Spanish Horses/Metabolic Issues - B/A PICTS!

[Michelle Clarke]

After much research on the metablolic issues in the Spanish mustangs and the troubles I have had with my Kigers, I have been THRILLED with the new feeding program we are on. I'll post more info and picts of other horses tonight...

Here is a series of Desi. As a three year old, he was on a low starch feed, so he looked better. however, the feed did not sustain him one bit once training started. He could not develop muscle at all and had no energy.



This pict is right before his EPM treatment. He was not in training.



This pict is after his treatment and being trained. Heavy to ride, no energy and "toe-diving" all the time, meaning he was landing toe first when he moved and not flat or heel then toe.



Here is Desi taken today (not the best pict, I was holding him and the angle is bad....). As you can see, he has lost all of the fat pockets, shed out his dull coat and feels like a different horse! Now all we need to do is get him in shape!



Mind you, he was getting 3 lbs. of feed when he was fat and physically looked like crap. Now he gets between 6 and 10 lbs. a day depending on his workload. He has a TON more energy and acts like a different animal.

Oh, forgot to mention he has been on the feed for 3 wks. After 1 week, his girth went up 5 holes and his blanket is too big around his neck now.

[angelsdream]

Good discussion. I was wondering what to feed also. Not sure if Kiger's maintain themselves easily without a lot of the feed supplements. Do some feeds tend to make them more hyper or nervous? I have taken Maverick off all feed. He gets all the hay he wants and of course plenty of pasture grass. I want to start all over without anything and see what, if anything, he needs. I dont want to load him down with too much stuff if he doesn't need it, which may cause problems in the future. My other horse maintains exeptionally well without anything, he's a pudgy pudgy boy with only grass.
Of course mine don't get worked daily either, I know when you exercise them daily, they do need extra supplements to maintain there health.

[Michelle Clarke]

The whole problem is getting them all the nutrients and the energy they need in a small, usable amount. My Kigers are heavy on very little and come to find out they cannot metabolize all the sugars and starches in most feeds. Not to mention that if I fed them the recommended amount of feed that is on the bag, I could not imagine how fat they would be and how much poop would be coming out the other end!

I did use Nutrena Safe Choice for a long time, in fact that is what Desi was on in the first pict as a three year old. The only problem was, no muscle development and not enough energy. While I think it is a good feed for most low workload, draft type or maintainence horses, it did not hold any horses in training or growing.

I would try a rice bran with added vits/mins to meet needed levels. I had started Desi on the rice bran before I found KK and he was making good changes. I also used a digestive enzyme pack with him for two weeks with 120ml aloe gel twice a day to get him stablized and cleaned out.

There are certain things to look for that are just not "fat" or overweight, but they have issues metabolizing. The develop fat pockets along the sacrum and around the tail head; the neck is overly crested; fat pockets over the shoulders; water in the belly and over the hips; and when they put their head down to eat, a big ole fat pocket comes up over the eyes. Also a big one is toe diving. This is where they move by stabbing their toes into the ground because their heels are sore. The fat thickens the blood and it cannot cirulate in the lamnia well, making it sore. The toe walls then seperate from taking the whole load of landing.

[nrly]

went on line and it isn't sold here, but I will talk to where I get all my horse stuff, and see if they can bring it in. Or I will email them and see if I can buy direct. I like the look of your boy on it and I need to get some for my boys. and my girls too can't forget them.
nola

[desperatehorsewife]

For those of you who have other mustangs (more than one), do you find your Kigers eat differently?

The first mustang we had was a reservation horse; air fern supreme. Fat just looking at food.

Second filly ate pretty much what any small horse would eat. Not a hard keeper, but not what I'd expected after the first one.

Third and fourth fillies back to air fern, especially Jet. At 2 years and 16 hands, she didn't really need much more than the smaller girls, which blew my mind.

So far with FC, it's hard to tell because she's needing to gain. Too much stress in her short career as a domestic at this point. Looking forward to seeing some fat on her her bare bones.

[nrly]

what I have noticed with my three mustangs is they tend to eat allot slower then my other 2 horses.
nola

[J]

I call my Kiger Hoover. He snarfs his food and is a constant eating machine. I have to practically stand guard so my Arab has time to savor his food lol

Grain wise, they both get 1 cup each: Whole Oats, Alfalfa Pellets and Black Oil Sunflower Seeds.

Equerry's Choice supplement.

Dynamite 1 to 1, 2 to 1, Izmine and salt...as they determine they need it.

Plain o'l local grass hay, 2 flakes each morning and evening.

Both have kept up a good weight on this. I like that I have cut out all the extra sugars and carbs.