teb
Well-Known Member
I agree with OP to an extent.
Horses with feed related problems are much more frequent with the advent of complete feeding in a bag which means most of us, including myself, tend to leave the nutrition to whatever feed company. I'm starting to learn about getting hay and pasture analyzed for a more complete picture. And lets face it these Balancers have done a pretty good job of giving horses issues they didn't have say 20 years ago.
As a person who thought they were the be all end all - low startch, feed less, your horse won't be fat, and lord knows they all need them - WRONG. I'm back to basics, and very little of them, with a supplement for vits and mins without crap my horses don't need.
Rugs and colors - could care less about the colors. I have quite a few horses so it's unlikey I'll be specializing in any specific color, but I do spend extra for quality. I do believe in rugs but guess what I have one horse that won't tolerate a rug in an open field. A small turnout pen is fine, stable is fine, but she has some issues and because I love her, I choose not to let her wear one in the fields. If weather is dreadful, she stays in a pen for the day. Guess what, she had the best winter coat (and a small trace clip) and was the first to shed out and gleam in the spring. By best winter coat, I mean shiny, thickesh, and healthy. And my others got rubbed over just as much, but still she was exceptional.
Gadgets, I flippin hate them. Nothing worse than seeing a young horse in a 90cm course with all the bells and whistles. Rider needs to go back to basics and learn how to ride, or horse was started very badly or combination of both. I'm sorry I'm 5ft and weigh 105 pds, if I can't take a younster over a small course (no matter how big the horse is), I haven't done my job properly. Maybe in the upper levels when things get technical, but I'm still going in a snaffle for as long as possible.
Supplements. Yes they have their place. I have 2 arthritic horses who wouldn't be their best without cortaflex, msm, and rosehips. Considering the improvement I got, it wasn't all hooey. I use garlic and raspberry leaves as well. Do all my horses get supplements - no, only as needed.
I let them be horses as much as possible, they have to be. Welfare is most important to me so they get what they need without over doing it. As far as accupuncture and the likes. I will use as needed as well considering I use it on myself and know the difference it makes. If I have athletes in the barn they get treated as such.
So yeah, I know where OP is coming from. You can make fun of her all you like, but still, despite her ranting she does have a point. But by the same token, I would rather see a horse all dolled up in pink everything getting a few non needed supplements rather than starving and in obvious neglect.
Terri
Horses with feed related problems are much more frequent with the advent of complete feeding in a bag which means most of us, including myself, tend to leave the nutrition to whatever feed company. I'm starting to learn about getting hay and pasture analyzed for a more complete picture. And lets face it these Balancers have done a pretty good job of giving horses issues they didn't have say 20 years ago.
As a person who thought they were the be all end all - low startch, feed less, your horse won't be fat, and lord knows they all need them - WRONG. I'm back to basics, and very little of them, with a supplement for vits and mins without crap my horses don't need.
Rugs and colors - could care less about the colors. I have quite a few horses so it's unlikey I'll be specializing in any specific color, but I do spend extra for quality. I do believe in rugs but guess what I have one horse that won't tolerate a rug in an open field. A small turnout pen is fine, stable is fine, but she has some issues and because I love her, I choose not to let her wear one in the fields. If weather is dreadful, she stays in a pen for the day. Guess what, she had the best winter coat (and a small trace clip) and was the first to shed out and gleam in the spring. By best winter coat, I mean shiny, thickesh, and healthy. And my others got rubbed over just as much, but still she was exceptional.
Gadgets, I flippin hate them. Nothing worse than seeing a young horse in a 90cm course with all the bells and whistles. Rider needs to go back to basics and learn how to ride, or horse was started very badly or combination of both. I'm sorry I'm 5ft and weigh 105 pds, if I can't take a younster over a small course (no matter how big the horse is), I haven't done my job properly. Maybe in the upper levels when things get technical, but I'm still going in a snaffle for as long as possible.
Supplements. Yes they have their place. I have 2 arthritic horses who wouldn't be their best without cortaflex, msm, and rosehips. Considering the improvement I got, it wasn't all hooey. I use garlic and raspberry leaves as well. Do all my horses get supplements - no, only as needed.
I let them be horses as much as possible, they have to be. Welfare is most important to me so they get what they need without over doing it. As far as accupuncture and the likes. I will use as needed as well considering I use it on myself and know the difference it makes. If I have athletes in the barn they get treated as such.
So yeah, I know where OP is coming from. You can make fun of her all you like, but still, despite her ranting she does have a point. But by the same token, I would rather see a horse all dolled up in pink everything getting a few non needed supplements rather than starving and in obvious neglect.
Terri
