Re: [IceHorses] Re: Fat pony

2008-07-16 Thread Virginia Tupper 
On Wed, Jul 16, 2008 at 10:36 AM, Renee Martin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>   As a plus, I believe overnight turnout has the benefit of lower frutans
> in the grass than mid-day grazing -- that would be good for Gat, whom it
> wouldn't surprise me to learn is IR (Insulin Resistant).   She has that
> tell-tale "easy keeper" thing going on and it's a very common condition in
> pony breeds.
>

When the vet was here looking at Gat's eye he was surprised to learn
that she was 19 and he thought she looked good for her age.  Of course
he didn't do any testing.

Is there a 'home' test that I could do to see if she's IR?
V

Re: [IceHorses] Re: Fat pony

2008-07-16 Thread Wanda Lauscher 
2008/7/16 Renee Martin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:
>   As a plus, I believe overnight turnout has the benefit of lower frutans
> in the grass than mid-day grazing -- that would be good for Gat, whom it
> wouldn't surprise me to learn is IR (Insulin Resistant).   She has that
> tell-tale "easy keeper" thing going on and it's a very common condition in
> pony breeds.

I'm about to start that with my little herd Renee...  What time did
you put them out for the evening, and what time did you bring them in?

Wanda


-- 
Thoughts become things...

Re: [IceHorses] Re: Fat pony

2008-07-16 Thread Renee Martin 

- Original Message - 
From: "Virginia Tupper" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> I'm just wondering if I kept them on pasture over night if having 
> unlimited access for such a long time would relax them and they would 
> realize it's there and always will be so they could slow down on the 
> desperate eating.

Hi Virginia,
   I used to turn my horses out overnight.I did it for convenience. 
That way, they were "in" the paddock during the day, easy to catch up for a 
ride, AND I never felt like I was taking them away from their meals to go 
riding.   I did feed them a little something (read low nutrition type hay) 
midday however, just to keep things moving in their digestive track.
Anyway, I noticed I could turn the horses out overnight (11 pm to 7-8 
am) and they would maintain the same weight as when I was letting them out 
twice a day on the pasture for a few hours each time, trying to "limit" 
their pasture intake and keep their waistlines in check.   I think this is 
because they tended to lay down and/or sleep part (most?) of the night.   I 
know I would find areas of flattened grass in the pasture where obviously 
someone had laid down.

   As a plus, I believe overnight turnout has the benefit of lower frutans 
in the grass than mid-day grazing -- that would be good for Gat, whom it 
wouldn't surprise me to learn is IR (Insulin Resistant).   She has that 
tell-tale "easy keeper" thing going on and it's a very common condition in 
pony breeds.

-- Renee M. in Michigan

[IceHorses] Re: Fat pony

2008-07-16 Thread Susan Coombes 

> This is a little video I took of Alex today--she's using a Best
> Friends bareback pad.
> http://bcmoney-mobiletv.com/view/537/bareback-saddle-pad/

I wish I could just hop on like that
Sue coombes

Re: [IceHorses] Re: Fat pony

2008-07-15 Thread Virginia Tupper 
On Tue, Jul 15, 2008 at 6:01 PM, djakni1 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Hay. :o)
>
> If you have pasture, you may as well let them eat it.  Hay is expensive.
>

I was feeding hay because that is what they were eating at the
boarding barn and I wanted to introduce them to the pasture slowly.
I've built up to 2  - 3 hours of pasture.

I'm just wondering if I kept them on pasture over night if having
unlimited access for such a long time would relax them and they would
realize it's there and always will be so they could slow down on the
desperate eating.
V

[IceHorses] Re: Fat pony

2008-07-15 Thread djakni1 

> 
> Should I cut back on hay or pasture?
> V
> 

Hay. :o)

If you have pasture, you may as well let them eat it.  Hay is expensive.

-Kristen in MI