Anorexic horse.

JustKickOn

JustKickOn

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First of all, I do not want people trying to diagnose what's wrong with Monty nor do I want people giving advice on how to get him to gain weight, eat more ect. YO and staff have it under control. Sorry if that sounded rude.

Turned up at the stables today and Sarah told me Monty has been diagnosed with anorexia
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He's a huge leggy TB and is quite hard to get weight on to, but recently he wouldn't eat at all. He was put on a break and 3 feeds a day with 2 sections of hay in the morning, 3 for during the day and 2 at night! Yet he still wouldn't eat. To start with staff had to hand feed him because he didn't actually want to eat anything.

He now eats his feed over a long period after tipping it out of the bucket, playing with it and ignoring it but it does all get eaten but he still doesn't eat much of his hay, instead he stands and windsucks.
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Well today I was bored so I went to see him and caught him wind sucking. So I took his saddle off, put it over the door, sat on the floor holding his reins and held some hay out to him and he took it off me. He then pushed me with his nose and I gave him some more hay. He kept doing this over and over again and we got through half a section of hay doing this!! I was so pleased with him!!!
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I know that sounds silly but I thought it was a big accomplishment.

Put his saddle back on and left him and I came back a few minutes later to check on him and he was eating the other load of hay!!!!!!!!
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Really hope he gets better as I do love him
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I am just wondering but have you actually had the vet out to him to check he doesn't have any problems caused (or which is causing) his windsucking?
 
Yeah the vets been out. He checked on Monty when he was checking on a few other horses. Don't know the full story because it's not my place to say what goes on there but I know he's been out.
 
The only way I keep the weight on my cribber is to keep her out 24/7. If in a stable she cribs constantly...

I hope Monty gets better soon.
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I hope he starts eating properly soon, but can't understand why you don't want people to give advice about how to get him to eat more
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. Surely people who have had similar experiences might be able to help
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Thanks Puppy. He's in the paddock when not being used but has to be in to be ready for lessons and to have his feeds
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[ QUOTE ]
I hope he starts eating properly soon, but can't understand why you don't want people to give advice about how to get him to eat more
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. Surely people who have had similar experiences might be able to help
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.

[/ QUOTE ]

Because it isn't my place to go up to YO and say stuff.

Also the yard owner has over 30 years experience with many different types of horses as do other instructors. They ahve been given advice by the vet and are handling it.
 
Oh, OK
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. I've got over 30 years experience too, but I'm still open to other people's experiences if I have any problems, particularly if it is an unusual one
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[ QUOTE ]
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I hope he starts eating properly soon, but can't understand why you don't want people to give advice about how to get him to eat more
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. Surely people who have had similar experiences might be able to help
confused.gif
.

[/ QUOTE ]

Because it isn't my place to go up to YO and say stuff.

Also the yard owner has over 30 years experience with many different types of horses as do other instructors. They ahve been given advice by the vet and are handling it.

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Very true but surley they would be open to suggestions if someone has had a similar experience and it worked for them, why would they say no if it is for the horse's welfare?
 
It's up to the YO though on what her decisions are, and the ones they have made have all been fine so far. He has a rope across his doorway so he can't windsuck but that can't be like that when there isn't a member of staff on the yard (health and safety something like that)
Although going there for 12 years, I still feel it isn't my place to intervene in something that isn't to do with me!!
Monters isn't my horse and isn't my responsibility and imo the Yo and staff are handling it well.
 
could they not put cribox on his door?
i have a widsucker/crib biter who did it really bad whenever he was in even with a collar in but i have him on coligon and put crib ox on his door and he doesnt do it at all.
 
I don't think anyone is saying it is your place to intervene, just that sometimes it is helpful to hear other people's experiences with similar problems. Even if it is to reassure YOU (who seems concerned about this horse) that the problem is solvable
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But, anyway, I hope he gets better soon!
 
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TBH if he has anorexia and isn't eating, why is he being worked

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I said he wasn't eating. He now is eating his food very gradually and grazes for some time in the day.
 
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TBH if he has anorexia and isn't eating, why is he being worked

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I said he wasn't eating. He now is eating his food very gradually and grazes for some time in the day.

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But he is still in work?
 
He has had time off. He copes fine with lessons. He only does light work anyway. Max ridden time is an hour and he isn't ridden everyday.
 
Will agree to disagree then.. If it was my horse he wouldn't be in work and would be out to stop him windsucking, he probably would eat if he was out at grass.. with windsucking he is probably so full of air he isn't hungry, take away the windsucking he will be hungry again...
 
I had already said he has a rope across his door but not all the time and he does go out to graze. They're out all night anyway.
 
Well, I'm with zigzag. If he isn't well, I'd be resting him until he was fully recovered. The anorexia is telling 'us' there is something wrong with either him or his lifestyle and it's 'our' duty to make him better. Whatever it takes.
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If you don't want advice, and you think the yard are handling it perfectly, and you don't want to intervene, then why on earth post?

Or did you expect congratulations for hand feeding this horse?
 
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If you don't want advice, and you think the yard are handling it perfectly, and you don't want to intervene, then why on earth post?

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I was sharing this with other people. Or is that not allowed??

Or did you expect congratulations for hand feeding this horse?

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Of course not. It's not as if I've never hand fed a horse before.
 
I personally do not think they are handeling it well at all.
Exercising a horse which is clearly unwell and not eating, I personally wouldn't do it or class it as correct care.
 
why make a post and moan and groan and talk about a problem that you dont want us to try and help you with or even to comment on?????!!!!!!!

im with TIA on this one!!!
 
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why make a post and moan and groan and talk about a problem that you dont want us to try and help you with or even to comment on?????!!!!!!!


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Have already answered that above.
 
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