Sorry, Dizzy Again...

MrsMozart

MrsMozart

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....for those of you tired of seeing the Dizzy one, turn away now ;):p:):rolleyes::eek:

She's lost weight in the last week :(. She was looking gangly due to having suddenly shot up by about two inches in two months(!), but now she doesn't look so good :(

I had her on sugarbeet, Alpha A and linseed chips over the winter, which seemed to work okay weight wise, but she was becoming a stroppy bat with a not-so-nice edge to her especially under saddle, which is not like her; she will have strops and spins, etc., but she had never been full on argumentative/nasty. So: have cut the linseed, due to the startch level; she's not so keen on the Alpha A so that's gone; now we're down to sugarbeet and carrots and as much haylage as she can eat.

Most of the other horses have gone out 24/7, but she's coming in at night to get more haylage into her. The next to try is Equijewel and something else, but the name has just escaped me!

I am worried that we're going to be back where we were this time last year. She is a bit better at eating now, and today we tried her on some of LC's Codlavine Supplement and she seemed to love it :D.

Here's some piccies, see what you think :) Don't worry about being gentle, I've had it all :) Someone today told D1 that I should have her shot. Ah well.

This was her about two months ago:
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And this is her yesterday:
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Sorry the pics aren't brill. She did not want to stand still, and I'm no good at resizing the pictures either.

This is her last April/May time:
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And one of her last November (no comment on my riding, it was the first time on after bouncing on my head - a noticeable three month break!):
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She has dropped some weight admittedly, but to be honest all of mine had in the last couple of months, the winter was long and miserable and I think they have just run out of the reserves.
She doesn't look that bad at all, maybe try some grass nuts with the sugar beet or a non alfa-a chaff? I have ditched the alfa-a completely now as half of mine would come up with a rash and the other half would spit it out at me:)
 
Ah hun. Been there. She's not sooo bad. :) Equijewel is fab stuff. I got my 27yr old on it. He's always been useless for keeping weight on until someone put me onto this about a year ago. Also Allan and Page Calm and Condition is great. Mine seem to love it as I can make it up into a warm mash - needs water added - soaks up great.
 
Ta M :). I'll try the grass nuts as she's not too keen on chaff, though funnily she will eat Redi-grass okay (so will try that as well). She's not been in work for nearly two weeks now: it's hard to see all that hard gained muscle disappear! Alright I know there wasn't much, but it was a start lol. I can't keep feed at the yard so have to be able to get it there daily, which is a pain.
 
Of course it might be that she naturally loses weight at this time of the year,not that anything has gone wrong.
We are feeding our elderly, previously-good-doer-but-now- difficult-to-keep-weight-on cob a mixture of Alf-a oil and Graze-on dried grass as a hay replacer and soaked grassnuts with the bit of hay that she will deign to eat. I know that she is a very different case from the Dizzy one but we find that this is keeping her weight on nicely. In fact we were concerned after the wet summer that she was going into winter a bit too thin, so we are pleased that we have managed to get her weight back on over the winter. You might find that a fibre-based feed such as this will help the Dizz.
She doesn't look too bad IMO, the Spring grass will kick in soon and then we'll all be worrying that they're putting too much weight on!
 
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The grass coming through now will help, if I remember rightly that's what helped her last time. However, there are plenty of feeds on the market designed to be low in starch and to add condition. It might be worth ringing some feed companies but in general condition without starch is provided by fibre and oil. As a starting point I'd say look at Winergy Equilibrium (don't discount the Growth feed as a stud feed if you really want calories, it's high in calories and quality protein and is super specc'd re vitamins and minerals etc. it's also only about 4-5% starch I think which is seriously low), Spillers Slow Release Cubes are merketed as a competition feed but don't let that put you off either, they have the calories of a comp feed but the starch level of High Fibre Cubes (10% I think). Also if all she is getting now hard feed wise is sugar beet (remember that's up to 80% water) then a full ration of a low energy feed such as High Fibre Cubes (and by full ration we're talking 3kg a day) might even help, although I'd be inclined to go for one of the higher calorie ones.

Good Luck. :)
 
Hi, i am sure others will give great advice but you could try a feed that i use. If you google "thunderbrook" feeds and speak to Debbie she may be able to offer some great feeding advice. She produces a great base mix which is brilliant. Some others as well as me use it on my yard and have had brilliant results. It is fed with "just grass". Might be worth a shot? It is a real back to basics feeding system that you can tailor exactly to your horses needs. It is not expensive either which is always a bonus!

Good luck and i am sure she will bounce back when Dr green decides to show his face again! :)
 
Thankies CF :). I'll try the Equijewel first :) She throws sloppy feed around like no-ones business! Dentist was out a week ago and her teeth are fine, she's just a messy bobber :o

Think I'll call the Equijewel people and see if I can add anything else, other than the stuff I can't remember the name of! How annoying lol.

I'll put Codlivine in the sugarbeet until I can get the Equijewel (local saddler does not stock it).
 
Our 19 yo little Arabx who seems to be a poor do-er c/w the NF who (like me) looks at food and puts on weight (he just has hay, grass and a token smidge of sugar beet and chaff to keep him occupied while the other gets shut out of view for his feed) was looking poor and very ribby this time last week, so much so OH commented (normally he wouldn't notice, being non horsey). Put him on NAF Pink Powder changed nothing else bar maybe a few more carrots because we have them and the grass has grown a bit, and he's instantly lost the ribby look in a week, OH thinks he looks better too.
 
I need to type faster! :)

W - yes, this happened last year and we ended moving yard three times in very quick succession to try and get her good grazing :o. It was only when she was out and at grass, about mid-June that she suddenly looked good:

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And this was mid-September:
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Last time I rang the manufacturers we ended up on Bailey's No. 4, Bailey's Outshine, Blue Chip Pro, Alpha A Oil, sugarbeet, and something else but I can't remember what. Cost a fortune, which wasn't an issue. but it didn't seem to work :(

PP - thank you, everything is worth a go :D. I'm not very knowledgeable about feeds, but now I know, or at least I think I do, that Dizz needs low startch feeds, so that's a start :)
 
MrsMozart said:
Ta M :). I'll try the grass nuts as she's not too keen on chaff, though funnily she will eat Redi-grass okay (so will try that as well). She's not been in work for nearly two weeks now: it's hard to see all that hard gained muscle disappear! Alright I know there wasn't much, but it was a start lol. I can't keep feed at the yard so have to be able to get it there daily, which is a pain.
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The thing I've noticed with skinnies and fussy eaters is that work helps a lot, they need to come in slightly tired and hungry - makes getting calories into them damn sight easier.
But I think she needs some substance in her bucket feed as you say, sloppy food just gets chucked about.
I had one on livery recently (not for long as had to ask them to leave), very skinny, permanently tucked in and wouldn't eat a great amount of forage, I think his bucket feed overwhelmed him though if I put to much chaff in - to big an effort to chew it all, so you might need something very calorific in small portions?
Sorry, I'm afraid I'm rambling now, but it is that time of day, or night rather.

ETS - why can't you keep feed at your yard?
 
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You're right M, definately better when working as then she's hungry and will eat most things. Unfortunately no work for the next week at least and at the rate she's dropping weight :( :( :(.

I keep her rugged when she's in even though she's not clipped - she is kept warm, but not too warm so she's not sweating it off. Did turn her out yesterday and today with no rug on so's she could have a good scrunge :D

As to the yard rule, don't ask, it's just the way it is and it won't be changing...
 
She looks really good in her coat though,have you tried graze-on,we have had amazing results with the poor doers on the yard and i think you will be amazed what a couple scoops per feed can do,i love the stuff!
 
Meant to add when looking at feeds look at the Digestible energy..the higher the better!Graze-on is pretty good on the DE front!
 
MrsMozart said:
Ah, what is that? What do I feed it with? Any starch levels??? :D
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It is PURE dried grass :) Northern crop growers give me a min and i will get you some info,amazing stuff,slap ya mix whatever in with it and use it like a chop,have to make sure you wet it though!But 2-4 scoops of that a day would sort her weight out i guarantee it:)
 
hadfos said:
http://www.northerncropdriers.co.uk/
Have a looksie see what you think...i have used readi grass before and found this to be far superior!
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Oooh, looks interesting :D

Will have a good peruse tomorrow as I think my eyes have given up and six a.m. is coming round fast (and that's a lie-in lol).

Thankies for all help :D 'Tis all very much appreciated :D :D :D

Hot choccies with all the trimmings and Ferro Roche all round :D
 
MrsMozart said:
Oooh, looks interesting :D

Will have a good peruse tomorrow as I think my eyes have given up and six a.m. is coming round fast (and that's a lie-in lol).

Thankies for all help :D 'Tis all very much appreciated :D :D :D

Hot choccies with all the trimmings and Ferro Roche all round :D
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Let us know how you get on:)
sleep well,bed for me too!x
 
She looks so much better than she did in the original set of pics, I wouldnt be too upset at all at what is only a slight loss of condition. At the moment with the weather I think we all strugglke to keep condition on. Mine is in all the time and on haylage and full feed at the moment. Admittedly I have no grass and I pay for it at our schooling sessions lol
 
Do you mind if I go on about one of my favourite topics & ask if you've had her scoped for ulcers? I know you've had a lot checked with her in the past so my apologies if you have.

The reasons I ask:
- in a lot of your photos she seems to be standing with her hinds under her which can be a sign of stomach discomfort - you say she doesn't tolerate starch in her feed at all well
- she's hard to keep weight on & copes best on good grass & turnout
- she's a fussy eater
- if I remember your other posts correctly she's stressy & unpredictable

I had a lot of similar problems & a lot of them have been sorted since ulcers were diagnosed & treated, much more so than I ever expected. Having said that I can understand if you're sceptical since tey do seem to be the latest in thing.

Could you try ready cooked linseed rather than lozenges? My understanding is that the meal is low starch.
 
Mrs M sorry if I am repeating anything but haven't time to wade through all the replies. Just a thought and not a great one a that but, I know she has been slightly unlevel again and you say she is getting grumpy under saddle. Our big lad does this and also drops weight when his feet are hurting. I am not saying it is that with Dizzy but it may be worth a thought - pain can do this to them. On the other hand both my old girlie and the youngster have suddenly dropped weight in the last week and I wonder if it is coat change and time of year. It has been a long long winter and I think that is all it is with them - lack of reserves. Don't worry too much just yet.
 
Nari - it is a thought hun :). My vet was concerned that she could start with ulcers due to her fairly bouncy and 'in-your-face' temperament. I'll moot it again with vet and see what she thinks. Thank you :)

MT - good thought hun :). She's happy to go over rough ground, was shod by eagle eyed farrier four weeks ago, and generally has good feet. I will investigate though and see what vet and farrier say :). I'm wondering if, like yours, it's just the time of year for her and we're going to have this every Spring :(. Maybe when she's in proper work and better muscled and stopped growing(!) she will calm down a bit...

MD - it could indeed be me just panicking for no reason ;) :). I sooooooo don't want her to end up looking like those pictures again :(. I'll be calling the feed people today :). We so need a vid. of a schooling session :D
 
Not read all the replies so sorry if I am repeating what others have said.

I would maybe try her on Top Spec Alfalfa chaff, they seem to prefer it to the Alfa A. If not that then maybe ready grass, mine love it!

Also Fast fibre is really good, it need soaking for a few seconds and then I mix it with ready grass, mine seem to really enjoy that!

I wouldn't worry to much about her grumpiness, it could just be that she is coming into season so is feeling a little sensitive!

Her freeze mark is coming through great isn't it!
 
Sorry if I repeat, I haven't read the whole thread.

Mrs M - why can't you just feed her a proper hard feed diet?

Alfa A Oil, High Fibre Cubes, Sugar Beet and a good vitamin suppliment such as Benevit???? And if you're worried that wouldn't be conditioning enough - Calm & Condition.
 
Hi Mrs M. I have exact same issues with Beanie this time of the year. It is that inbetween winter/spring thing :confused:. I am now going to start Spillers conditioning cubes again for a while. These always seem to do the trick. Beanie is also a bit fussy and doesnt eat barrow loads so it can be difficult. Spillers also do a mix if you prefer. I can recommend it as The Bean always picks up and looks an absolute treat on them without any fizzing what so ever.:)
 
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