what to feed hypersensitive thoroughbred mare

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suzannetighe

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Have purchased a potentially lovely 7 year old mare. She needs to put weight on and we were feeding pasture mix and alfa a. Recently changed to Alfa oil and build up cubes. She has been sensitive to touch since we had her but this is now getting worse. swishes tail, bites and threatens to kick. Don't want to part with her but need to sort kicking biting etc out as handled by 13 yr old. She is out on grass most of the time with other mares. I have tried tying her up on short rope and persisting with grooming etc but she swings round and almost goes into a fit when you touch between front legs and under belly. Thought it would get better with time. Could it be hormonal and can we cure or control?? Does anyone have any ideas PLEASE.
 
I have spent a year trying different things to feed my TB (balanced feed/winergy equilibrium/conditioning cubes) and have finally gone back to alfa a oil and spillers nuts every week I introduce something and see what happens this week it was pink powder and he became a bit jumpy again so I have removed it to see what happens.
 
Ihave had good results with calm and condition with a similar gelding. However if she is that sensitive can you not just feed her plenty of fibre based feed, say healthy hooves and hi fibre cubes?
 
Thanks. Am using D&G Build up and weight is improving, so is the bad behaviour though. Very sensitive even if you put your hands on her. I would just like her to be happy and not get so stroppy. Someone suggested a hormonal supplement. Just don't want to be making the situation worse.
 
Have not had vet out but have had back, teeth, saddle all checked. Spoke to original owner and apparently she started swishing tail and her sensitivity to touch after she had a foal.
 
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Why do you think the oil is the problem

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I had my stressy andalusian on it and he was bloody loopy to the point he would shake and sweat as soon as i got on him. after discussions with a few different people, i was laughed at because he was on the oil!

Took him off and now have a calmer horsey!!!!
 
D&H sensitive? My baby pony is SO sensitive, and allergic to everything (inc straw and rather annoyingly her own sweat?!?!) Works wonders!
 
try replacing the build up cubes with something like fibrebeet (unmollassed beet/alfalfa). I am thinking maybe there is some kind of intolerance to molasses...
 
I had similar problems with my tb mare, she was totally up and down... speedi beet seemed to help her gain weight along with sunflower oil, mixed in with nuts (cubes are better than mix for weight gain) and it was non-heating.

I would definitely get her looked at by a vet though. Everyone fixates on back problems at the moment and I did the same and missed arthiritis developing in 3 legs.
 
Hi Fi Lite & Ride & Relax....keeps them calm & a small measure of Blue Chip Original balancer helps them get all the goodness out of everything & assists with building them up.
 
I have a barley and molasses in tollerent TB gelding. Before we knew he had the problems he was a nighmare to handle, he was soooo grumpy, would nip, kick and he was very resistant to ride. I tried lots of different feeds with no success, he was underweight still.

He is now on Allen and Page feeds, when he needs weight on he gets calm and Condition and right now as he is relatively fat and needs a bit more oomph he gets Ride and Relax. Over the winter he gets fibrebeet and cooked linseed to add weight on. I also add mint to both my Tbs feeds to help settle their stomachs, my mare has stopped windsucking since starting that.

Would definately recommend C&C, fibrebeet and a non-mollassed chaff with mint or a probiotic - Pink powder? - or Top Spec balancer (never tried it myself but know loads of folk have with success).

Good luck...
 
It is interesting to read all your various replies! I personally don't feed anything with sugar or cereal in it - the result is I have a load of chilled out equines! Have you thought of Simple System Feeds - their grass nuts are good for TBs and you could add their Lunar Eclipse which is excellent for stressy, hormonal mares. Their website has loads of info.
 
id try changing the alpha oil to just plain old alpha a. the oil in alpha oil sent my TB mare do-lally. if your trying to put weight on id keep on the build up but add some speedi beat.
 
I feed my tb mare pony nuts, alpha a, with molasses, a dribble of linseed oil and her foot supplement and as much hay or grass as she can eat (this is more important IMHO than the hard feed) . She has been out 24/7 all summer and has just come in overnight.

She is sensitive in girth area and between front legs and is always daft to have her girth done up, but she is very thin skinned, so I have a process to suit. The sensitivity is heightened when she is in season.

She rarely kicks and bites, but if she does it is usually because she is stressing about something. She is usually quite polite about it though and sometimes she is just testing.

I have had her for two years and I would say that the sensitivity has reduced. I don't think it will go away entirely though. She does it much less now that she has weight on and is less hungry! Perhaps there is more covering the thin skin.

I live with it, but remain aware that she is a mare with an opinion!
 
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