EPSM diet - good doer?

FabioandFreddy

FabioandFreddy

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Do any of you follow the EPSM high oil diet that have good doers? And if so, what quantities do you feed and what do you use?

Fabio has mild shivers so doesn't get fed anything cereal based. However, this winter he's been carrying a bit more weight than i would like so at the moment is getting literally a measely dollop of watery beet from what i make up for Raz so i can mix his vit e supplement in. He was also getting adlib hay along with Raz and between them were going through a small bale each a day. However did cut it back to a bale and a half between them a day when he wasn't losing any weight.

His shivers symptoms have been worse the past couple of weeks. I've just put him in a slightly heavier rug to try and help and he's out 24/7. Our winter paddock is really boggy though so even though he's out, he tends to just stand in the shelter or the tree where the hay nets are hung so in effect isn't moving about as he should which i think is where the problem lies. Have started from this morning to bring him in for a 20 minute walk in hand round the school for additional activity (can't lunge really that early as a bit unfair for the neighbours to hear me barking orders at 6am!) and he's lunged/ridden at least 4-5 times a week weather permitting. He's fine once he's been moving and he does tend to get a bit worse in the winter due to standing around longer.

I'm debating giving him a bit more of a dinner with a higher oil content in to see if it helps but then its the quandry of doing that and it helping his shivers but at the same time could mean him putting weight on. :(

Anyone else in the same boat i'd be very grateful for your suggestions/opinions? I've read loads over the years about shivers and the EPSM diet but it all seems to be based on poorer doers!
 
dianchi said:
Can you move the nets so that he has to walk further to get to them?
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i can't. The only places to hang them are on one big tree and in the shelter. I do split them between the 2 but only about 15ft between them! Can't hang from the fencing as it has to be electrified or Raz will break into the back half of the paddock (sectioned off ready for spring)
 
My ISH has EPSM & I've found DMG powder is better than high oil. Apparently it's not good for horses to be fed high oil for long periods. The DMG powder is around £40 for a pot, & that lasts mine 2 months at 3/4 of a scoop twice a day.

There is an EPSM group on FB if you're on there? An American one & a UK one. I have the same photo on there, so say hello if you see me!

We have very little grass, and mine is fed ad lib hay, Healthy Tummy & Rowan Barbary mash. The HT & mash are suitable for EPSM horses, but I get them cos my ex-racer has ulcers & it's easier to feed them the same thing.

T x
 
Thanks for that, will go and join later :)

The DMG powder - what is that exactly and what benefit does it have? Not heard of it before, will have to go and have a nose.

He actually seemed a bit better this morning (when i got him out the field to walk him round the school in the pouring rain and gales! But if its helping him...), seemed a lot more free moving straight away so i think the main thing is to get him moving more. Sure it won't do me any harm with shifting the few xmas pounds either!
 
I use this: http://www.equineanswers.co.uk/prodpage.asp?ProdID=18 Not sure what it is... the idea is that it makes the muscles release the bad stuff. He has a sharer because he's too slow for me, & his sharer notices straight away if he's been off his powder. Sometimes I forget to order it in time or sometimes he has to wait til pay day, & she tells me that he's been a bit stiff when she doesn't actually know that he's had a few days off it! Worth a try, & £40 isn't that much to waste if it doesn't work for you. Beforehand, he would take 30 to 40 mins to warm up, & would be cross, tail swishing, stamping etc. On the powder, he will work straight away, as good as he's going to get.

T x
 
catembi said:
I use this: http://www.equineanswers.co.uk/prodpage.asp?ProdID=18 Not sure what it is... the idea is that it makes the muscles release the bad stuff. He has a sharer because he's too slow for me, & his sharer notices straight away if he's been off his powder. Sometimes I forget to order it in time or sometimes he has to wait til pay day, & she tells me that he's been a bit stiff when she doesn't actually know that he's had a few days off it! Worth a try, & £40 isn't that much to waste if it doesn't work for you. Beforehand, he would take 30 to 40 mins to warm up, & would be cross, tail swishing, stamping etc. On the powder, he will work straight away, as good as he's going to get.

T x
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thanks, may get one of the smaller ones to give it a go :) x
 
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