The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

My Spotted Tennessee Walker critique

36K views 250 replies 63 participants last post by  tinyliny 
#1 ·



What do you think?She is the best horse I have ever owned!:D
 
See less See more
1
#31 ·
That is good MyBrandy.I won't feed my horse too much because it she can colic on the feed.1 1/2lbs of rice bran 2 times a day,1lbs of triple C 2 times per day,and 5lbs of a of hay per day.I can't see her ribs much and that's a good thing that means she is putting on weight.She sometimes eats dirt and that's a big no no.I'm trying my best with my horse.I will discuss what happened yesterday in another category because it would not be appropriate for me to discuss it in this thread.It is believed that Barbie is part Arabian because she has a thick neck.I love my horse and want to the right thing.
Posted via Mobile Device
 
#35 ·
That is good MyBrandy.I won't feed my horse too much because it she can colic on the feed.1 1/2lbs of rice bran 2 times a day,1lbs of triple C 2 times per day,and 5lbs of a of hay per day.I can't see her ribs much and that's a good thing that means she is putting on weight.She sometimes eats dirt and that's a big no no.I'm trying my best with my horse.I will discuss what happened yesterday in another category because it would not be appropriate for me to discuss it in this thread.It is believed that Barbie is part Arabian because she has a thick neck.I love my horse and want to the right thing.
Posted via Mobile Device
She needs to be getting WAAAAYY more than 5lbs of hay a day. A horse's diet should consist MOSTLY of roughage (hay/grass) than grains. That's like a snack for my horse. An average 1,200lb animal should get about 20lbs of hay/grass per day (if it's good quality grass & hay). Because she's under in condition you really want to just let her eat hay free choice or do something like alfalfa or timothy cubes like other people have suggested.

5lbs is like 1 flake of hay >.> My mare gets 8 flakes a day. That's about 32lbs of a hay EVERY day. Granted she's far bigger than your girl & gets ridden 5 times a week. Up the hay.
 
#33 ·
She may be gradually eased into feeding more feed, but she really needs more roughage.. the soaked hay cubes really work well, they keep the horse hydrated and make the meal more appetizing - If she likes rice bran - mix it in - she is familiar with the scent - she will dive right in :) You don't have to do straight alfalfa cubes, you can get timothy hay cubes in your feed store, just soak them in luke warm water for 1/2 hour, add in the rice bran and stir - start with small amount of the cubes.. I used this recipe for the winter (with no grain) - it keeps them hydrated and it's lots of roughage so it keeps the gut moving. If she eats dirt you might want to use "Sand Clear" product because she is most likely ingesting sand which will lead to colic sooner or later :(
 
#34 ·
If she is eating dirt or mud it may be because she is lacking some mineral. Buy her a salt/mineral lick and she will likely stop. (They are very cheap at TSC or any farm store.)

Horses may also eat mud if they are hungry or bored. Horses are grazing animals and are happy and healthy eating all day long on grass or hay. I've never heard of a horse not eating hay or grass.... people around my way always try upping quality hay or allowing access to hay 24\7 instead of mass increases in grain.

Best of luck with her.
 
#36 · (Edited)
Echoing the others here. Up the hay and cut way down on the rice bran. Also agree with Elana regarding her living space, it really needs to be made horse-safe.

If she's not eating hay when you give it to her I would be wondering if her teeth are in need of a check. Young horses' teeth need regular checks to remove any sharp bits that could cause ulceration (and would explain why she's preferring the mushy bran to rough hay). Get your vet to have a look and see if the teeth need floating and if there are any ulcers in there.

ETA: Yikes, just checked your "Good News" thread - she's 13.3hh and 530lb (240kg)?? She really really needs more feed, OP, under those winter woolies she is severely underweight.
 
#37 ·
My yearling Paint is 13.1hh and is at least 600 pounds. That should give you an idea about how underweight she is. Every horse prefers grass over hay, it's like us preferring steak over beef jerky. I believe on the rice bran label, it says to feed 1-2 pounds of it a day at MOST. She needs as much hay as possible to get some forage into her diet. Get a fecal done on her to see what worms she has. Just because she's been wormed doesn't mean she doesn't have worms. I wormed my yearling twice and his fecal showed round worm eggs, so I'm worming him again. Get her teeth checked and get her some good quality hay that's not stemmy. She might not like the hay because it's too stemmy or too poor quality for a horse. Let us know if you have any questions, because we're here to help. Whoever is helping you currently doesn't seem like a reliable source.
Posted via Mobile Device
 
#38 ·
Thank you for the advice.She needs at least 8lbs of hay per day and 3lbs of rice bran 2lbs of triple c and a handful of beet pulp.She has been eating it dry she loves it that way.I am trying my best to feed her good and work with her.Thanks for the advice
Posted via Mobile Device
 
#39 ·
8 lbs of hay per day is not enough. 1.5-2% of the horse's body weight should be consumed daily, primarily in hay. If the horse is underweight (which she is) she should be getting at LEAST 2% of her ideal body weight in hay, which would equal a minimum of 12 pounds (personally I would say she should be more like 700 pounds, so 14 pounds of hay would be the minimum). Additional supplements should be given in ADDITION to that to help bring her weight up (you're using rice bran and triple c, those should really be fine). Remember that you want to be feeding her for the weight she SHOULD be at, not the weight she is currently at.
 
#41 ·
She can have hay she has just been getting the wrong kind.Every horse is different some prefer Timothy and some prefer Alfalfa.I am going to call around today to see if I can get her some good quality hay.I am going to brush her today because she needs it.Thank you for the advice
Posted via Mobile Device
 
#42 ·
You mentioned she's getting a handful of beet pulp a day. It is absolutely imperative that you soak it before feeding, as it needs to expand with water, and the gut isn't the ideal place for this to happen as it will lead too an impaction.

She needs a lot more food--not carrots or hard feed, but quality hay. She should have hay in front of her 24/7 at this point.
 
#44 ·
Your exactly right.I will admit that I have to rely on my friend for the money to buy what she needs.I am saving up money though.Thanks for the advice.
Posted via Mobile Device
What? You already told us you had spent $50,000 on her. Did you run out of money? Hmm. I'm thinking if you have to rely on someone else now, for the money needed to keep this filly, you might have to consider rehoming her. The friend's money might not last for the duration of her life and all that she will need. Horses can be a constant drain of the best budgets.

Lizzie
 
#45 ·
I highly doubt that filly will reach 16.1hh. She might make 15hh...if she starts getting proper nutrition. My gelding was 15hh as a fresh 2yo and will make 16.2hh (according to the string tests I've done on him). He's now a 4yo and stands 16-16.1hh.

As THR said, here in AZ we feed a lot of alfalfa. My boy had never had anything but alfalfa until about six months ago (now he gets alfalfa and Bermuda grass). As a 15hh 2yo, he was getting about 20-30lbs of alfalfa per day and was sleek, shiny and in perfect weight (if he hadn't been, you can bet the vet would have said something about it when he gelded Aires).

I agree with Lizzie. If you're having to rely on friends to feed your horse (or do anything with her), you probably should rethink keeping your horse. What happens when she gets hung up on that junk in the yard and incurs a major vet bill? Are your friends going to pay for that, too?
Posted via Mobile Device
 
  • Like
Reactions: demonwolfmoon
#46 ·
PrincessBarbie

As others have said, this horse need hay, not grains. Do you have a haynet? Really your horse needs hay at all times available. If you hang it in a small hole bag it wall last all day and not be wasted. If you stop buying the grains the money saved can buy the hay. They have dry bales of hay at tractor supply, and as others posters said the alfalfa pellets for added nutrition. Get a hanging scale and weight it out. My 13.2 hand pony eats 10 pounds a day of hay, plus about a pound of timothy pellets, my 15 hand quarter horse eats about 15 pounds of hay, about 2 pounds of pellets, and she gets to graze a couple hours a day. so, you should try at least 15 plus pounds a day, and since you are trying to get her to gain, let her have all she wants. If you can hand graze her (break her in slowly) grass is awesome for adding weight and giving good nutrition. I see green grass in the distance in the pic, can you take her there? but be careful to add grass slowly or she can colic (20 minutes first day...or less, and add 10-15 minutes a day)

I'd really concentrate on hay as a priority.
 
#47 ·
I sure am concentrating on getting her hay to be truthful my friend is going to get some Saturday I wanted to get some yesterday but it didn't happen.I really don't want to sell my horse but if it comes to that point I might have to.I would rather give her a good home someone to be good to her than to let her do without.I am going to take care of her and hopefully I won't have to sell her.Thanks for he advice.
Posted via Mobile Device
 
#52 ·
Princess, your horse needed hay many days ago. It's not just something that you can let pass by and hope that somebody will buy hay for you after still a couple of days. A horse needs grazing on roughage every day, all the time, and feeding her only grains and carrots is risking with her health - it's like feeding a child just junkfood and gummy bears. The child would get sick very soon.

If truly love and care for your little mare, please, consider selling her, or at least find a decent boarding facility with full care. Her current situation does not provide her all the care she needs.
 
#53 ·
I have followed this.. and really this is the sort of horse I used to rescue. This horse is very close to being one that I rescued that was so thin.. she nearly had to be put down.

The owners were investigated over and over to feed the horse (horses are under Ag and Mkts law). Because they had feed on the premises, they could not remove the horse.

I just do not "get" it. A horse needs good hay available all the time and fresh clean water. Those two things more than any other thing.

The owner is posting by Mobil Phone.. so can afford THAT and the plan it entails.. but cannot get hay to her horse. How can something so very simple (hay and fresh water) be so very difficult?

Horse better off going to the auction and owner not having any horse than a situation of having a horse and no hay to feed it.
 
#55 ·
I don't like stepping in and telling someone over the Internet what to do, but this situation has gotten out of hand, and the horse is suffering.

When you have horses, there is no "maybe we'll pick up some food Saturday". It doesn't matter if you have to sell every possession you own to get that horse food--you do it. After the drought last summer, I trailered hay home from four hours away every month......all winter and spring. She relies on you for her care...care that she is not being given. You might love her more than anything in the world, but love doesn't feed her. Money feeds her.

If this filly does not have hay today, she needs to be rehomed. It's unfair to allow your emotions to stop her from finding a home where she will get proper feed, farrier care, and medical attention.
 
#60 ·
Yup, when I was financially struggling I starved and walked 5km to work (and back) each day. Owning an animal is a great responsibility, it is entirely dependent on you (just like a baby). I'm feeling the need for intervention in this case :-(
That might be tough. OP is in a pretty remote area in VA......pretty far from anything.

OP-when we talk about "rehoming", we are not talking about selling. It is doubtful you could get anyone to buy this filly.

Can you please explain how it is possible you have even the $15K invested (you corrected the $50K, I believe.)? Some of us are having a really hard time figuring that out. I could possibly see it if she had been in training at a professional trainers since she was in utero........
 
#57 ·
I waited until I was 34 to get 'my' horse, reason being I spent nearly all my working life with horses and as a child my parents could never afford to get me a horse, let alone keep it fed. So to satiate my desire to 'have a horse' I worked with them instead - I think if the OP so desires to have a horse perhaps she would benefit greatly from finding a job working with horses, she'd get some knowledge on horse husbandry and have the finances to afford to feed the horse she already has. However I'm definitely leaning towards this little horse being rehomed.

Now I'm in a position to take care of my horse the best I can, and I'm glad I waited.
 
#59 ·
I really have a hard time believing that you spent 50k on this horse when you aren't even feeding her what she needs....something isn't adding up, but all I know is that filly needs some hay. Not tomorrow, she needed it like yesterday....If you can't take care of her like she needs maybe you should re consider rehoming her to someone who can.
 
#63 · (Edited)
My biggest concern is you stated you have owned her since she was 4 months old? What have you been feeding her since then?

I'm sorry, but there is no way on this earth anyone is going to tell me that this filly has had proper nutrition for the last 1 1/2.
You need to contact either your vet or a horse nutrionist to get her on the correct feed program and buy some hay!

This is my 14 month old filly. She is a different breed, but that doesn't matter when they are feed correctly.
 

Attachments

#69 ·
I totally agree. I have been reading this and other post from the op and I am truly concerned for the health and well being of this mare. She will most likely have lifelong issues stemming from the malnutrition(that is dangerously close to abuse). And certainly is in no condition for a training regiment of any kind. Horse ownership is a responsibility not all are ready or suited for and the op should really spend time thinking(honestly) what is in the best interest of this horse she seems to really care about.
Posted via Mobile Device
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top