As some of you may know, my mare, Ricci, is on stall rest. I've decided to take her off her Bute early and try and get her back outside sooner. [Yes, I know you have to wait 24 hours for the Bute to wear off.] So it had been almost 24 hours when I fed this evening, so I brought my other horse, Gracie inside so she wouldn't get excited, and let Ricci in my front pasture. Ricci trotted around for a second, then dropped her head and ate some dirt. :shock:
This is not typical Ricci. When she's out 24/7 like she's supposed to be, she doesn't do this. She's on the same food now as she would be if she were outside [orchard grass hay, horseshoer's secret, and until recently, alfalfa pellets]. I have a total of three trace mineral salt blocks; one in her stall she's been in, and one in both run-in stalls.
Why do you think she's doing this? I know it's typically because of a nutritional deficiency, but WHAT is the nutrient she's missing? I've been hand-grazing her every chance I get, she gets good hay, fresh water twice a day, and she is using her trace mineral salt block. I had decided to wean my girls off the alfalfa pellets [I've hit a rough patch, I can't afford them and figured they'd prefer hay] a few days ago, and she hasn't had any in about four days. Could that be the cause?
She didn't ingest a ton, and I do have SandClear that they get for a week every month, but that's what worries me most; what if she gives herself sand/impaction colic?
Any ideas? She's back inside tonight, and will be tomorrow. I was thinking I'd turn her out tomorrow night, in the smaller pasture so she can be out but should be "chill" enough to not get all prancy.
This is not typical Ricci. When she's out 24/7 like she's supposed to be, she doesn't do this. She's on the same food now as she would be if she were outside [orchard grass hay, horseshoer's secret, and until recently, alfalfa pellets]. I have a total of three trace mineral salt blocks; one in her stall she's been in, and one in both run-in stalls.
Why do you think she's doing this? I know it's typically because of a nutritional deficiency, but WHAT is the nutrient she's missing? I've been hand-grazing her every chance I get, she gets good hay, fresh water twice a day, and she is using her trace mineral salt block. I had decided to wean my girls off the alfalfa pellets [I've hit a rough patch, I can't afford them and figured they'd prefer hay] a few days ago, and she hasn't had any in about four days. Could that be the cause?
She didn't ingest a ton, and I do have SandClear that they get for a week every month, but that's what worries me most; what if she gives herself sand/impaction colic?
Any ideas? She's back inside tonight, and will be tomorrow. I was thinking I'd turn her out tomorrow night, in the smaller pasture so she can be out but should be "chill" enough to not get all prancy.