super oldie no teeth

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mareemoo

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Hi have a super oldie 12 hands vet says bottom teeth below gum line , reluctant to send her onher way as still happy lively and stroppy .Is it possible to do a winter without hay gets sugarbeat conditioning cubes grass nuts all soaked to tooth paste consistancy ( her preference) but there is only so much you can stuff in a pony when you work full time and don't live there any idea's /experience gratefully received .When I asked vet he was pretty vague
 
Mine gets unmollassed beet pulp, with grass nuts, all soaked, with cooked linseed and her supplements (she is Cushingoid and IR so no cereals). She has almost no molars and even quids grass, never mind winter fodder, and has been like that for several years, so yes, it is perfectly do-able. If her condition is good you are doing okay, if she needs more on, give as much of the above as she will eat with maybe some more conditioning feeds.
Mine gets a tub full twice a day, could you get someone to give her a second lot when you aren't there?
 
My old mare has a 'soup' of Fibre beet, hi fibre cubes and allen & page veteran vitality. She also has a trug of Dengie Hi Fi Senior. She has been on this for around 6 wks now and is maintaining her weight so I'm happy. :)
 
I looked after a 37yr old 16hh TB a few years back, he could not eat hay but could manage grass if it had some length to it, he was out at good grass for at least 8hrs per day, then had 2 (dry measured then soaked) scoops of sugar beet, 3 scoops of grass nuts (dry measured then soaked) and 1 scoop of veteran mix-he was given the above each day when he came in and he would have a handful or 2 left each morning. no morning feed was given as when I arrived they went straight out and he was first out or he would fret-he did well on this for 3 winters
 
Fast fibre! I had a 37 yr old who in the 3 years I had him never ate a mouthful of hay, I'd soak him a big wet sloppy trug tub of fast fibre twice a day and he'd pick at it through the night etc. always looked really well!
 
Hi thanks probably need to get a less pessimistic vet ! Unfortunately condition not great as since her peratinitus (how ever you spell it ) her absorbtion has been rubbish though I can get her to gain weight just not to keep it .Also she takes an hour to eat and I have good friends but would be a bit much to ask them regularly but thanks think I will play it by ear and hope for a mild winter
 
I've just taken on an oldie in poor condition. He is 30 and cannot manage hay. He does seem to be able to graze but can't be getting much due to his condition .
He shares his paddock with his long term companion but she has opposite needs (fat) so I keep him on the yard through the day with a big tub of feed and her out in the paddock and then at night he is out with her on grazing. He is well rugged up to keep him warm as he has no body fat and this seems to be working for him.

Ets: I add micronised linseed, salt and a mineral supplement to his feed ....the linseed is essential to replace the omegas that is lost from grazing and is a great for conditioning.
 
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Worth testing for Cushings if you haven't already - muscle wastage is one of the symptoms, which can present all, some, or none! Liphook are still doing the test free until the end of October.
 
Thanks vet said all horses over 25 will have cushing or metabolic syndrome she has great scores for both she is really well rugged but has something wrong with her (vet says her symptoms don't add up to a specific condition ) despite her having referrals lots of tests etc and spending a vast amount of money! I came to the conclusion that she was happy as Larry and that I should spend my money on useful things like carrots horse treats etc ..Am also debating building her a pen in field that others can't limbo under (14 and 15 hands ) and then I could probably get her fed at lunch I will definitely be trying the linsead as has lots of votes .So thanks again every one
 
In case any one is wondering she had peritonitus 3 years ago , she had fluid on the heart which was cured but was left breathing to fast and heart beating to fast and sweating from belly button to lady bits but as time has passed she has mini attacks of above about 3 times a year lasting for a few days when though eating normally drops any weight she has gained . No one can agree if her heart beats too fast cos of breathing or bice versa .Heart function is normal and so is brearhing (a bit decreased but nothing out of the ordinary for a piny her age )
 
My no teeth rescue pony can't (and won't) eat hay at all.
1) I manage fields so I can give him some grass as long into the winter as possible.
2) he eats soaked grass nuts in the huge tubs all day and night when the grass is gone. At the start of the winter he does woof it like a hard feed but a week or so in he chills out about it and grazes on it through the day/ night

I would build a pen and then you can put 2/3/4 huge tubs in morning and night and she can eat all day and night at her leasure - don't think of grass nuts as a hard feed she needs to eat up - more like sloshy hay that she should have all the time - the only trick is keeping the others away from it !
 
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