Junior and His Blanket

Posted about Junior on the Sanctuary blog and figured it would be easier to simply link them.

Enjoy the pictures of Junior snug in his blanket.

http://borderlandrescue.blogspot.com/2014/12/junior-and-his-blanket.html

Chronicles of Junior

Day 22: Last Saturday was a nice day so our farrier came out to pull Junior's shoes. They were long and I wanted his shoes off before we got more snow and ice. I've been leading Junior into his stall and there's a patch of ice we have to walk over now.

Junior stood perfectly for pulling shoes and getting his feet trimmed. He's obviously had his feet shod a number of times.  He acted like an old pro at it. I was pretty proud of him even though I had nothing to do with any of his behavior.

Junior was wearing aluminum shoes but they didn't seem to be worn down too bad. When the farrier pulled Junior's shoes off, he mentioned that Junior had a touch of laminitis. He wasn't 100 percent positive that it was laminitis or if the shoes had been on too long. Junior did have a false soul.

The farrier trimmed up the false soul and said that Junior might be a tad sensitive on his feet for a few days but I haven't noticed him miss a step and we've had some cold temperatures that made the ground hard again.  The farrier mentioned laminitis not just because of the false soul, which can be a sign of laminitis or having shoes on too long, but because there was some separation of the hoof wall. He didn't make it sound like it's as bad as King's feet, who does have laminitis.

I didn't think to ask Junior's previous owners if he had laminitis (or was wearing shoes for that matter). But we'll be keeping a close eye on Junior to see if his feet do show signs of laminitis or just wearing shoes for too long.

I'm happy to see the shoes come off so that he can travel without me having to worry about him slipping on the ice. I wish he would have used his shoes to his advantage when he did have them. When I put Junior back in with the mares, Rabbit thumped him a couple of times. That damn sorrel mare.

I've been putting Junior in a stall at night so that he can eat in peace and away from any chill that the wind might bring. The other night we had wind out of the east so the mares were cold and I wanted to get everyone in out of the wind. Junior seemed even happier with the mares close by. When I went to put him in the following night (leaving the mares out), Junior wasn't as happy. I may have to simply pull Junior in to a stall to eat his grain and put him back out for his hay. I'd rather make sure Junior had enough because those darn sorrel mares push him around but if he's happier hanging out with the mares, I guess I'll just have to make sure there's extra piles of hay scattered everywhere.

Dealing with Loss

Everyone deals with loss differently. The situations that lead up to the loss, the experiences of each person both with the person/animal that was lost, and just the personal experiences in general all make us deal with loss differently.

 

Running a retirement home for senior equines always puts the idea of loss at the very edge of every thought. We need to live in the  moment but there's also the inevitable loss that we will face some day.

 

Some people display loss outright while others may appear unfazed but display their grief alone. Having said goodbye to more than a dozen horses at the Sanctuary, I'm sure people think that I have a hard heart. I always get asked "How do you do it?". Let me tell you, it's difficult. I am the type that will appear unfazed but in the fading light, loss overcomes me just the same. I want to remember the good and not dwell on the bad.

 

Some may not agree, but I believe that some day, I will meet all of these people/horses again. At least I can hope for it. So the pain of loss stings the heart but I have to have faith that it's not "goodbye" but rather "I'll see you later".

 

I guess I bring up the topic of loss for two reasons. This is the first time in almost eight years that I have not had to say "see you later" to any of our senior equines. We did have to say goodbye to a family member and those memories are still fresh. Even a family member we lost almost two years ago brings back painful loss even now. You wouldn't know it by looking at me that I am upset over that loss but I am. The loss is what it is. I shall cherish my memories (and hope that those  memories won't fade).

 

There is no one way to deal with loss. I simply have to remember that we all deal with loss and heartache differently based on our losses and experiences.

 

As Thanksgiving rolls around, please remember both those that are on this Earth and those that have gone before us. Be thankful for the opportunities that they have given you and the memories that you have.  Cherish the good memories and let go of the bad memories. 

 

Queen - Gone but not forgotten

Chronicles of Junior

Day 10: I left Junior out overnight last night and he was very much displeased with that decision. I thought maybe the mares would let him eat with them. Nope. I would rather not have to stall him every night but I don't see any other option. I just wish that as it's only November, that we wouldn't be dealing with full fledged winter already.

We did have Erin from Head Heart Hooves (http://www.headhearthooves.com/) donate Junior a blanket. I picked it up Tuesday night but haven't had a chance to see which one will work best for Junior. I know I'll sleep easier now that he has a blanket to call his own. It's November and we are dealing with January temperatures. Who knows what type of temperatures we'll have in January!

I still need to schedule the farrier to come out and pull Junior's shoes. But it's been so blasted cold that my farrier doesn't want to pull shoes and do a trim when it's in the single digits with below zero wind chills. I'm hoping that we can get a short snap of warm weather soon.

We have now had Junior at the Sanctuary for a full week and a couple days. It's crazy to see what a fixture he already is at the Sanctuary.

The other night I had put him in his stall to eat. He was finished with his grain and eating his alfalfa when he hung his head over the stall door. I rubbed on his head and ear and in that instant, he reminded me of my very first horse, Tiny Dictator. Dictator was an old ranch horse that came from Colorado. He'd never been an affectionate horse being that he was never loved on until I got him (I was his third owner and last owner). Junior has had the pleasure of being loved on but I do get the impression that he was at one point a ranch horse (at least the brands make me think that he was once a ranch horse).

I never really know the entire life history of horses that come to the Sanctuary. It's their past and we look towards the future. But it is interesting to hear about what they've done. I'm debating on whether I want to try and track down the brands and see if I can't find a previous owner. The brand on his cheek is hidden now with his winter coat but his brand on his shoulder is still discernible. I'm just not sure if it would be easier to take better pictures in the summer or the winter and then start asking. It doesn't really matter, Junior is here for the rest of his life. It's just fun to hear about his past.

Junior is getting braver. He's starting snatch a few  bites of hay from the hay feeder when the mares are only a few feet away. I'm hoping that he'll start feeling more comfortable with the mares and actually hold his ground, but I don't think that will ever be  his personality. He still hangs on the fence watching my every move. I've never had that with a horse. Oh sure, some will come and check out what I'm doing but  none will stay and watch. I feel bad that he doesn't have a friend. Everyone else at the Sanctuary is buddied up with another horse and he's the odd man out. I'd like to fix that and we were asked to take in a mare but without the funds for that  mare's winter supply of hay, I haven't even mentioned bringing her in.

I still have Junior on sweet feed, senior grain, and calf manna. I haven't started beet pulp but I want to wait for a little bit longer and see if this concoction works for putting weight on before I add to the mix. Unfortunately, putting weight on a horse is so much harder than getting it off (sure wish that were the same for me!) I expect that it'll be a full month before we can see if there's any improvement in weight with this grain mixture and feeding method. Fingers crossed that we are on the right path.

Chronicles of Junior

Day Six:  So Junior has been at the Sanctuary for just shy of a week. I introduced him to the mares and to the geldings over the fence. Junior has no interest in being with the horses when I'm around. He desperately tries to hang out with the mares but Rabbit will have none of that.

When Junior sees me, it's almost like the world stops. I've never had a horse watch me so closely. Bo will watch but not with such hawk like precision. I am guessing it's because I grain Junior. I have no idea if he ever received any grain on a daily basis.

I was told that he was hard to catch. Last night I was late in getting out to do chores and when I went to get Junior, he put his nose into the halter. The only reason he backed away was because the mares came into his space. He has a very large bubble. I can enter that bubble now that I grain him, but no one else is allowed in.

Junior is not a demanding horse (unlike some where they whinny and paw at the stalls). Junior will simply reach his full height and keep his head over the corral panels/fence waiting and watching me. When he's in his stall (and he's eaten all of his grain), he'll follow my everywhere I go.

I do believe that if Junior had thumbs, he'd put his halter on himself and walk right into his stall. I'm not yet ready to trust him to simply open the gate without a halter and lead rope to get him into his stall. But I expect within a month, I'll simply put his mash into his stall and open the stall door and then open the gate to the pen to let him out. I think the way to his heart is through his stomach.

I don't like how thin he is but is what the owner said is his  normal weight. I want to see if graining him will help and keeping him stalled away from all other horses so there's absolutely no competition will change the weight issue.

For grain, Junior is receiving one scoop of Nutrena Senior, one scoop Nutrena Stock and Stable (sweet feed), and a half a scoop of Calf Manna. I haven't introduced beet pulp yet but am waiting until we are in the midst of winter (although I think we are there). I am also throwing him a sliver of alfalfa each night (a sliver from a small square bale). I also feed him a half a sliver of dairy quality hay from a 3x3 hay bale.  I have not weight any of his feed but the normal herd receives a half a sliver of hay (from the 3x3 bale of hay) and they maintain their weight. With the colder temps, I've been throwing Junior and the rest of the herd alfalfa. The herd of 10 receives one bale of alfalfa (one small sliver each) and the mares and Junior receive a sliver each of alfalfa. The ponies do not get alfalfa (and never will unless they discover where the alfalfa is stashed).

I have not seen any improvements in weight on Junior but I didn't expect to see any, especially when he came right at the beginning of this horrible cold snap (and there's added stress of moving and routines). If we are to see any weight gain, it'll be another month from now. With the winter hair, it might be impossible to know.

I did refrain from throwing a blanket or a sheet on him Saturday. He has a very thick winter coat and the sheet I had, I didn't think he would benefit from it. I also didn't want to rush him (and I'd be putting the sheet on in the dark). I am unsure how Junior will handle a blanket/sheet, especially when I have to touch the left rear leg. No one is allowed to touch the left rear leg (says Junior...with a kick).

But I expect we will be blanketing Junior once we find a heavier blanket than the no fill blanket/sheet.

But in the week that we've had Junior, he's already picked up the routine and enjoys his grain mash. It's a little unnerving to have a horse watch me so close, but I guess that means he's happy. I'm starting to get the impression that he thinks he's died and gone to heaven. I can only hope that we can keep him happy!

Chronicle of Junior

Day 3: I pulled Junior out of the pen with the mares so that he could eat his grain in peace. I opted to stall him instead of leave him tied so that I could get all my chores done and not feel rushed. It was dark but Junior followed me without any hesitation. This is a horse that doesn't know me but is willing to trust and follow me.

I added some water to make his grain more of a mash and put it in front of him. He took one bit and then gave me the biggest, juiciest slobbery kiss I've ever gotten (and I've been around horses for half my life!) This is a horse that appreciates his grain. He doesn't demand it, but appreciates it!

I opted to leave him stalled for the night so that he wouldn't have to contend with the single digits above and below zero temperatures. There was no wind chill but I'd rather start stalling him no matter what. I threw in some alfalfa and a full morning and night feeding of hay to see how much he'd actually eat. The look in his eye when I first put him into his stall and then when I threw in the alfalfa is priceless. A look of not only relief but of pleasure.

Junior is a stall baby. I think he preferred to be in a stall so that he didn't have to compete with the other horses or be pushed away when they approached. I did notice that he was standing much closer to the mares yesterday evening so he's working up to being more comfortable with them. He's getting close enough now for Rabbit to pin her ears at him.

When I let him out this morning, he willingly followed me out of his stall in the dark. I thought he was going to come right at me and I put out my hand to stop him and instead of it being his shoulder, it was his head. He didn't spook or shy away. I figured that quick movement would be a setup back our trust. But he just stood there while I apologized and rubbed his head. I put him in with the mares and fed him but he had no interest in eating. He wanted to be in my pocket. He followed me with his eyes everywhere I went. He wouldnt' push on the fence but he'd get his  head over the corral panels to make it known that he wanted some of my time. Im not sure if he was asking for grain or if he wanted attention (I'm assuming grain).

But Junior trusts me after only two days. How amazing is that. I saw on a twitter feed the following saying "treat each horse like he is a gentleman" (or something to that affect). I've always tried to treat them not as an animal but as an equal. Maybe Junior sees that? It's hard to say. I'm no trainer nor do I know the thought process of a horse. I guess I try to win the old ones over with grain and then we can create a strong bond after that. So far, it's working. Keep their bellies full and they will remain your best friend.

Chronicles of Junior

This past Tuesday, we brought into our Sanctuary a senior equine. I only know a snippet of his past (what his previous owner did with him). We are also guessing at his age because we were told 20+. I am aging him at 25 years old simply to set an age. He is thinner than I prefer but the previous owner said that what he looked like on Tuesday was his standard weight that he's been at for the entire time they have owned him.

 

I would like to chronicle our newest senior equine's stay at the Sanctuary in this blog. He is the typical senior equine with a few standard aches and pains, and weight issues that many senior equines face these days.

 

Junior is now on dairy quality hay fed twice a day (6am and 6pm). This hay is from a 3x3 square bale and he receives an entire "sliver". (Typically horses at the Sanctuary receive a half a "sliver" from a 3x3 bale.) He is also fed a "sliver" of alfalfa from a small square bale. Neither the hay or the alfalfa is weighed at this time. He is in with two other horses so figuring out exactly how much he eats is unknown. I am considering stalling him at night so that he has 12 hours to eat hay and alfalfa without any interruptions. He is also receiving one scoop of Nutrena Senior and a half a scoop of Calf Manna. Again, neither are measured. His grain ration is currently being soaked with cold water but will switch to warm water with the drop in temperature. I'm also considering adding beet pulp in a week or two once he's adjusted to his surroundings and routine.

 

We are only in November but the temperatures are in the low 20 degree Fahrenheit for highs and in the single digits for lows.  The wind chills are in the teens below zero (Fahrenheit). He has a thick winter coat already but I am contemplating putting a blanket on to ward against chill. I know blanketing is a touchy subject but thin and old horses on occasion need additional "support" to get them through winter.

 

Junior is hard to catch but if I pull him out every night to at minimum eat his grain (or to stall overnight), I expect he'll become easier to catch.

 

He does currently have front shoes on and I will be making a phone call to my farrier to have the shoes pulled and front feet trimmed before we receive any more snow (or ice). We are not allowed to trim Junior's left rear leg. If it becomes necessary to trim, Junior will require heavy sedation (per the previous owner and myself after watching how he reacted to asking for his left rear foot).

 

He's also an absolute doll and will meet you at the gate. He is a touch-me-not horse but that could stem from his past or his general personality. We'll never know.

 

Please welcome Junior to the Sanctuary because he is now "home".

 

 

Book Review - Concise Guide to Respitory Disease in the Horse

I recently finished reading the Concise Guide to Respiratory Disease in the Horse by David W. Ramey. The description of the book is as follows "This book introduces the reader to the anatomy of the horse's respiratory tract and discusses the diagnostic methods and treatments usually used today. "

 

I didn't see any reviews on the book but I didn't dig. It's a decent book and a handy one to have if you have a horse with a respiratory disease. The first half of the book discussed the general anatomy of the horses airways, etc. It was fascinating how Mr. Ramey initially described the anatomy of the airways (he used the analogy of the reader being a particle traveling through a horse's airways.)

 

The second half of the book focused on major respiratory diseases including strangles, heaves, and bleeding. (I originally purchased the book because we have a mare with heaves and I wanted to learn more.)  The second half of the book was a bit more focused and didn't use any analogies. Much of what was discussed in the second half (focusing on different respiratory diseases) was fairly high-level information. It gave the basics on what it was, symptoms, possible treatment options, etc. but no getting into the nitty-gritty of that particular respiratory disease.

 

I am glad that I have the book in my library although disappointed that the book was as short as it was (only 90 pages). Respiratory diseases could cover much more. The book was written like Mr. Ramey was talking directly to me, no text book terminology to bore you to sleep. He also didn't act as though he was a vet. He provided the facts in an easy to read method.

 



 

Book Reviews

I was planning on having a monthly book review but life got in the way of that idea. I am in the middle of reading one senior horse care book but am lacking time in finishing and providing a review anywhere in the near future.

I did, however, purchase a few additional books to add to my library. I haven't had a chance to read any of the books but thought that it would be a wise purchase.

What did I buy you ask?

Concise Guide to Laminitis in the Horse by David W. Ramey

Concise Guide to Navicular Syndrome in the Horse by David W. Ramey

Concise Guide to Respiratory Diseases in the Horse by David W. Ramey

Concise Guide to Medications, Supplements, and Herbs for the  Horse by David W. Ramey

I'll start reading these four books to see if they are of any worth. Having horses at the Sanctuary with laminitis (and potentially navicular) and respiratory problems, I was intrigued by these books. I am also intrigued by herbs, essential oils, and other home remedies that may or may not work.

I'm hoping I'll be able to get through at least one of the four books and give you an idea as to whether they are worth having in your library.

Trimming a Senior Equine

I happened across this short video on how to help ease the pain our senior equine might experience while during a trim. I found a few of these techniques interesting and will try them on our seniors when cleaning out their feet.

http://www.thehorse.com/videos/30554/keep-your-older-horse-comfortable-during-a-trim?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

Equine Euthanasia Process

Euthanasia is never an easy topic of discussion. But I recently read a post on Facebook where someone was asking which method was better and if you should be there or not.

The latter part of the question is more a personal decision that you have to  make. Some people can't be there to watch. Others see it as their responsibility to be there until the end. Personally, I  made a promise to each of my horses that I would be there until they took that very last breath. So I have seen each one of my family members pass away, as hard as it is.

But the first part of the question intrigued me and made me reflect on my euthanasia experiences. There's two methods when going to the vet. The first is to simply "drop them" and the second is to sedate and euthanize.

I've had to experience both and I can assure you, the "drop them" method is not easy to watch. There's pros and cons for both but in my experience, the "drop them" method left me scarred for life. People will say that doing the "drop them" method is quicker and they don't feel a thing. Perhaps, but it's still unpleasant to watch. In this method, the vet administers the euthanasia serum directly into the horse's vein while he/she is fully awake and standing. Unfortunately, the horse does NOT drop immediately to the ground. The two euthanasia experiences that I had to go through, the horses staggered around while the vet tried to hang on to the lead rope before the horse crashed to the ground unceremoniously. The experience left me shaking. That method might be quick but I don't see the dignity in it.

The second method includes sedation. I'm not sure if other vets follow this same method but my vet uses two sedatives before euthanizing (it also helps that my vet tells me exactly what he's doing and what the outcome will be while he's doing it so that I'm not shocked). The first sedative is a light dose tranquilizer, the type used to float teeth. After that takes affect, a second tranquilizer is used, the type used to put them to sleep for a gelding operation. This bit is a little bit tricky because the vet has to lay the horse down. It's a little traumatic to watch and is key to a smooth euthanasia. If the horse is on any type of incline, the euthanasia may take longer (if the horse has his/her head on the lower part of the incline). Once the second tranquilizer is fully in effect, the euthanasia serum is injected and the vet waits and watches. It's a much slower process. Some insist that the tranquilizer slows down the process and it takes longer to euthanize. But it's much more peaceful. I personally consider it more dignified.

In either case, the vet will listen for any heartbeat, check the eyes (and sometimes touch them to see if there's a reaction), and check any other vital signs. Sometimes there will be a "last breath" where air is released from the lungs. I've had it happen to a horse and a dog. It's very startling and a little disturbing but there is nothing that you can do to prevent it.

Some people don't want to go through the experience at all and will dump their horse at auction or sell the horse to an unsuspecting person who doesn't know about horses. But if you are a responsible owner and have made the decision to euthanize, you have options. Check with your vet first to make sure that he/she follows the procedure that you are comfortable with before making that appointment.

Blanket Storage

Blanketing is a touchy subject for some. At the Sanctuary, we blanket those that need it. My question for today is to those that do blanket. How and where do you store your blankets when not in use?

I'm not an overly organized person so I'll have to plead guilty in not taking care of my blankets. In years past on the few occasions that I would use a blanket, once I was done, I would stuff them into a Rubbermaid or Sterile tub until the next time I needed it. Then it progressed to simply getting them thrown into the tack room and hope the mice don't devour them completely. In the past year, the blankets lie wherever the nearest building is and stay there, lying there haphazard until the next round of winter storms (meaning they could lie on the ground/concrete for six months without getting touched).

I want to improve my storing method (anything would be better than the current "storing" method). So I'm curious to know how people store there blankets. Do you leave them hanging in your horse trailer, tack room, or in your house? Do you put them in a Rubbermaid tub, tack closet, etc.?

My latest idea is putting blankets into clean steel barrels with removable lids. I have such a large number of blankets for the Sanctuary horses that I need more than a dozen Rubbermaid tubs to store them and there's still the possibility of mice getting in to them, whereas the steel barrel will keep the mice and the moisture out. I'm not sure it's the best solution I've come up with yet, but it's another way to keep the barn organized.

So, how do you store your blankets when not in use? I'm curious to hear, especially during the winter months and during the summer months.

Blanket Cleaning, Waterproofing, and Repairing

Blanketing is always a hot and controversial topic. I'll not focus on whether it's a good idea or not. At the Sanctuary, we do have some horses that cannot handle our South Dakota winters so we must blanket. Instead, this post is about cleaning, waterproofing, and repairing blankets.

Although we are still contending with some summer temperatures, winter is right around the corner. With the decent weather, I opted to clean the stash of horse blankets. We'd had such a rough winter that when I took the blankets off for good, the blankets simply stayed put in a heap on the floor.

I know other horse owners are better and quickly cleaned and repaired their blankets so there would be no need to rush around and get ready for the first cold/wet snap. I, on the other hand, am not that type of person. I blame it on being a mom to a toddler.

Last year the herd wore blankets for a large portion of winter. In doing so, they ripped holes in the blankets, ripped out leg straps, and pretty well wrecked havoc on every blanket possible. I was able to eek out a few hours to myself to wash blankets and that's when it occurred to me.

What do other horse people do to clean their blankets?

I know some will go to the Laundromat and sneak their horse blanket in. My horse blankets were too disgusting and too many. It would have had to spend about as much in washing blankets as it would to buy one or two really good blankets.

Some people go to the car wash (but I've not seen too many people do that). Again, it would have had to spent more in power washing blankets as I would to buy one or two really good blankets.

I opted for the old fashioned method, elbow grease. I'm sure my method is incorrect and I do question some of my cleaning abilities and supplies. But if it helps to cut costs for someone else, I guess that's all that  matters.

I ended up dragging out the hose with a good power washer nozzle, and sprayed down the outer cover. Then with a bucket of warm sudsy water (I used dish soap and am thinking I should have maybe look at something more horse friendly) and a stiff horse brush (a good  method of getting your horse brushes clean!), I scrubbed, and scrubbed, and scrubbed until the "mud" (we'll call it mud for my sake) was mostly removed and only a stain remained on the outer covering. Then I took the hose and rinsed off the outer covering. I knew the waterproofing was good when I would grab the blanket and it wasn't too heavy. However, I repeated the process on the inside and practically tipped over when trying to lift the blanket. The inner lining is NOT waterproof and with the batting on some, soaked up the water.

My biggest mistake was that some water got into the batting thanks to some holes (and a lot of it simply soaked through the soft material that goes against the horse's hair. I did have a half dozen blankets that had stinky water WITHIN the blanket, even after sitting out for three days. I was rather disappointed and wasn't sure what to do.

My only option, to cut the inside, soft lining and drain the stinky, dirty water. I hope that I didn't make a mistake in doing so but I HAD to get the water out. This winter will be the test to see if making a small hole in the lining did any damage.

After letting the blankets dry, I wanted to ensure that the waterproofing was still good. Some of the blankets had little to no waterproofing left after last year. For waterproofing, I simply bought deck water sealer/waterproofing. It works like a charm. I simply dump the waterproofing/sealer into a big butter dish (you know the kind...the "oh I can't believe it's not butter" dish), and with a fat paint brush, slathered the blanket with waterproofing.

With a gallon of waterproofing, I was able to get a total of six blankets completely waterproofed. If we hadn't had so much humidity, I expect the blankets would have dried within a few hours. As it was, a thunderstorm was rolling in, so I had to haul all six blankets into the garage and find places to prop them up and let them dry overnight. It's amazing how creative you can get to find places (saw horses, lawn chairs, wheel dolly, and even my toddler's toy car).

After the blankets were dry, I still had to repair them. I can't afford to send my blankets in to get washed and repaired (but what I would give to be able to.) We do not have a heavy duty sewing machine. My one dollar sewing machine doesn't even work at the moment. Instead I used a blunt needle and embroidery floss to sew up the gapping holes. I sewed up some holes last year using embroidery floss, so we'll see if this year's sewing holds out as well.

So what do you do to wash, waterproof, and repair your blankets?

This is Babe. We lost her last September. She was 31 years old and completely blind but tough as nails to the very end.

Save the Date - September 14

Save the Date: Saturday, September 14th from 11am to 2pm at the Hartford Farmers Market

Borderlands Horse Sanctuary will be participating in a fundraiser in Hartford, South Dakota. This is an opportunity to help a member of the Hartford community and a chance to meet a few of the Sanctuary horses. I will post additional information once I know more.

Help, My Old Horse is Losing Weight

Some horses are blessed with a rotund figure (i.e., easy keepers) all their lives while others have to work on keeping those curves in the right locations (i.e. hard keepers). Of all the horses that have come through the Sanctuary that we've said goodbye, each one reached a point in their life when they became a hard keeper.

There's no specific age when each horse reached that stage. I've had horses anywhere from 16 years old all the way up to 31 years old who were easy keepers until they hit that stage. Then the decline is dramatic. Usually I was able to stave off the inevitable for a little while (years or months) but there was a decline in their rotund bodies without additional supplements to their hay diet.

I am frequently asked how to put weight on a hard keeper. The shelves are lined with every variety of supplement at a wide variety of cost. I have tried a few with little success. What I have found are two options. Keep in mind that these two options have worked for me on the past Sanctuary horses but it's not a guarantee to add weight to your horse.

• Beet pulp
• Calf manna

Beet pulp is the cheaper of the two options at around $15 per bag (without tax). Calf manna is the second option, albeit a much more expensive option at $30 per bag (without tax).

Beet pulp is an acquired taste so don't be surprised that your horse turns up his/her nose at it for the first few feedings. I have a few horses that will refuse to eat their beet pulp plus grain ration. Once he/she"steals" the beet pulp from another horse, they are all for their nightly meal.

Calf manna puts the weight on more quickly but I have experienced ulcers with an old easily stressed Belgian gelding (side note: He's the horse in the top cover. He came to us that thin and we were able to get him back to proper weight using beet pulp and calf manna). The cost is double that of beet pulp so I use it sparingly and only on the hardest of hard keepers.

In 2011 we opened the Sanctuary up to a total of five emaciated horses. Of those five, one was a 28 year old Percheron that was passed the point of any supplement helping to maintain his body. We subsequently opted to euthanize him before the harsh winter months hit. The other four we were able to help them return to their rotund figures with beet pulp and calf manna before the terrible South Dakota winter hit.

The amount and number of feedings is not a science. In all honesty, it was trial and error for those months of recovery and each horse had a different amount they required to gain back their bodies.

As we quickly proceed to fall and then winter, if you have a horse that is turning into a hard keeper, try either beet pulp or calf manna (after checking to make sure your horse's teeth are ok). The outcome won't be a quick result but with consistency, your horse will at the very least stop losing and maintain the weight he currently has.

If you start feeding your horse beet pulp or calf manna, let me know how he/she is progressing. I'd love to hear how you care for your hard keeper and what you give him/her to keep them at a steady and healthy weight.

Senior Equine Care Books

In researching senior equine topics to discuss, I thought I would turn to a few books (I know, I'm old fashioned and start with researching in books instead of the Internet). When I realized my first horse was a "senior" equine, I figured I'd better find a good book. I was disappointed with the book that I finally selected so I haven't turned to those pages in years. I've simply done trial and error and word of mouth suggestions for my seniors.

I did a high-level search on amazon.com to see what senior equine care books are available and one of the first in the list was the one in my horse library. I returned to that book and reading through it this time, it's a helpful tool. Perhaps not helpful in the care of senior horses but it is a helpful tool in deciding illnesses. It's based more towards general prognosis of an illness, which is handy for any horse owner.

I would like to start doing  monthly book reviews and pulling out bits of information from each book to discuss.

So what books do you have in your horse library? I am planning on ordering a number of senior equine care books to review so that you don't have to purchase and decide if it was really worth the money. I'm sure most people turn to the Internet and Facebook, but I still find stock in information in books.

Senior Equine Care 101

I have been caring for senior equines for a number of years. I don't profess to know much but want to share what knowledge I have to make caring for your equine in his/her golden years a little bit easier. There is no right way to care for a senior equine and I am constantly learning through trial and error for each horse (as each equine is different in his/her health, abilities, and likes/dislikes).

Caring for a senior equine is a huge responsibility but the wisdom they provide is worth tenfold what I can do for them. I would love to hear your stories, research, and questions about your senior equine experiences/care. The  more we know about our equines in their golden years, the better we can improve their longevity.