Getting pony to take aloe vera

[Chianti]

I'd like to start giving my pony aloe vera as he's started being a bit reactive to touch around the girth again- he's previously had ulcers. The yard owner, very experienced, has tried syringing it - as I'd read this was the best way to feed it. He's normally ok to take a syringe but has very quickly decided that he doesn't like the taste and she now can't get near him. I don't want her to have a twice daily battle with him so we're trying it in his feed - building up from a tiny amount. Has anyone else had this with aloe vera and found a solution?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I just used to put in her feed, along with the water to mix.

 

[ycbm]

Stick it in her food, I've never known one not to eat it.

 

[meleeka]

My pony is the fussiest thing on four legs, but she eats it in her feed ok. I suspect it’s the syringing he doesn’t like, rather than the taste.

 

[cauda equina]

I put the juice in their feeds too, it all gets eaten

 

[PurBee]

Its quite a mild benign taste, so likely doesnt like the syringing as mentioned already.

I added aloe juice to soaked speedibeet and even my stealthy gelding that notices any minor change in his feed, hoovered it up without complaint.

 

[catembi]

If you get stuck, try AloeRide? It's tasteless & there is so little of the powder - less than a Lemsip. My old ex-racer has always been a bit 'gastric' (he has PSSM variants p3 & px, & p3 is the gastric once) and he used to get regular gassy colics but the AloeRide stops it happening (touch wood). It's jolly expensive, but not as expensive as colic surgery. I find it most cost effective to buy 6 months at a time.

 

[Miss_Millie]

I would try mixing it into a mash. Start with a small amount on the first day and gradually build to the full amount over time

 

[Chianti]

Thanks all. We're going to try it in his feed. He has a very wet mash of grass nuts and speedy beet, with mint it, so hopefully he won't notice it. It is strange as he's usually very good about syringes. He has three a day when he had the ulcers and at that yard they could do it in the field. He had impaction colic a couple of weeks ago and was happy to have salt water syringed in every couple of hours. Is there a difference in the types of aloe vera you can get? I bought from a link that I found on here from past posts. It's very watery. The yard owner tasted it and said it tastes vile.

 

[Chianti]

If you get stuck, try AloeRide? It's tasteless & there is so little of the powder - less than a Lemsip. My old ex-racer has always been a bit 'gastric' (he has PSSM variants p3 & px, & p3 is the gastric once) and he used to get regular gassy colics but the AloeRide stops it happening (touch wood). It's jolly expensive, but not as expensive as colic surgery. I find it most cost effective to buy 6 months at a time.

Thanks. I've had a look at their website and it looks good. I worry a bit about putting the liquid in his feed as I read it's not then as effective. This looks a good alternative.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Thanks. I've had a look at their website and it looks good. I worry a bit about putting the liquid in his feed as I read it's not then as effective. This looks a good alternative.

I found it very effective in the feed. I've never seen anything about it not being as effective

 

[Chianti]

I found it very effective in the feed. I've never seen anything about it not being as effective

Thanks. I was recommended to contact a race horse retraining yard, which used it a lot for ulcers when the horses came in. The yard manager told me that she preferred to syringe it as they found it more effective. I hope he'll eat it in his feed but for a fat little pony he's a fussy bugger.

 

[AntiPuck]

I was soaking a few meadow nuts in the Equimins aloe vera juice to make a tiny mash, and my horse inhaled it - apparently, it's tasty