Re: Salt, Sweat, etc.
This message is from: Toni toekn...@frontier.com I use a block of white salt. It comes off the form with a hole in one side, and I put it in the barn hole side up. The horses dribble water into the hole from the water tank and then lick. I believe the water dissolves the salt and makes it easier to lick up. Different people like either loose or block salt; whatever fits their horses, and their, routine. Just as long as they get some. A comment on the Bob Marshall saddles. My husband and I each own one. They fit our round Fjords and also my friend's TWH (which is about six feet long and six inches wide, exaggeration, but you get the point) I love the saddle. It's comfortable for me as well as my horses(s). Hopefully I won't ruffle any feathers out there, but if you buy one, make sure it is not made by Circle Y. The folks at Bob Marshall will let you use one for a short period of time, and then you send it off to the next person on the list. I had my stirrups set back about an inch. I am a former hunter/jumper, and do not like the feeling most western saddles give me. (Like a water skier, or a recliner chair) I went to The Natural Gait in Iowa a few years back for a riding clinic and brought my Bob Marshall with me. I was renting my horse from them and asked them to just try it out; if they weren't happy, I wouldn't use it. Well, they let me use it and liked how well it fit their horse. Then I found out that one of the owners had one. We had a good laugh. Good luck in your search for a saddle. The two things in which we all need to find a right fit, is first the horse and then the saddle. P.S. to Mary. Good advice on making sure a horse is scraped after hosing down or bathing. I always scrape down my horse. Toni S K Wrote: I found your article very imformativeI'm really confused as to which salt I should use.. my 9 yr old Fjord has almost outgrown his saddle...He's filled out and gained alot of weight...He told me to look into a Bob Marshall treeless saddle. Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Re: Salt, Sweat, etc.
This message is from: S K windyacre...@yahoo.com Thanks for all the infoI was told the treeless saddles slip alot ...do you find this to be so? That's all I need is to land on the ground...I'm a novice, got my dream babies later in life...so need a really good saddle,,,your so right, my horse comes first...I want him to be comfortable...My trainer told me I could use my saddle for about an hour at a time...but when we do start going out, I will be out more than an hour. Susan From: Toni toekn...@frontier.com To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Sent: Saturday, July 7, 2012 7:59 PM Subject: Re: Salt, Sweat, etc. This message is from: Toni toekn...@frontier.com I use a block of white salt. It comes off the form with a hole in one side, and I put it in the barn hole side up. The horses dribble water into the hole from the water tank and then lick. I believe the water dissolves the salt and makes it easier to lick up. Different people like either loose or block salt; whatever fits their horses, and their, routine. Just as long as they get some. A comment on the Bob Marshall saddles. My husband and I each own one. They fit our round Fjords and also my friend's TWH (which is about six feet long and six inches wide, exaggeration, but you get the point) I love the saddle. It's comfortable for me as well as my horses(s). Hopefully I won't ruffle any feathers out there, but if you buy one, make sure it is not made by Circle Y. The folks at Bob Marshall will let you use one for a short period of time, and then you send it off to the next person on the list. I had my stirrups set back about an inch. I am a former hunter/jumper, and do not like the feeling most western saddles give me. (Like a water skier, or a recliner chair) I went to The Natural Gait in Iowa a few years back for a riding clinic and brought my Bob Marshall with me. I was renting my horse from them and asked them to just try it out; if they weren't happy, I wouldn't use it. Well, they let me use it and liked how well it fit their horse. Then I found out that one of the owners had one. We had a good laugh. Good luck in your search for a saddle. The two things in which we all need to find a right fit, is first the horse and then the saddle. P.S. to Mary. Good advice on making sure a horse is scraped after hosing down or bathing. I always scrape down my horse. Toni S K Wrote: I found your article very imformativeI'm really confused as to which salt I should use.. my 9 yr old Fjord has almost outgrown his saddle...He's filled out and gained alot of weight...He told me to look into a Bob Marshall treeless saddle. Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Re: Salt, Sweat, etc.
This message is from: S K windyacre...@yahoo.com Toni, I found your article very imformativeI'm really confused as to which salt I should use..I always used the loose salt in a large rubber feed bowl right next to their water in the walk-thruI'm wondering i f I should now buy a block...??? I'd also heard they were more for cows with their raspy tonguenot for a horse... Also, yesterday my horse trainer, Chris Lombard told me Andy my 9 yr old Fjord has almost outgrown his saddle...He's filled out and gained alot of weight...He told me to look into a Bob Marshall treeless saddle. I'd appreciate any comment on these saddles.Chris's wife is an expert dealing with saddles, that's her business, she doesn't like the treeless saddles...but it' shard to find a good western saddle for a Fjord...as I'm sure you all know... Susan From: Toni toekn...@frontier.com To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Sent: Friday, July 6, 2012 12:51 AM Subject: Salt, Sweat, etc. This message is from: Toni toekn...@frontier.com Great thread on the list about our horses and this heat! I am usually a lurker, but had to write in today. The temps topped out at 107 degrees here today, and I decided to rinse my horses off. The heat and humidity has been brutal the last 4 weeks, and my Fjord and Mustang have been drinking lots and lots of water. A tank usually lasts 4 to 5 days depending on the weather. I have been filling it almost every day. They have a salt block right next to the water tank and my mustang sucks up some water and dribbles it in the hole on the salt block to disolve the salt. He's pretty clever. Neither one of them tries to chew on it, just dribble and lick. If I want my Fjord to drink more, I give him a few peppermint flavored treats. He always drinks right afterward. I have been concerned about sweating because it's been so hot. Everyday I walk out in the pasture to check them out. Everyday they have been just fine. If they get too hot, they hang around in the barn and catch any breezes that happens by. Today I noticed my Fjord was very sweaty, so I ran some warm water and mixed it with cold (until it was cool on the inside of my wrist) and then sponged them off. My mustang looked at me like I was an idiot for touching his body with a wet sponge, but my Fjord just stood and relaxed into it. I scraped them both off really good and the water coming off their bodies was HOT! They were much cooler afterward. It is now late night, and it has cooled off to around 80 degrees. Very warm for a Wisconsin night. We don't usually get weather this hot for this long. I will be glad when it cools off a little. I am so blessed to be able to have my horses right on my own property and check them several times a day if need be. I make sure they have shade, water, salt, and (if necessary) a good rinse to cool them off. Keep cool all, Toni in Wisconsin Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Re: Salt, Sweat, etc.
This message is from: Mary Ofjord ma...@boreal.org Toni wrote: Today I noticed my Fjord was very sweaty, so I ran some warm water and mixed it with cold (until it was cool on the inside of my wrist) and then sponged them off. My mustang looked at me like I was an idiot for touching his body with a wet sponge, but my Fjord just stood and relaxed into it. I scraped them both off really good and the water coming off their bodies was HOT! They were much cooler afterward. It is very important that you continue to rinse your horse off, and scrape, because if you just rinse off a hot horse the water left on the skin actually keeps them hot. I have a Fjord mare with some type of metabolic syndrome and this weather really takes a toll on her. We have to clip her now too. A couple of years ago she over heated on a trail ride and we brought her home and rinse and scraped and rinsed and scraped until the water the came off her was cool and her breathing returned to normal. We don't ride her in the summer anymore. Mary O. __ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 7276 (20120706) __ The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. http://www.eset.com Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Salt, Sweat, etc.
This message is from: Toni toekn...@frontier.com Great thread on the list about our horses and this heat! I am usually a lurker, but had to write in today. The temps topped out at 107 degrees here today, and I decided to rinse my horses off. The heat and humidity has been brutal the last 4 weeks, and my Fjord and Mustang have been drinking lots and lots of water. A tank usually lasts 4 to 5 days depending on the weather. I have been filling it almost every day. They have a salt block right next to the water tank and my mustang sucks up some water and dribbles it in the hole on the salt block to disolve the salt. He's pretty clever. Neither one of them tries to chew on it, just dribble and lick. If I want my Fjord to drink more, I give him a few peppermint flavored treats. He always drinks right afterward. I have been concerned about sweating because it's been so hot. Everyday I walk out in the pasture to check them out. Everyday they have been just fine. If they get too hot, they hang around in the barn and catch any breezes that happens by. Today I noticed my Fjord was very sweaty, so I ran some warm water and mixed it with cold (until it was cool on the inside of my wrist) and then sponged them off. My mustang looked at me like I was an idiot for touching his body with a wet sponge, but my Fjord just stood and relaxed into it. I scraped them both off really good and the water coming off their bodies was HOT! They were much cooler afterward. It is now late night, and it has cooled off to around 80 degrees. Very warm for a Wisconsin night. We don't usually get weather this hot for this long. I will be glad when it cools off a little. I am so blessed to be able to have my horses right on my own property and check them several times a day if need be. I make sure they have shade, water, salt, and (if necessary) a good rinse to cool them off. Keep cool all, Toni in Wisconsin Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Re: More Salt
This message is from: Jo Wilgus rjrfj...@verizon.net *** if your horse is healthy per you and your vet, i feel why mess with the whatevers. if you think they are getting too much salt take it away, if they are lacking give them some. if you do not like the licks give them loose. if you feel table salt is the best then do that. what is working for me may not work for you. ask 100 different people guess what? YEP! 100 different opinions. so many variables. each gelding i have had have had pee holes. my mares have been a bit more tidy, uh, hmm? could this be a trait in every specie? ha, ha, ha. anyway, this has been a good topic. i am sticking with what works for us. regn and duffers seem quite content which makes us quite content. steve is correct, look it up if you have questions. call a university, talk to a researcher, call your vet. jo wilgus gavilan hills, casummer is here, mornings and eves make for a nice ride. beware of snakes I don't intend to make the subject of salt for our horses an ongoing discussion here. Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
salt
This message is from: Debby debby.s...@earthlink.net I'd asked a vet many many years ago, about a different grain, someone else had switched to, wondered if I needed to do something different for mine. I had him out doing teeth, the old fashion way, with the file and no sedation for the horses. He asked me if I was having any problems with them. Nope. Asked if they looked healthy. Yep. Well, why change it if it aint broke. But over the years, I have changed things here and there. We learn better ways, people share and I'm open minded to a certain extent. I know what I want but if I find something better, then whooppee! Horses are adaptable, they are forgiving. Pony club rule taught me about hay, musty, dusty and moldy, not good. Always clean water buckets. And clean stalls. My daughters time in Pony club taught me a lot. I tend to think the Brits got it right in the care of ponies, though I'm sure theres bad apples anywhere. Its good to do lots of research on your own, but even from vet to vet you'll get a different opinion. Find someone that thinks as you think or openminded to your way, but also be openminded some to. Same with farrier. I'd had a farrier tell me most problems with a horses feet is the farriers, not so much the owners. Theres lots of owners that don't do a good job of keeping up with the necessities for their ponies. But a lot do and we depend on our vets and our farriers and our hay providers and our instructors/trainers to do right by us, by our ponies. But when it comes down to it, we're the ones left to deal with what we have had done to our 4 legged best friends, so yes do the research and learn, for them and for you. We'll make mistakes, but we try, and we learn, we learn to make the decisions. The right decisions with the right people working with us. If you ever feel a bit uncomfortable what anyone is doing to your pony or with your pony, that is your gut speaking, and best listen to your gut most times. Debby Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Salt
This message is from: Lois Anne Starr loisann...@gmail.com To add to the salt discussion... My three beasties have 24/7 access to a 50# selenium salt block and a 50# block 12:12 supplement block. Most of the time they last up to 6 months or longer. They don't seem to have any trouble with licking or chewing on them. That's with three of them and deer working on them. One year though, I believe when we had a lot of hot days they went through the blocks within 2 months. That was of concern but when they were replaced, consumption went back to normal. I think free choice is the way to go. They know what they need. And yes, they drink and pee alot too, but I welcome it. At least I know their kidneys are working. :D They cool themselves down in the dry lot by hanging out at the stock tank, dunking their heads in and swishing around hard so the water splashes their faces, necks, chests and parts of the belly. They create mud holes which they then go and lay in to keep cool. No...they haven't been watching pigs. Geier taught the others the water trick this summer so now the tank has to be filled every day instead of every 3 daysAt least they aren't climbing into the tank like he does... By the way, wild horses, even though they don't have access to salt blocks, will go to areas with high concentrations of salt in the ground or out on salt pans to get what they need. -- Lois Anne, Gallant Geier, Silly Sunny and the Lovely Lana from Montana Tell me, and I'll probably forget. Show me, and I will remember, Involve me, and I will understand. Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
RE: salt
This message is from: Debbie LeBreton tippiegi...@hotmail.com I whole hardily agree with this. From: debby.s...@earthlink.net To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Subject: salt Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2012 11:11:06 -0500 This message is from: Debby debby.s...@earthlink.net I'd asked a vet many many years ago, about a different grain, someone else had switched to, wondered if I needed to do something different for mine. I had him out doing teeth, the old fashion way, with the file and no sedation for the horses. He asked me if I was having any problems with them. Nope. Asked if they looked healthy. Yep. Well, why change it if it aint broke. But over the years, I have changed things here and there. We learn better ways, people share and I'm open minded to a certain extent. I know what I want but if I find something better, then whooppee! Horses are adaptable, they are forgiving. Pony club rule taught me about hay, musty, dusty and moldy, not good. Always clean water buckets. And clean stalls. My daughters time in Pony club taught me a lot. I tend to think the Brits got it right in the care of ponies, though I'm sure theres bad apples anywhere. Its good to do lots of research on your own, but even from vet to vet you'll get a different opinion. Find someone that thinks as you think or openminded to your way, but also be openminded some to. Same with farrier. I'd had a farrier tell me most problems with a horses feet is the farriers, not so much the owners. Theres lots of owners that don't do a good job of keeping up with the necessities for their ponies. But a lot do and we depend on our vets and our farriers and our hay providers and our instructors/trainers to do right by us, by our ponies. But when it comes down to it, we're the ones left to deal with what we have had done to our 4 legged best friends, so yes do the research and learn, for them and for you. We'll make mistakes, but we try, and we learn, we learn to make the decisions. The right decisions with the right people working with us. If you ever feel a bit uncomfortable what anyone is doing to your pony or with your pony, that is your gut speaking, and best listen to your gut most times. Debby Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
RE: salt supplement/hoof supplement
This message is from: Sharon s_obri...@verizon.net Hope wrote Does anyone know if any of the supplements that are supposed to promote healthy hoof growth really work? Eve would benefit. Still waiting for her to grow out of the abcess from last summer. Farrier's opinion is that she has thinner hoof walls than average. Hi, I read the posts about salt and hoof supplements and here's what I do. salt supplements - In an effort to streamline my horse's supplement bucket and save some $$, I started her on Dr. Dan's Red-Cal minerals http://www.thenaturalvet.net/RED-CAL_c_3.html and his vitamins and oil. (Red-Cal 25 lb bag is $95.69 which is 440 oz, at 1oz/day that's @1 year and 2 months worth, @$6/mo. I get the high magnesium for $14 more a bag. The extra magnesium helps the easy keepers with insulin resistance). All my friends panic at the price until they realize it lasts one horse over a year and has probiotics and antioxidants in it. Red-Cal is mined from a Utah sea bed. It contains GUARANTEED ANALYSIS: Calcuim, Min. 13.5% - Max. 15.5%, Phosphorus, Min. 0.10%, Organic Natural Sea Salt, Min. 38% - Max. 41%, Zinc, Min. 25 ppm INGREDIENTS: Organic Natural Sea Salt, Ground Dried Grape Seed Pomace, Calcium Carbonate, Yeast Culture, Diatomaceous Earth, Garlic, Montmorillonite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Selenium Yeast Culture, Distillers Grain, Mineral Oil. CONTAINS NO ADDED POTASSIUM OR COPPER. CONTAINS ORGANIC SELENIUM. Red-Cal can be put in a bucket for free choice. If they need it, they'll eat it right off but don't seem to overeat it. Once they fill their deficiency, they eat it as needed. If it gets wet, just pour off the water, break up the clumps and it's good to go. Or if you want to make sure how much they get, (minimum amounts so no excess peeing) you can put it in a bucket with the vitamins. I board my horse is in a pasture so I have to go the bucket routine. I put 1 oz in her every other day bucket with the water softened oat pellets and a scoop of vitamins, a ounce of Dr. Dan's GMO-free soybean oil which makes her shine like she's wet. Putting table salt into her bucket was too salty for her, she wouldn't touch it. Wouldn't lick salt blocks (Redmond or white) either. But she takes the Red-Cal in her bucket with no hesitation. I'm in southern Cal I worried about riding in the dry summer. Once she started the Red-Cal, no worries! She's always hydrated, drinks and sweats and pees normally, great feet, etc. RE: Hoof supplements- I was surprised, but the second thing that occurred with the Red-Cal for my horse and every other horse I knew with hoof troubles was their hooves responded to the naturally balancec minerals and got better! (thin wall, thin sole, white line disease, hoofs that wore too fast, hoofs that were too hard and brittle, didn't grow, etc). My friends and I did this test very scientifically. I gave them a 2 mo supply (1oz/day) to start just after a trim. (My 6 friends and I all share the same barefoot trimmer and we did not tell him so it was a blind test). When the trimmer returned 6 weeks later, he vouluntarily exclaimed how much each hoof had changed and improved. None of us prompted him. (2 quarterhorses-one brittle, one thin sole, paint, mustang, throughbred, foxtrotter, pony, curley). The walls and soles got thicker and began to shed off normally, hoofs got harder, the brittle ones-softer, and the most dramatic was the one with bad white line disease was transformed into normal! That horse's owner ran out and didn't get more. She called me in a panic 3 weeks later-the white line was back 1/4 deep and wide, and now his front feet were affected too and the rears were additionally coming apart! I loaned her more Red-Cal until her's arrived. 2 1/2 weeks later- white line was just about gone and she will not run out again. After our trimmer saw each improvement he was told of the Red-Cal supplement, which was the only common denominator. He used to recommend another hoof/mineral supplement. Now he recomments Red-Cal. A bag Red-Cal is pricey up front but lasts over a year, and it taken the worry from me about my horse not eating enough salt or eating too much, or getting the right balance of minerals. Additonally the montmorillite clay takes care of any mycotoxins from bad feed (encapsulates and ushers out of the body), it contains probiotics so I don't have to pay for a separate supplement (yea), the diatomaceous earth lowers the worm population in the digestive tract by slicing the exoskeletons of the worms, garlic for flies and the grape seed extract is an antioxidant. I know this must sound like an ad. My friend and I started it as our vitamin and mineral supplement. But after a few weeks the hoof improvements were so noticeable. And it's improved every foot of my friend's horses who have tried it. I love it because her bucket is so simple now. One more thing- when it gets real hot in September, I bump up the Red-Cal to 2 oz/day every other day for a few
Re: ringbone/salt/et al
This message is from: laurie with livingi...@q.com interesting discussions. the vet's description of ringbone is pretty much what my vet told me when i had oz X-rayed. i know this was starting a couple of years back. i wonder if there could be a correlation between overweight and the ringbone. i think in people with bad knees (like mine, both replaced) and weight. it all puts more stress on their joints. as far as his case, the vet told the barn manager, that keeping moving is the best thing for him. not hard riding, but schlepping around kiddos in lessons would be fine, or my wandering around the farm with him. the weight issue is part of it, and he is at a very good weight now. between his muzzle, and the lessons, he is healthier looking than ever. his feet look very good, and i am amazed at how much larger they are now than before we started shoeing with the ringbone in mind. as far as salt, the first riding instructor i had was very much into natural remedies and healing, and highly suggested redmond salt, even the blocks of it that were chipped off and larger block of it. if oz is in the mood for salt, he has in the past eaten to the point of peeing a lot, but this is something he does frequently. i can almost always count on him to pee just after we get into the arena to ride. it's kind of joke with us. right now we are dealing with heat/humidity, as isso, most of the nation. 101 is predicted for tomorrow. yesterday when i went to the barn in the morning, i found oz eating standing out in the sun. his muzzle was off, which is good, because i think it restricts their breathing in some cases. however, even without it, he was breathing hard. i hosed him down for quite some time and then was lucky enough there was an empty stall, where i put him in with a fan. later in the day he was a lot better, but stayed in overnight. today he went out for a little while, but they brought him in about noon, hosed him down and let him stay inside. the owner has very nicely allowed me to keep him indoors until it cools down. it doesn't seem to bother the other outside boarders like it does him. i also spoke to her yesterday about moving him, since i felt he wasn't always riding sound, and she (and all the kids there) is so fond of him, she gave me the option of keeping him there without increasing my costs or charging me for lessons i won't take. she totally took me by surprise, and i am pleased. i didn't want to leave my best friend and the others friends there. half of the riding aspect for us is the social one, and there are several of us mature women who regularly ride there in the morning. so we are staying put, and i can stop stressing out quite so much. laurie with livingi...@q.com Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Re: More salt
This message is from: ruth bushnell fjo...@frontiernet.net It doesn't make any sense to offer free choice salt. Mary I suppose it does appear to be excessive from a human viewpoint, one of my sons uses too much salt at the table and I have to close my eyes =) But that which eats like a horse may require much more salt.. It can sometimes be a mistake to foist our sensibilities onto an animal. I'm not versed on the subject but I can tell you what has worked for us here, we free feed white block salt and have never had a problem. They seem to self regulate their intake. A narrowed confinement might exacerbate their salt appetite into compulsory behavior, maybe requiring meted portions.. I don't know. I'm sure the salt helps them drink more too so I wouldn't withhold it. Thought I'd mention that years ago on this list it was suggested that the red mineral blocks were hard on mane and tail hairs.. increased breakage. We quit using them at that time and no problem since. Ruthie, nw mt US Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Salt
This message is from: Me Kint me.k...@yahoo.com I used to get the 50# salt blocks but changed over to the Redmond rock . Tunix would eat the 50# block like it was a chocolate chip cookie! When I would go on a hour + ride, he would pee at least 4 times! Too much salt for people is bad and I figure the same for my horse (just my opinion, no facts to go on). I live in So. Cal. Most of the summer there isn't a problem with humidity. I know they drink a lot. Whenever I groom and saddle up at my wash rack, the horses drink up, I think they have some camel in them! When my ride is finished and I'm removing tack, they drink some more. I now limit their salt access to twice a week because They still managed to devour the Redmond rock too fast for my liking. I have them in their shed row barn at night with small attached turn outs. They frequently drink while they are eating so I don't worry about their getting enough water. I just have to worry about too much salt! Mary From Mary's iPad PLEASE REMOVE ALL E-MAIL ADDRESSES BEFORE SENDING OR FORWARDING THIS EMAIL. Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Salt
This message is from: Steve McIlree st...@carriagehorse.com Since Tank and Teddy spend much of each day sculpting their salt block into a beautifully abstract statuette, I thought to do a bit of research on the subject of horses and salt. Here is what I found with some concentrated Googling. There seems to be no dispute that horses need salt as a part of their diet, but salt blocks are perhaps not the best method to offer salt to them. Salt blocks are made for cattle who have rough tongues, and horses whose tongues are smooth have a harder time fashioning blocks into their artistic visions. As a result they may chew the salt which can lead to damage to their teeth and even their jaws. Because of this design flaw they may not be able to get sufficient salt if it is presented in blocks. Every source I read seems to stress that horses are very good at self regulating their salt intake; unless they have been deprived of salt or are severely undernourished, they will not overdose. The preferred method of presenting their salt is loose granules in a container attached to a fence or stall, and they will eat what they need. Salt should not be added to feed, because that would put the dosage in your hands rather than the horses mouth. The take away seems to overwhelmingly be this, make sure your horses have access to plenty of salt, and they will know the amount to eat better than you ever could. -- Steve It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.-- Aristotle 384-322 BC Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Re: salt
This message is from: Martie Bolinski boli...@myshorelink.com Or look out your window and see 3 deer and a Fjord happily grinding the large salt block. Loose salt crystals in a feeder did not work out here. The first time Kilar licked up the salt and drooled all over it, it became a salt lump in the bottom of the bucket. Too much humidity here for letting loose crystals of anything soluble in water sit around. We had pretty good luck with the small salt bricks in the stalls, in a bucket (or usually on the floor after the horses have removed them to see what was underneath). The no-additive salt we get is pretty smooth. Willy tends to grind it a bit rather than just lick, but he does not devour all at once. And he apparently shares with the groundhog - even though the salt is IN the barn, ON a ledge at small pony height. Martie in MD - Original Message . When my windows were open at night I'd hear crunch, crunch and wonder what it was. I'd go to the barn and see innocent blinking eyes, but finally figured out they were chewing the salt blocks. Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Re: Salt
This message is from: S K windyacre...@yahoo.com Your absolutely right Steve.. I read the very same thing, so after checking with my vet I bought a large sack of salt and put it into a large feeder..I put it in the corner of their walk-thru. It's there whenever they want itI don't have to worry about too much or too little. Susan... From: Steve McIlree st...@carriagehorse.com To: FH-L fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Sent: Monday, July 2, 2012 3:07 PM Subject: Salt This message is from: Steve McIlree st...@carriagehorse.com Since Tank and Teddy spend much of each day sculpting their salt block into a beautifully abstract statuette, I thought to do a bit of research on the subject of horses and salt. Here is what I found with some concentrated Googling. There seems to be no dispute that horses need salt as a part of their diet, but salt blocks are perhaps not the best method to offer salt to them. Salt blocks are made for cattle who have rough tongues, and horses whose tongues are smooth have a harder time fashioning blocks into their artistic visions. As a result they may chew the salt which can lead to damage to their teeth and even their jaws. Because of this design flaw they may not be able to get sufficient salt if it is presented in blocks. Every source I read seems to stress that horses are very good at self regulating their salt intake; unless they have been deprived of salt or are severely undernourished, they will not overdose. The preferred method of presenting their salt is loose granules in a container attached to a fence or stall, and they will eat what they need. Salt should not be added to feed, because that would put the dosage in your hands rather than the horses mouth. The take away seems to overwhelmingly be this, make sure your horses have access to plenty of salt, and they will know the amount to eat better than you ever could. -- Steve It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.-- Aristotle 384-322 BC Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
Re: salt
This message is from: Jo Wilgus rjrfj...@verizon.net .** duffers is a huge peeer. my vet said it is no big deal. if he drinks plenty of water that is good as long as it is coming out. well i am here to say, it IS coming out. i have salt blocks in stalls for regn and duffers. i have always heard they take what they need. in the winter they do not use the blocks as much. i have used the loose salt before. it was a waste. i do not like to put it in the trough, it rusts it out. the loose was in a separate bucket and they thought the bucket that hung on the rails was a new toy. so i went back to the block. they seem just peachy. as a matter of fact i feel they are the best fjords in the whole world. yes, of course i am partial, ha, ha, ha. i love regn and duffers. i will often put the loose salt in their pellets during the winter. they look very healthy and appear to be extremely happy. jo wilgus gavilan hills, ca The fjord gelding I have now uses twice the shavings of the warmblood that outweighs him by at least 500#. Robin in Florida I think fjords just seem to pee a lot more than others, especially the mares, sheesh. Drink a lot and pee it right out. God love them! Debby in Tx Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
salt lick, more pee?
This message is from: crystal...@aol.com twice in the past couple of weeks, oz has been, shall we say, peeing like a racehorse? he usually pees at least once during the time we are grooming/riding/cleaning up, usually shortly after he gets into the arena. these two occasions he peed at least 3, and then again when he was turned out. the first time i had the vet come out and clean his sheath. he did have a bean, but the vet thought it was kind of strange that he peed while he was being cleaned. i kept an eye on him, and we didn't have any more incidents, until today, when we had his feet trimmed. both days were preceeded by first a mineral block, and then yesterday a salt block being placed in his pasture. i know that he likes to nibble/lick on those, and i am assuming that he might have worked on it enough to make himself drink more, and thus pee more. does this seem likely, or could it be another problem? anyone else had anything like this happen? he doesn't act sick, he still is acting normally when ridden and in the pasture. laurie, and oz, the full Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
RE: salt lick, more pee?
This message is from: Linda Lottie horselo...@hotmail.com Laurie...my guess is he is consuming large amounts of salt. Be very careful. A horse at a barn I boarded at years ago was eating WAY TO MUCH salt. His teenage owner just kept giving him salt and more saltnot realizing what was happening or the danger. I noticed his stall was just drenched, day after day...each horse had an auto waterere. Finally, the horse was loosing weight ..mind you, I did not know at this point he was consuming so much salt. ; The owner of the barn became involved, called the parents of the teen, and, literally saved this horse. Had it continued he could of died. So, keep an eye on him. Linda in WI From: crystal...@aol.com Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:56:12 -0500 Subject: salt lick, more pee? To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com This message is from: crystal...@aol.com twice in the past couple of weeks, oz has been, shall we say, peeing like a racehorse? he usually pees at least once during the time we are grooming/riding/cleaning up, usually shortly after he gets into the arena. these two occasions he peed at least 3, and then again when he was turned out. the first time i had the vet come out and clean his sheath. he did have a bean, but the vet thought it was kind of strange that he peed while he was being cleaned. i kept an eye on him, and we didn't have any more incidents, until today, when we had his feet trimmed. both days were preceeded by first a mineral block, and then yesterday a salt block being placed in his pasture. i know that he likes to nibble/lick on those, and i am assuming that he might have worked on it enough to make himself drink more, and thus pee more. does this seem likely, or could it be another problem? anyone else had anything like this happen? he doesn't act sick, he still is acting normally when ridden and in the pasture. laurie, and oz, the full Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
gut sounds, water salt
This message is from: Willows Edge Farm i...@willowsedgefarm.com Like Beth mentioned, adding hot to warm it up a bit seems to be helping here. The other addition I have been adding is salt - Kosher or Sea salt depending on what's closest. Our water consumption has been steady with all 7 of them draining their stock tank every couple days. I'd rather haul the water than have them not drink as much. I add 1 cup salt to a bucket of hot water that then goes into the almost full 70 gallon tank. It's not a lot, but just that little extra. Makes me feel like I'm doing something. Corinne Logan Willows Edge Farm Bothell, WA - just outside Seattle where we got another 3 inches last night and it is snowing, AGAIN... (425) 402-6781 www.willowsedgefarm.com From: Beth magicm...@roadrunner.com Subject: Re: gut sounds in Fjords This message is from: Beth magicm...@roadrunner.com Just a thought for you folks who live in areas where it doesn't often get very cold.. Adding warm water to your horses water buckets keeps them drinking better. Before we had heated water buckets for our horses, I was carrying buckets of hot water to the barn three or four times a day... What a pain, but if it keeps the horses drinking it's worth it. Just straight HOT water isn't good but adding it to their water in the buckets takes the chill off. I'm sure most of you already know this but just thought I'd pass it on...The weather so far this winter is really hard for a lot of people, especially those not used to the cold and snow. Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Re: gut sounds, water salt
This message is from: jerrell friz jf...@com-pair.net Corinne, The only time I every had a horse colic, in over 50 years, working with horses, is when I added salt to the water. I was following the advice of a local vet., when living in Florida several years ago.. Jerry Friz, Anderson, Ca. . I add 1 cup salt to a bucket of hot water that then goes into the almost full 70 gallon tank. It's not a lot, but just that little extra. Makes me feel like I'm doing something. Corinne Logan Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
Epsom Salt and Wood Chewing
This message is from: Joe Glick [EMAIL PROTECTED] A recent topic about wooding chewing was of interest to me. I have heard many reasons for wood chewing but some time ago a equine nutritionist said wood chewing comes from a magnesium deficiency. It is most common in the spring. In the winter horses go into a form of hibernation where their organs slow down to preserve energy. In the spring, as the days become longer and warmer, their body needs magnesium to come out of hibernation. He went on to say that tree bark contains magnesium and if there are no trees with bark to eat they will chew on wood. Has anyone else heard of this? My horses rarely chew on wood so I was never able to prove it one way or another. This spring my yearlings started chewing on wood so I gave them free choice minerals and that seemed to stop the chewing. Was that a coincident? Then recently Gail Russell wrote about feeding Epsom Salt to horses. I didn't realize that Epsom Salt is magnesium ( if I did, I forgot ). I think the next time I see my horses chewing wood I'll give them Epsom Salt. My question is, how much would you give? Could I feed it free choice? I'd like to hear other's thoughts on this. Thanks Joe Glick Glick Family Farm The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Adding salt(s) to feed
This message is from: Gail Russell [EMAIL PROTECTED] I have a friend who puts Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) into feed. She buys it at Costco in large quantities. I guess she thinks the magnesium is helpful. Anyone know any more about why Epsom salts might be a good thing? Gail As to colic in winter, our thoughts are that we must get as much water in the horses as we possibly can. -- To do this we have heaters in alll the outside tanks. -- We feed huge amounts of soaked (really soaked until soupy) beetpulp, and we put a lot of salt into each bucket. The salt makes them thirsty and the tepid water invites them to drink. We monitor the tanks and buckets very carefully to be 100% sure they're drinking a lot. We think the soupy,. salty beetpulp is the best insurance we can have against impaction colic. -- The horses need wet stuff in the winter because all they're eating is dry hay. -- They need lots and lots of water, and some of them will not drink enough water unless forced to by salt induced thirst. The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Re: Adding salt(s) to feed
This message is from: Silja Knoll [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi, Epsom salt acts as a laxative. Adults (humans) can disolve it in water and drink it. For children it can be mixed into their bath water if they are constipated. I have used it many times for my daughter and it works fairly well. I am assuming that horses would experience the same laxative type effect that humans do. Silja Gail Russell [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This message is from: Gail Russell I have a friend who puts Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) into feed. She buys it at Costco in large quantities. I guess she thinks the magnesium is helpful. Anyone know any more about why Epsom salts might be a good thing? Gail As to colic in winter, our thoughts are that we must get as much water in the horses as we possibly can. -- To do this we have heaters in alll the outside tanks. -- We feed huge amounts of soaked (really soaked until soupy) beetpulp, and we put a lot of salt into each bucket. The salt makes them thirsty and the tepid water invites them to drink. We monitor the tanks and buckets very carefully to be 100% sure they're drinking a lot. We think the soupy,. salty beetpulp is the best insurance we can have against impaction colic. -- The horses need wet stuff in the winter because all they're eating is dry hay. -- They need lots and lots of water, and some of them will not drink enough water unless forced to by salt induced thirst. The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw - No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go with Yahoo! Mail for Mobile. Get started. The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Re: Adding salt(s) to feed
This message is from: Steve A White [EMAIL PROTECTED] We do use epsom salts sometimes as a laxative for horses. However, we give a large volume with a stomach tube. I doubt the horse would eat or drink enough on its own to have much laxative effect. If they are adding it to feed its probably just for extra magnesium. Steve White, DVM Gretna, NE The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
RE: Salt Blocks plastic rakes
This message is from: Gwenn Berard Beaupre [EMAIL PROTECTED] We have a mineral block made for horses beside the plain salt block. Both were blessed heavy to haul out there too! I put them across the paddock from the water they were all over each of them for the first week have now settled to an occasional stroll by. Except of course for Sonja who will nip off a chunk spit it out .. then Edgar will pick it up throw it back... then Sonja will decide she wants to keep it ... A couple months ago someone mentioned using a plastic rake, well, I've tried it. Now I cant rake my stall floor because Sonja will come stand over the rake lean towards me until I scrub her belly. What a great idea for getting all the paddock yuck off the bottom of the horse belly without getting a face full... particularly since Sonja is sooo wide you cant just reach under. Edgar and the ponies have all taken to it like crazy too. My neighbour pulled into the driveway as I stood upwind and scraped the dried muck off, he laughed like crazy. An older French gent who has had horses for 60+ years, he though I was nuts until he watched the horses jockeying for a turn. He's trying it on his haflingers now... you've started a trend!
RE: Salt blocks
This message is from: Karen McCarthy [EMAIL PROTECTED] I have been so busy that I totally missed the salt block thread. We have 3 big pastures, and have between 7-9 horses per pasture, each pasture is about 20acres. We don't use salt blocks anymore, as we found that after about a month, the horses really decreased the use of them. Maybe thethey became 'stale'? At any rate,Dave gets bagged loose mineralized salt from a local supplement manufacturer (Vaquero Supplement). He puts about 5-7 cups at a time out in feeders fixed on the fences. The horses really like it, and we just add a bit more in a week or so. So far, no 'over indulgers' have been noted! Karen McCarthyGreat Basin Fjords :: Carson City, Nevadahttp://www.picturetrail.com/weegees
Re: Salt blocks
This message is from: Jean Ernest [EMAIL PROTECTED] My old Bjarne seems to eat a lot of salt. I got rid of the trace mineral block for livestock which did have selenium in it and goat a plain white block as I was worried he'd be getting too much selenium. While we are selenium deficient here, Bjarne gets senior feed and vitamins which have selenium in it. I don't think he is eating quite THAT much now, tho. Why don't you move the salt black away from the water tank, across the corral, or something like that, then he wouldn't be quite so likely to eat so much if he has to walk a ways to the water. Jean in Fairbanks, Alaska, where the snow IS melting, but it is a late spring. I want it GONE!40 degrees today. Does anyone worry about the amount of salt their Fjord eats?
Re: Salt blocks
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Research has shown that healthy horses are capable of safely regulating their salt intake, although they are not able to do that with other minerals. If Gunnar is healthy, he is probably just fine. It may be that he really likes the taste of plain salt now that you've given it to him. Mixed mineral blocks can inhibit healthy salt intake, because they can taste bitter to horses. Most sources recommend always leaving plain salt freely available to horses, even if you do feed a mixed mineral. In my experience, a horse may eat a lot of salt for awhile, but the salt consumption will eventually slack off. DeeAnna
Re: Salt blocks
This message is from: bolinsj [EMAIL PROTECTED] This is what we've found with our horses. We give them a salt block in their stalls. They have free access to the stalls almost 24/7 (except when wh'ere cleaning out). They eat a lot of salt for a while then taper off. Warm weather - more salt. I found that putting the salt right next to the water trough they were 'playing with' it more, but wasting it (biting off pieces and dropping them. Kilar is a chewer - he bites his salt as often as licks it.) He will occassionaly pick the smaller brick out of his feeder and I'll have to hunt for it, but not too often. Martie in MD [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Research has shown that healthy horses are capable of safely regulating their salt intake, although they are not able to do that with other minerals. If Gunnar is healthy, he is probably just fine. It may be that he really likes the taste of plain salt now that you've given it to him. Mixed mineral blocks can inhibit healthy salt intake, because they can taste bitter to horses. Most sources recommend always leaving plain salt freely available to horses, even if you do feed a mixed mineral. In my experience, a horse may eat a lot of salt for awhile, but the salt consumption will eventually slack off. DeeAnna
Re: Salt blocks
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Salt blocks were originally meant for cattle. Cows tongues are much rougher than a horses. We put hang over buckets with ground salt up for ours. They seem to use it much more. During the summer I will even sprinkle some in with their hay. It works for us but each horse is different. Fjords seem to think any thing in a bucket must be for them to snack on. Jo Wilgus Gavilan Hills, CA
Re: Salt blocks
This message is from: CHERYL GARNICA [EMAIL PROTECTED] RE: Jo's comment, Fjords seem to think anything in a bucket must be for them to snack on..mine would think the bucket was part of the snack! Cheryl in S. Cal --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Salt blocks were originally meant for cattle. Cows tongues are much rougher than a horses. We put hang over buckets with ground salt up for ours. They seem to use it much more. During the summer I will even sprinkle some in with their hay. It works for us but each horse is different.Fjords seem to think any thing in a bucket must be for them to snack on. Jo Wilgus Gavilan Hills, CA
Re: Salt blocks
This message is from: jgayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thanks Martie, I have been wondering if putting the big block by the trough is not causing salty water also! You may be right that it will taper off but not so far, two weeks. He does not like the mineral blocks as well. Hope things are going well with your dears. Jean Author 'The Colonel's Daughter Occupied Germany 1946 to 1949 Send: $20 to Three Horse's Press 7403 Blaine Rd Aberdeen, WA 98520
Re: salt how much
This message is from: jgayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Author 'The Colonel's Daughter Occupied Germany 1946 to 1949 Send: $20 to Three Horse's Press 7403 Blaine Rd Aberdeen, WA 98520
Re: salt how much
This message is from: jgayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] I have not talked to the Vet as yet. Gunnar had impacted (before the salt) for the first time ever with me ( I have had him six years) but we had just lost his friend through a long struggle and I had shifted Gunnar to Charley's field as there is much less grass. Gunnar has always been a salt user but not this much and the weather is cool. I will touch base with my Vet. Thanks Jean Gayle Author 'The Colonel's Daughter Occupied Germany 1946 to 1949 Send: $20 to Three Horse's Press 7403 Blaine Rd Aberdeen, WA 98520
Re: Salt blocks
This message is from: jgayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thanks Deanna, that has been the way until using this first white block without minerals at the Vets suggestion. He is a wonderful Vet so I consider myself lucky, but Fjords are different in so many ways. Will check with him.Jean Gayle Author 'The Colonel's Daughter Occupied Germany 1946 to 1949 Send: $20 to Three Horse's Press 7403 Blaine Rd Aberdeen, WA 98520
Re: Salt blocks
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] I think it is best free choice the salt. I like the lose salt the best .One container of white and one of trace mineral. The biggest problem I find with lose is putting it into something they won't tip. I also keep a couple of blocks in with them. Jim Sherette Billings, MT. Spokane. WA.
Re: Salt blocks
This message is from: bolinsj [EMAIL PROTECTED] All is well with our 'herd' right now. I made the mistake of agreeing to take Kilar to our local driving club pleasure driving show next month. He sheds out slowly so I decided to clip him this year. What a nightmare! He looks like someone tried to clip him with a sharpened putty knife. Blades are dull, lost screws from blade changes, clipper stops working. Murphy's Laws in action. He actually looks pretty good this spring. Not too much pork on, but enough he doesn't l,ook like he needs to be fed either. Thank goodness he is a very patient and forgiving guy. (Just carry carrots). Give Gunnar a nice tail skritch from John and I. We're expecting to see Marsha Korose and Curtis Pierce this spring with a couple of their Fjordies. An overnighter at our house and a CDE nearby. Sounds like fun. I will spectate! Tried the CDE route and like it NOT. Kilar seemed to enjoy it though. Of course, he just likes to get out and meet new people and check out their pockets for goodies. Martie B jgayle wrote: This message is from: jgayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thanks Martie, I have been wondering if putting the big block by the trough is not causing salty water also! You may be right that it will taper off but not so far, two weeks. He does not like the mineral blocks as well. Hope things are going well with your dears. Jean
RE: Salt blocks
This message is from: Skeels, Mark A \(GE Healthcare\) [EMAIL PROTECTED] I think I deleted the origional Salt post, but if I recall you said in one that you were using a 20 pound salt block, is that a brick or the block. I think mine weigh closer to 50 pounds, they are about a foot tall, and maybe 10 inches square, they have a 2-3 inch deep dish shaped indent on the top. They either weigh close to 50 pounds or I am getting pretty weak in my 43 year old age. But then I'm also talking the trace mineral blocks. Have never really picked up a solid salt block. If you are refeering to the smaller salt brick size, then maybe 1/4 isn't that much. The only time I have seen my horses devour one of these blocks is when it wasn't really a salt block, but one of the sweet blocks, basically sweet feed compressed into the block shape, they would take chunks out of that, gone in a couple days or less with 2-3 horses. Mark Skeels
Re: Salt blocks
This message is from: jgayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mark pointed out that I was saying twenty pound salt block instead of fifty. Certainly a quarter of fifty pounds is what alarms me. Jean Gayle Author 'The Colonel's Daughter Occupied Germany 1946 to 1949 Send: $20 to Three Horse's Press 7403 Blaine Rd Aberdeen, WA 98520
Salt blocks
This message is from: jgayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Does anyone worry about the amount of salt their Fjord eats? Just about everytime I look out at Gunnar he is at the salt lick and water tank. He has, in over a week licked about a quarter of the twenty pound block which is white plain salt.! The Vet suggested plain salt brick this last time and I thought I would try it for a bit. However, here we are short on selenium and I have previously been using the mineral blocks. How much salt is too much? Jean Gayle Author 'The Colonel's Daughter Occupied Germany 1946 to 1949 Send: $20 to Three Horse's Press 7403 Blaine Rd Aberdeen, WA 98520
salt how much
This message is from: Carol Makosky [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi, I'm no expert, but that does sound like a bit much. What does the vet say? -- Built Fjord Tough Carol M. On Golden Pond N. Wisconsin
Re: Salt blocks
This message is from: Jean Ernest [EMAIL PROTECTED] My old Bjarne seems to eat a lot of salt. I got rid of the trace mineral block for livestock which did have selenium in it and goat a plain white block as I was worried he'd be getting too much selenium. While we are selenium deficient here, Bjarne gets senior feed and vitamins which have selenium in it. I don't think he is eating quite THAT much now, tho. Why don't you move the salt black away from the water tank, across the corral, or something like that, then he wouldn't be quite so likely to eat so much if he has to walk a ways to the water. Jean in Fairbanks, Alaska, where the snow IS melting, but it is a late spring. I want it GONE!40 degrees today. Does anyone worry about the amount of salt their Fjord eats?
adding salt to feed
This message is from: Carol Makosky [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi, If I add salt to my horse's daily supplement, how much should I give each day? qtr. cup, less or more? I would only be doing this to encourage more water intake during the winter and I have never had a problem with winter colic. On another subject. I just caught the end of a natural hoof care specialist on the RFDTV channel and was fascinated with it all. -- Built Fjord Tough Carol M. On Golden Pond N. Wisconsin
Re: salt blocks
This message is from: jgayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Gunnar eats a great deal of salt no matter plain, iodized, selenium etc. Drinks lots of water also. He gets mostly grass hay but recently (has not changed his salt habits) has been getting alfalfa once a day as he is in with my warm blood 1/2 the day. I am watching him closely but also it is cold at night and about 60 degrees days so he can metabolize the extra feed. My warmblood does not eat salt at all!!! We also just finished the sand blast doses which had to be administered with a small amount of grain. What a treat!!! Jean Gayle Author The Colonel's Daughter Occupied Germany 46-49 Send $20 to: PO Box 104 Montesano, WA 98563
salt blocks
This message is from: Jim and Tammy Hooper [EMAIL PROTECTED] The talk about anemia and salt blocks brought up a question I have. My two fjords have an iodized salt block and a mineral block in their inner most pasture. Recently they seem to have been eating their two mineral blocks. I asked the vet about it Friday and she suggested just not replacing them for awhile. They are fed only grass hay. My husband a geologist said we get a lot more selenuim in our area because we have younger soil unlike the east coast. Maybe my horses just want to play with the salt blocks recently. They have toys in their pasture, wild animals to watch and they're worked with. Maybe they're just a little odd and I don't notice because I'm the same way ;) Tammy Hooper Naples, ID
Re: supplement salt ? and Sharon update
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In a message dated 2/4/04 10:44:51 PM Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Did I miss why people are giving salt rather than salt blocks, the big one? My Gunnar takes a lot of salt but the Vet says it is okay. By a lot I mean that I see him quite often licking the block. He goes through one of those big blocks in about three months. My mare Heather would lick a whole salt block in less than a week and drink 30 gallons of water a day, While I like to encourage my horses to drink this is excessive and so I add salt to her feed or give her a small salt block in her feeder for a couple of hours. My other 2 fjords have a regular large salt blocks with no problem. Not sure why Heather does this but my vet says it could cause kidney problems so we limit her salt. Sue Sue Clark-Sorger Crown Oak Fjords Sandia Park NM
Re: supplement salt ? and Sharon update
This message is from: Carol J. Makosky [EMAIL PROTECTED] Jean Ernest wrote: This message is from: Jean Ernest [EMAIL PROTECTED] Jean in Faribanks, Alaska moonlight on the snow! Good morning Jean, I have been so tempted to go for a ride in this wonderful moonlight. Have you ever done this Jean? Members of my driving clubs do this when it is not too cold. Doesn't a moon lite sleigh ride sound great? One of these days when it is not too cold, but then I can see Heidi spooking at many little shadows and this could turn into an adventure. I guess I hesitate too because I would have to go through the woods and dodge branches in the dark. It is suppose to be nice today so I may put that trip to town off till tomorrow and get out today for a ride. Still want to do the Marlboro man thing through the deep snow. LOL -- Built Fjord Tough Carol M. On Golden Pond N. Wisconsin
Re: supplement salt ? and Sharon update
This message is from: Jean Ernest [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the cold weather it is recommended to put loose salt in their feed to get them to drink more water. Licking a salt block in below zero weather might not be so inviting so the loose salt in feed makes sure they get that salt. But you don't have that problem in your weather! Jean in Faribanks, Alaska moonlight on the snow! Did I miss why people are giving salt rather than salt blocks? Jean Ernest Fairbanks, Alaska mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: supplement salt ? and Sharon update
This message is from: jgayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Did I miss why people are giving salt rather than salt blocks, the big one? My Gunnar takes a lot of salt but the Vet says it is okay. By a lot I mean that I see him quite often licking the block. He goes through one of those big blocks in about three months. Jean G Author The Colonel's Daughter Occupied Germany 46-49 Send $20 to: PO Box 104 Montesano, WA 98563
Re: supplement salt ? and Sharon update
This message is from: Jean Ernest [EMAIL PROTECTED] I have been giving mine about a tablespoon, guestimate...pour it in the palm of my hand. They still hit the salt block. I read on the CD-L or somewhere(maybe Equus, etc.) to give 2 tablespoons of white saltr. I would guess you wouldn't want to give that much in such a small bit of grain, tho. Jean in Fairbanks, Alaska partly cloudy, +1F My horses get 1 scant tsp of salt every day. Jean Ernest Fairbanks, Alaska mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: supplement salt ? and Sharon update
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] My horses get 1 scant tsp of salt every day. Come to the edge he said; We are afraid they said. Come to the edge he said; They came. He pushed them; and they flew. - Guillaume Appolinaire
Re: adding salt to footing
This message is from: Joanna Crell and David folger [EMAIL PROTECTED] Re: arena footing adding salt to the sand? We teach vaulting in a huge arena that has a sand and sawdust footing, they add many many bags of magnesium chloride I believe. or is it mag. sulfate??? h. Any way, it is to keep the dust down which it does well. They were sent bags of Calcium chloride which they sent back, I have heard of folks using that to keep open ground friable. I hate what the ph of wood shavings/ as in stall bedding does to some horses feet, wonder how the salt would affect them also? At our farm, the best place to vault, ride and roll around, we have delicious crumb rubber,and dead sand. Just now starting to need a watering, jolly on a 4 degree day
Re: arena footing adding salt to the sand?
This message is from: mhd/gcc [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi Joni, I spread magnesium chloride (Mag salt) pellets in my indoor and have no problems with dust or freezing. I do have an overhead sprinkler system that I use in the Summer, but find that the mag salt keeps the dust down in the Summer, too, so I don't have to use the sprinkler system that often. The mag salt has never bothered my horses' feet. Hope this helps. Melissa - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Sent: Friday, January 17, 2003 12:58 AM Subject: Re: arena footing adding salt to the sand? This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thanks for the reference to the booklet on arena footing, I will call and request one. In the mean time, I have a question: What are your thoughts on adding salt to the sand in an indoor arena to keep the sand wet and keep the dust down. We are having a very cold and dry snap in Wisconsin. The stables where I board my Fjord gelding are considering adding salt, but I'm concerned that the salt may be corrosive for the horse's feet. Joni G.
Re: arena footing adding salt to the sand?
This message is from: Jean Gayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Once again after trying different footings over the years I have found none better than screenings which comes from crushed rock. The dust in it comes up about a foot and after seven years and some replacing there is not dust. The horses love it and I have never had a horse slide in it. They leave about an inch imprint when walking in it. I do drag it as needed because my horses like to roll or run about in it. I understand that if left out side it can harden but that has not happened here. I have covered over grass to keep mud from paddock entrances and laid out a pattern for riding in the outside pasture and it is still there after seven years. Some areas build up dirt from manure, leaves etc and I have had the tractor scrape it down a bit and then added more screenings.Jean Jean Walters Gayle Aberdeen, WA Author:The Colonel's Daughter $20 PO Box 104 Montesano, WA 98563
Re: arena footing adding salt to the sand?
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thanks for the reference to the booklet on arena footing, I will call and request one. In the mean time, I have a question: What are your thoughts on adding salt to the sand in an indoor arena to keep the sand wet and keep the dust down. We are having a very cold and dry snap in Wisconsin. The stables where I board my Fjord gelding are considering adding salt, but I'm concerned that the salt may be corrosive for the horse's feet. Joni G.
Re: salt licks
This message is from: carol j makosky [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi, I think that I tried one of these last year and Heidi ate the whole thing in about 2 weeks. I did not think she needed to OD on this stuff and never got another. Gregor Fellers wrote: This message is from: Gregor Fellers [EMAIL PROTECTED] I saw a new (to me) type of salt lick at the grain store yesterday. It is supposed to have chemicals that repel insects and flys. I'm sure it works well this time of year but wonder if it works in the summer. It cost 3 times the regular mineral salt lick. They would be worth the extra cost if they were marginally effective. The cost of traditional fly sprays is excessive. Does anyone know if these are effective and save to use? -- Built FJORD tough Carol M. On Golden Pond Northern Wisconsin
salt licks
This message is from: Gregor Fellers [EMAIL PROTECTED] I saw a new (to me) type of salt lick at the grain store yesterday. It is supposed to have chemicals that repel insects and flys. I'm sure it works well this time of year but wonder if it works in the summer. It cost 3 times the regular mineral salt lick. They would be worth the extra cost if they were marginally effective. The cost of traditional fly sprays is excessive. Does anyone know if these are effective and save to use?
Re: Salt answers and new question
This message is from: Mary Thurman [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Ok, to answer the questions regarding salt... I gave him one of those small blocks that fits in the holder thingies on the wall. It was reddish brown with no ingredients listed. So, it was what we call a 'brick' of salt. Reddish brown means it was probably what they call a 'trace mineral' block - which may or may not contain selenium. Usually these come in big boxes at the feed store with ingredients/contents listed somewhere on the box. His eating the whole block in one day or so is pretty 'normal' for a Fjord - especially one that is stabled and probably bored. Could never use these with our boys - or most young stock - as they played with them (Oh boy! Something to crunch!) and either ate the whole thing in a couple days or reduced it to smithereens all over the bottom of the manger or floor of the stall. Then they'd go to work on the holder, using it for a 'butt scratcher/shoulder itcher' until it broke into small - sometimes sharp - pieces! We use only the big blocks, and place them in one end of the manger or in a home-built holder of some kind so they can't use them as a toy to be rolled and kicked around the stall. Mary = Mary Thurman Raintree Farms [EMAIL PROTECTED] __ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
Salt answers and new question
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Ok, to answer the questions regarding salt... I gave him one of those small blocks that fits in the holder thingies on the wall. It was reddish brown with no ingredients listed. I bought it at the feed store thinking that it would help insure his water intake with the cold weather. This was a month ago. I was going to buy another block but thought I should look into his consumption of it first. He is the only one with access to it. Now our NEW thing... When I went out to the barn today to meet the farrier I was met with a drooling horse. I had been out in the morning (9am), ridden him, given him a flake of hay, checked his water, tossed him a few carrots. At 3 pm when the farrier got there he said he started drooling during shoeing. He was offered water, gut noises checked offered food...no odd responses. B was as hungry as he usually is and had been drinking water, in fact half a bucket since I had left (normal). He drooled so much he had a puddle in front of him. It wasn't mucousy, just all saliva. Kind of like after they have apples. I used him in a lesson at 430, since he wasn't in any obvious discomfort. He drooled through the lesson, some of it coming out in big glops. Not foam...just saliva. After the lesson he was cooled out and put away with fresh water and hay. I'm going to try not to obsess until tomorrow morning. If he's still doing it then, I'll freak and call the vet. I'm thinking there was something in the hay (maybe clover? Though he HAS had that before). He was NOT turned out. Has had limited turnout due to ice. Maybe he cut himself chewing? Worst case is choke, right? Any ideas would be great. I'm praying he's ok and it's just a weird thing. I've had him for essentially 4 years now and he's never done this. And no, he didn't have access to soap grin Kate in CT owned by Baldur the wonder fjord graduate B pony clubber MysticPonyClub egroups moderator ARIA certified riding instructor
Re: Salt Question
This message is from: Mary Thurman [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- Jean Ernest [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Kate, Do NOT feed the blocks with selenium: he might indeed get too much selenium. It is better to feed a controled amount of selenium rather than free choice at a salt block containing selenium. We also need to be aware, when choosing a salt or mineral block, that many grains and 'complete' or 'vitamin package added' feeds already contain sufficient selenium for the horse. Therefore, if we also put out a mineral block containing selenium we are giving DOUBLE selenium supplements. Not good!! Too much selenium has altered the course of history - at least in the case of General Custer. It appears that one of the reasons his reinforcements were late was the unfortunate fact that they were riding horses that had been overwintered in South Dakota(I believe) - an area with TOO MUCH selenium in the soil and grass. The horses' hooves were so soft from too much selenium that they could not travel very fast and so were late for the battle! Of course, they did not know 'why' the horses' hooves were bad at the time - it's something 'science' has figured out since. So, if your horse has soft feet - or feet that get sore easily - for no apparent reason, check the tag on the feed bag AND the one on the salt block. You may just get a surprise answer to the problem! It seems that most 'mineral' blocks are made with cattle (and other cloven-hoofed stock) in mind, with little or no regard to their use by horse folks. And asking the guy or gal at the feed store may be of no help either - they may know nothing about the requirements of horses. To be really sure - read the tags. You say the salt block you bought was 'brown' - was it really brown, or just reddish brown? Out here the truly 'brown' ones have molasses or sugar(I forget which) added to them to improve palatability and encourage stock to lick them more. Given the normal Fjord's sweet tooth, I would never use a mineral block which contained a sweetener. Mine would probably wind up with some sort of mineral or salt toxicity from going after the 'sweet stuff'! Mary = Mary Thurman Raintree Farms [EMAIL PROTECTED] __ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
Re: Salt Question
This message is from: Jean Ernest [EMAIL PROTECTED] Kate, Was this the small block? or the 50 lb block? If it was the small block, that is about right I think. My four fjords go through a 50 lb block in no time. I just picked up several more 50 lb. Trace Mineral blocks today. Do NOT feed the blocks with selenium: he might indeed get too much selenium. It is better to feed a controled amount of selenium rather than free choice at a salt block containing selenium. OK, my question. I'm aware of how horses need salt and minerals in their diet. So while I was at the feed store I picked up a block (one of the brown ones) for Baldur. Put it in his stall and it was gone within a week. In fact as soon as it was in the holder he started at it. So here's my question...how much is too much? Should I replace it as fast as he goes through it? Should I add salt to his feed instead? Could I crumble a block and add that? Or will table salt suffice? Could this be a sign he is lacking something? Jean in Fairbanks, Alaska, another beautiful sunny day and still much warmer than normal at +22F Jean Ernest Fairbanks, Alaska mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Salt Question
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] First... I apologize, this is probably in HTML. We have AOL 6.0 and have contacted AOL regarding this problem (my husband was booted from a list due to this too) and they have said they are fixing it. Which means it will be 6 months before they have a new version to download. So my sincere apologies, I promise not to post too often. OK, my question. I'm aware of how horses need salt and minerals in their diet. So while I was at the feed store I picked up a block (one of the brown ones) for Baldur. Put it in his stall and it was gone within a week. In fact as soon as it was in the holder he started at it. So here's my question...how much is too much? Should I replace it as fast as he goes through it? Should I add salt to his feed instead? Could I crumble a block and add that? Or will table salt suffice? Could this be a sign he is lacking something? His stats... Mature gelding (12) In full work (6 days per week, 1 hour per day plus lessons given on him) Feed...1 cup of Trotter (pelleted feed) 2x daily, 2 flakes of grass hay 5x daily biotin supplement for his gross feet free choice water 5 hours of turnout on grass (haha...not) Whatever suggestions you guys have will be greatly appreciated. I also have a client who would like a clone of my guy...14.2ish, mellow, likes to jump...we're in the CT/RI area but will travel within New England and New York. Thanks!! Kate in CT owned by Baldur the wonder fjord graduate B pony clubber MysticPonyClub egroups moderator ARIA certified riding instructor
Salt Question
First... I apologize, this is probably in HTML. We have AOL 6.0 and have contacted AOL regarding this problem (my husband was booted from a list due to this too) and they have said they are "fixing" it. Which means it will be 6 months before they have a new version to download. So my sincere apologies, I promise not to post too often. OK, my question. I'm aware of how horses need salt and minerals in their diet. So while I was at the feed store I picked up a block (one of the brown ones) for Baldur. Put it in his stall and it was gone within a week. In fact as soon as it was in the holder he started at it. So here's my question...how much is too much? Should I replace it as fast as he goes through it? Should I add salt to his feed instead? Could I crumble a block and add that? Or will table salt suffice? Could this be a sign he is lacking something? His stats... Mature gelding (12) In full work (6 days per week, 1 hour per day plus lessons given on him) Feed...1 cup of Trotter (pelleted feed) 2x daily, 2 flakes of grass hay 5x daily biotin supplement for his gross feet free choice water 5 hours of turnout on "grass" (haha...not) Whatever suggestions you guys have will be greatly appreciated. I also have a client who would like a clone of my guy...14.2ish, mellow, likes to jump...we're in the CT/RI area but will travel within New England and New York. Thanks!! Kate in CT owned by Baldur the wonder fjord graduate B pony clubber MysticPonyClub egroups moderator ARIA certified riding instructor
Salt/Mineral Blocks
This message is from: Sherle Monheim [EMAIL PROTECTED] We have been trying to decide which is best for our Fjords. Mineral or Salt Blocks. When I called my vet, I was told that they needed none, since we are on the Equishine Pellet feeding program. I would like to hear from all of you on this subject and especially our vet members. Please. Thanks Sherle in Northern Wisconsin, where its a balmy 70 degrees and the colors are beautiful.
Re: Salt/Mineral Blocks
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] It's a very good idea to first check with your vet before using anything (especially feed related items) that is labeled for cattle. Lots of cattle products have growth promotants in them that are deadly to horses. The mineral blocks for cattle are toxic to sheep. Too much copper. I don't believe that an adult horse would consume enough of the block to make a difference, but I would watch out for a weanling or yearling. I did one time see a horse that would actually eat the blocks, not just lick them. In that case I think it would have been toxic if it was allowed to continue. Steve White Waterloo, Nebraska
Re: Salt
This message is from: Misty Meadows B B [EMAIL PROTECTED] Salt - mineral blocks Did you say salt? As many of you know, our fjords here at Misty Meadows live together as an intact herd, sharing everything. Even salt!!! See the photo on our webpage www.mistymeadows.com - in the contact us section. We love salt!!! Cathy Koshman Misty Meadows BB and Fjords Victoria, BC Canada
Re: Salt/Mineral Blocks
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the discussion of salt blocks you said that you read that they could be bad for horses. I was recently told by my vet not to let my Fjord gelding eat the mineral salt block for a while because he is a horse that likes to eat salt and he finished a 5lb. salt block in less than two weeks. My vet was indicating that my horse could be getting too much copper and this can irratate his tendons. Some salt blocks contain selinium too and heavy metals can be dangerous if too much is consumed. I have never heard of this before, but on this particular horse, I give him only the white salt block now.
Re: Salt/Mineral Blocks
This message is from: Jean Ernest [EMAIL PROTECTED] I used to give my gelding the red mineral block until I read in either Horse Illustrated or Horse Rider that the mineral blocks that are for cows can actually be bad for horses. Maybe it's the ones containing Selenium you have to be cautious about...They are usually yellowish. I don't use the Selenium blocks because my horses lick a LOT of salt and would probably get too much Selenium. Jean in Fairbanks, Alaska, a sunny 78 degrees today Jean Ernest Fairbanks, Alaska [EMAIL PROTECTED]
loose salt ie. granulated cow salt
This message is from: Denise Delgado [EMAIL PROTECTED] listers, my vet recomended loose salt for quinny, my little canadian fjord from bo-fjords. when he first got here last year, he had a heck of a time adjusting to the heat. he was drinking water and urinating almost continuosly, very clear dilute urine. he was very furry. i shaved him. that helped, but it took him about 6-9 months to pee like a regular horse, not all the time. the vet also likes the granulated because he said it discourages mouthiness ( a word?). so that's my 2 cents. denise in hot, hot, hot and humid moke. hill, northern calif.
Re: salt
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Actually, the plain white salt blocks are all you really need anyway. The amount of mineral in the mineral blocks is so small that it doesn't add much significantlly anyway. Steve White Waterloo, Nebraska
Re: Starfire Farm salt
This message is from: Pat [EMAIL PROTECTED] Starfire Farms and see how well their horses were trained. Those ladies do a great job Mary - I agree wholeheartedly.I never thought I'd use this expression(as its one my grandmother used to use). .but Beth and Sandy are a hoot! I was very impressed with the training Beth put on the two three year old mares. Both have such a relaxed attitude even though they were very different in nature. Beth credits a fellow from California (can't remember his name) for alot of the things she does on a horse, but personally I think she's just a good trainer, there were too many things she did naturally, without thinking - I watched her alot. I wanted to pick her brain but by Wednesday I was dead. I fell asleep - I mean really out of it - on top of our tack truck (not a pretty sight I imagine) and when I did wake up my mind lacked clarity. (probably from the fumes of fly spray, show sheen and hoof black out of the trunk). Sandy must of worn out a pair of shoes walking the arena with camera and camcorder- not to mention the running behind, along side of and around Beth and the cart ( it was especially interesting to see her keep up when Beth did the extended trot) : ) On the salt issue...we tried the solid blocks and most of it goes into the ground, sometimes we saw them licking it but not enough to figure it did much good. . A few years ago we started giving everyone loose mineral...from Purina I think its called 12x12 or something and we put loose salt along side it. Depending on the weather and work load , quality of feed, etc...they sometimes eat alot and sometimes don't. I think it's easier for them to lick as much as they want. My husband told me awhile back (we have a dairy herd) that he feeds loose mineral and salt because a dairy nutrionist told him a cow can't lick enough off a solid block to supplement what they loose in minerals at the peak of their lactation. I know, I knowcows - horses...not the same. Four stomachs - one stomach. The loose is sometimes a mess, but they sure to eat it.but then knowing the Fjord appetite if we put shaved wallpanelling out for them, they'd eat it. Just my 2 cents. Pat Holland
Re: Salt, etc
This message is from: Jean Ernest [EMAIL PROTECTED] weather! I'm so hot outside that I want to wet down everybody all the time,. I talked to Patty P. in Libby yesterday, though, and felt like a wimp. They have temps up to 105% right now! And I was thinking of moving down in that area? It's a nice sunny 75 degrees today, but the weatherman predicts rain starting tomorrow, right on schedule: The Tanana Valley State Fair starts tomorrow and it ALWAYs rains for the fair! I'm not taking any horses to the Fair but the Tobins are taking their three Fjords for their daughter's 4-H show and she will do English, showmanship, and jumping with them! They are quite a hit every year! Jean in comfortably sunny Fairbanks, Alaska, where our fire season has ended and we sent all our crews down to fight your fires in the West! Jean Ernest Fairbanks, Alaska [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Salt, etc
This message is from: Knutsen Fjord Farm [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi all - Great info on the ringbone discussion. Thanks much, Dr Steve, and all of you who go to the trouble to look things up and share them. There's so much to learn! I'm always chagrined when an experienced horse person visits and immediately sees and points out something I have no idea was wrong. This digest helps immensely. We feed Dynamite products, including a vitamin-mineral granulated salt mix. I'd have to run out to the barn to tell you all that is in it. We leave it available all the time, and they are really going after it in this hot weather! I'm so hot outside that I want to wet down everybody all the time, but they don't seem to be bothered. Sometimes they will seek the shade, but just as often are snoozing or grazing right out in the hot sun. I'm considering shaving Willie filly's chest and belly, since she's usually sweaty in her baby fur. I talked to Patty P. in Libby yesterday, though, and felt like a wimp. They have temps up to 105% right now! I find trimming manes to be a new creative adventure each time. Especially when I make a wrong cut and get into the even out the chair legs syndrome. Two bugaboos for me are the really wide manes and those where the hair grows upward in a curve toward the poll, rather than straight up. Any ideas? I usually comb the curves back so they are straight and hold them up with my fingers to get an even cut, but then when I'm done, the mane usually lays back in its former curve and ruins the crescent. Aargh! I have to stop myself from carrying my Fiskars around, or I'd always be fixing, and pretty soon they'd all be bald. Sadie, who's at the trainer's is doing a fine job of making herself bald by rubbing off much of the white on the near side of her mane...more aargh! On another note, don't delay in getting your ads for the Libby program in to Bob Envick, and please have them camera-ready if possible. Time is short. You have a page listing costs and giving instructions with your Libby packet. Speaking of sending things. Some of you folks out there in Digest land are not NFHR members and therefore would not have received the flyer advertising our farm and our stallion, MVF Erlend. If you would like to receive one, by regular mail or email, please contact us privately. Bye for now, Peg Knutsen http://www.eburg.com/~kffjord/
Re: Salt Replacement
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi Patty, I just read an article the other day about salt. It said that some horses do not like the taste of a mineral block, and that both plan and mineral should be available so that they may lick what they prefer. I'm assuming, even though they will seek salt out when they need it.if they DON'T like the taste, they wont eat it. So best to have both available. Aimee D.
Re: salt replacement
This message is from: Patty Bronson [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thank you everyone on the salt info. I just wanted to make sure no one was being deprived of something they needed. Patty
Re: salt replacement
This message is from: Don Jane Brackett [EMAIL PROTECTED] Our gelding, Geilo uses the salt block once a day. He waits until I've scrubbed out the water tank and filled it with clean water. Then he gets a big mouthful of water, spits it over the block, licks and smears until his mouth is full of muck, gargles throughly in the water tank. He repeats this process until the water is satisfactorily muddied. Occassionally, he'll replace mud for the salt to decorate the water! :) Jane
Re: salt replacement
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Patty - same here with my two horses. I put a large salt block, along with the smaller mineral blocks, out in the paddock. Both horses lick them out there. Go figure :) Linda in MN
SV: salt replacement
This message is from: Anneli Sundkvist [EMAIL PROTECTED] I belive that there is research going on about the need of electrolytes. In the last years, new salt supplements have reached the market here in Sweden. But from what I've heard, these supplements are not given on a daily bases, rather when the horse has undergone some kind of training/competing that has involved a lot of sweating;o) I belive that many endurance and eventing riders give their horses salt supplements after the comptetions. Regards Anneli * Anneli Sundkvist Department of Archaeology Ancient History Uppsala University St. Eriks Torg 5 S-753 10 Uppsala Sweden Phone: +46-18-4712082 (dept.) +46-18-553627 (home)
Re: salt replacement
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Patty, Salt is the one mineral that horses will seek out if they are lacking. They are evidently getting an adequate amount or they would be using the blocks. Our horses seem to really go at a block when you first put one in with them, but after awhile will stop licking it. I think it is just because it is something new to investigate. You could try taking the block out, rinsing it off and putting it back in a few days and see if they are interested. But again, if they needed it, they would use it. Are you feeding a commercially prepared feed? I'm sure it has salt added. Check the label. At times when you are concerned about water and electrolyte intake (hot weather, or real cold weather) you can increase the salt intake by sprinkling some on the feed (1-2tblsps.) or by dosing it directly in the mouth. Hope this answers your questions. Steve White Waterloo, Nebraska
Re: salt replacement
This message is from: Jean Gayle [EMAIL PROTECTED] Patty my three horses do not touch the mineral salt blocks so they are wasted. I keep trying but to no avail. So it is back to the iodized salt blocks. the pink ones anyway. Jean Jean Gayle Aberdeen, WA [Authoress of The Colonel's Daughter Occupied Germany 1946 TO 1949 ] http://www.techline.com/~jgayle Barnes Noble Book Stores
salt replacement
This message is from: Patty Bronson [EMAIL PROTECTED] Question: all of my horses have a salt block in their stall but nobody seems to use them (they're dusty and not newly licked). Do you need to worry about whether or not they are getting enough salt? Can it be supplemented another way? or do they just know when they want it? Patty
mineral/vitamin/salt blocks
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Lynda in Texas asked: As for vitamins/supplements, I noticed in a feed store the other day salt blocks that were labeled mineral/vitamin/salt blocks. There were also regular salt blocks. If I used one of the former, would it suffice for my filly (who will be two years old when she comes home) and a 16 year old mare w/foal? Or would Winnie Cookies be a better choice? I would be hesitant to recommend a block such as mentioned above as a source for vitamins. The minerals and salt are fine, but vitamins tend to be more fragile and generally don't hold up as well to degredation by sunlight and time. I've read that a 50# mineral block generally lasts one horse for six months if it's protected from the weather. I don't know for sure that the vitamins would not remain potent for six months, but it sure makes me wonder. Since I think the recent post about Winnie Cookies said they come in a bag, that would seem to me to be an advantage in protecting the viability of the vitamins. The amounts and kinds of vitamins in each product would really have to be compared to help tell the whole story. Here's an interesting thought about minerals for horses. A representative for a feed and farm chain based here in the Southeast claims that mineral blocks are very inefficient ways to supply minerals for horses. He points to the fact that horses are not really lickers. Now I know some of you just raised an eyebrow to that, because your Fjords like to lick your hands and arms etc. But what he means is that comparatively speaking they're not lickers. A friendly cow will lick the hide right off you if you will stand still and let it. (For those of you who have never been licked by a cow, you don't know what you're missing! If you think your dog slimes you, you ain't seen nothin' yet! Can I have an amen to that from Barbara Lynn on that?) The point is that it's not really natural for a horse to just stand there and lick something. Additionally, he maintains that a horse would have to lick for something like 3 hours per day to really get the minerals they need from a block. So what does he say is better? Loose, granular type mineral supplements given free choice. A horse can get what it needs much quicker and go about its business. I haven't seen any research to support his claim, but it sure challenges the time honored tradition of tossing the old 50# mineral block into the pasture for the horses. Here's another little tidbit. Horses cannot tell when they need more of such and such mineral. The reason they go to that mineral block (other than boredom and because the other horses are over there) is because their body is telling them it needs salt. Brian Jacobsen, DVM Norwegian Fjordhest Ranch Salisbury, North Carolina ___ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
Re: salt and uninvited items from next door
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (jean gayle) This message is from: Ingrid Ivic [EMAIL PROTECTED] Ingrid, I lost my first horse twenty years ago when some neighborhood kids shot him with a high powered pellet gun, stunned him and he rolled down my hill twisting his gut. The family moved out two weeks later. He died in agony. I have asked some children here to watch and see that no one feeds the horses and to let me know if Charley my huge one a neighborhood show and tell is having problems. this got the word around but then every time Charley lies down someone will come running to tell me, Charlies sick. I think I have them educated now. also am lucky to have neighbors who yell at kids about feeding and fingers. Charley colicked as a colt after kids had fed him all the apples he could eat from a neighbors tree. When the vet stuck the tube down his throat a very strong smell of apples emerged. Someone got in trouble over that but I am just as happy when the deer and bear have cleaned up the windfalls. So far we seem to have a balance. Not easy. Jean gayle I know what you mean about kids and non-horsey neighbours feeding your animals things. Bordering on a somewhat residential, development type area...sigh, it's one of those things I worry about too. Those darling little neighbour kids love to throw everything over and through the fences...grrr. We've had candy wrappers, baling twine, tissues, slimy lettuce, old corn from the garden next door, toys...etc. finding their way over here. Quite a challenge to remain personable and informative to folks who don't understand that some of these items can be quite dangerous should they be swallowed by the horses. I also cringe when I see children put their fingers through the fences to touch the ponies...ours are quite friendly and haven't nipped anyone yet...but, you know how that can go! Has anyone else had troubles with neighbours and children being unknowingly ignorant? Just curious...Ingrid Jean Gayle --- A Subscriber at Techline
salt and uninvited items from next door
This message is from: Ingrid Ivic [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi Susan, I started buying the large ones. I called my vet because I was worried they were getting too much salt but he said it's fine as long as they have unlimited water supply. I also think it helps when they're bored! Susan from Minnesota I use the larger blocks now too. Seems when I had the little blocks put in their stalls, they actually ate them up. I believe it was out of boredom (something to chew / play with?) during the night. Now, no salt in the stalls, only the huge blocks out in each paddock, next to the water tanks. When I remember to cover them up before it rains, they last quite a while. The last ones I bought were in the summer. Hi Jean, From Jean Gayle, who may have a fj=F6rd soon!! Careful on that= corn. How many horses died from one of the most dangerous molds found in dried corn? I live in fear of the kids in this neighbirhood feeding my horses a handful of old scratch from their chickens. =20 Jean Gayle --- A Subscriber at Techline=20 I know what you mean about kids and non-horsey neighbours feeding your animals things. Bordering on a somewhat residential, development type area...sigh, it's one of those things I worry about too. Those darling little neighbour kids love to throw everything over and through the fences...grrr. We've had candy wrappers, baling twine, tissues, slimy lettuce, old corn from the garden next door, toys...etc. finding their way over here. Quite a challenge to remain personable and informative to folks who don't understand that some of these items can be quite dangerous should they be swallowed by the horses. I also cringe when I see children put their fingers through the fences to touch the ponies...ours are quite friendly and haven't nipped anyone yet...but, you know how that can go! Has anyone else had troubles with neighbours and children being unknowingly ignorant? Just curious...Ingrid
Re: salt factor
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (jean gayle) The fjord that I had on trial liked to chew salt blocks to smithereens. can a horse get too much salt? Jean Gayle This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Our vet recommends only the plain salt, with no minerals added. He said giving them a mineral salt block every once in a while doesn't hurt but regularly, it should be plain. If they are getting a good feed and good hay, they do not need the extra minerals. More minerals isn't necessarily better in this case. The salt blocks really work in keeping them drinking! My Fjord and Arab who share a paddock, go through one of those small blocks every 2 days! I started buying the large ones. I called my vet because I was worried they were getting too much salt but he said it's fine as long as they have unlimited water supply. I also think it helps when they're bored! Susan from Minnesota Jean Gayle --- A Subscriber at Techline
Re: salt factor
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Our vet recommends only the plain salt, with no minerals added. He said giving them a mineral salt block every once in a while doesn't hurt but regularly, it should be plain. If they are getting a good feed and good hay, they do not need the extra minerals. More minerals isn't necessarily better in this case. The salt blocks really work in keeping them drinking! My Fjord and Arab who share a paddock, go through one of those small blocks every 2 days! I started buying the large ones. I called my vet because I was worried they were getting too much salt but he said it's fine as long as they have unlimited water supply. I also think it helps when they're bored! Susan from Minnesota
salt factor
This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (BRIAN C JACOBSEN) Ann Restad asked: ...what do you think about the salt factor in keeping [horses] hydrated? Having salt available for horses in the winter can help keep them more hydrated. The more salt they lick, the more water they will want to drink. Sometimes people think salt/mineral blocks are only important in the summer when horses are sweating, but they are important in winter also. Another interesting thought about dehydration; When animals (or people) are dehydrated, they are less able to control their body temperature and heat or cold bothers them much more. Brian Jacobsen, DVM Salisbury, North Carolina ___ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
