plants, etc. The quickest way to clear an area of shrubs and trees is to turn horses out in the area. When I built their very large corrals, there were BIG spruce trees which I assumed were safe from the horses. Wrong. They dug up the smaller roots which are just under the surface, and ate the juicy bark off of them, killing the trees in a few years. They then girdled a huge aspen tree, eating the bark off as high as they could reach. Were they starved? No, they just liked to eat these things. It is natural. When you think about it, a diet of just plain good hay or a pasture with just grass is pretty boring. My little pasture now has a variety of "weeds" and brush, fireweed, dandelions, aspen and birch saplings, raspberries, etc. and I watch my horses walking around selecting different plants, eating a few mouthfuls of grass, then some raspberry leaves, then maybe fireweed flowers, some dandelions, then back to the grass, etc. There is a lot of good grass, but they puposely go over to the patch of Raspberry bushes and brouse on them. The only way to keep them from eating trees is to fence them off. Jean in Fairbanks, Alaska, with a view of the Alaska Ranch over a cleared corral. My horses don't chew the fence much because I have electric on the board fence but we have a lot of trees on the property (over 200 sabal palms alone) and they frequently eat the trees. _ Find a local pizza place, movie theater, and more .then map the best route! http://maps.live.com/?icid=hmtag1&FORM=MGAC01 The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Horses chewing wood
This message is from: Robin Churchill <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> My horses don't chew the fence much because I have electric on the board fence but we have a lot of trees on the property (over 200 sabal palms alone) and they frequently eat the trees. They prefer the smooth bark trees and I have fenced most of those when I can. They especially love a tree that grows here called a strangler fig which is not a good tree to have because it strangles other trees. They will eat it wood and all if they can get to one. They devastated a large queen palm worth thousands of dollars by eating about half-way through it in one afternoon once before I was on to them. They have plenty of turnout (about 14-16 hours a day) and get a vitamin-mineral supplement and electrolytes daily. Also as much hay as I can feed them without making them into blimps. Now they have started on the sabal palms. I worry about the bark and wood eating but I can't fence every tree on the property and I don't think it is fair to keep them locked up all the time. Any suggestions would be appreciated. They are also ridden 4-5 days a week year-round. Robin in Florida Any questions? Get answers on any topic at www.Answers.yahoo.com. Try it now. The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
