Fussy Eaters.

[MILLGREENLADY]

well im new to this but would like to gain peoples knowledge.

Help would be greatfull. I Own an 8yr ID X Mare, she has only been backed a year and its her 1st seasons full hunted. she gets hunted 3 times a fortnight she is quite skinny for an ID, she is fed on hayledge twice a day and is in at night. Recently after having her teeth done she wouldnt eat her hard feed the dentist said she had really sharp teeth that have made her mouth very sore. SHe eats hayledge fine, refuses to eat anything sloppy or chaff. Shes on Stay power museli, Fibre nuts, build and glow, and oil but shes refusing to eat this any surgestions ? as she will start rapendly loosing weight and lacking energy!!

Adding carrots and apples she just etes them molasses dosent help either !

Please Help ???

 

[Tammytoo]

Fussy eaters are a nightmare! If she likes apples and carrots how about mixing apple juice into her feed or, if she likes mint, peppermint cordial? You could also grate the carrots and mix them in as well. As well as a sore mouth she may be finding it difficult to adjust to eating with her "new" teeth.

Have you tried eliminating the different ingredients in her feed in case it is one of those that she doesn't like?

Another thought - if she's being picky with her food and not gaining weight there is a chance she may have ulcers, so could be worth scoping? According to recent research there are a lot more horses with ulcers than people realise, not just racehorses, but even kids' ponies.

 

[TGM]

You say that she eats her haylage fine and gets given haylage twice a day. Can you not ensure that she has haylage available all the time, so she will need less in the way of hard feed?

Have you tried giving her the different components of her feed separately to see whether there is a particular one she dislikes? Oil particularly can put horses off their feed.

 

[MILLGREENLADY]

Had the vet this morning and shes got cuts and a mouth infection must be from having her teeth done! on antibiotics and bute. Just got to get her eating again they surgested a warm bran mash!! shes has already dropped weight !

 

[Tammytoo]

Well at least you know why she's not eating her feeds!. I would just give her ad lib haylage until her mouth has healed. If she's uncomfortable and has an infection it's not surprising she's dropping weight. I'm sure this time next week she will be eating up and putting on weight.

The funny thing is that if we drop weight, we're absolutely thrilled - but if our beloved horses are'nt round and shiny we worry ourselves silly.