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When the daily ration is gone

thelittlebarnonwhiteoakfarm@...
 


My mini gets a certain amount of hay per day.   She has IR.  She finishes her ration of hay so quickly even though I put it in hay nets.  Actually I just got 2 hay nets with 1" openings thinking that would slow her down.  It really didn't. Then I put one hay net inside the other and that didn't really slow her down.  The hay lasts for 4-5 hours.  But then she's looking for more.  

Is straw safe for IR horses or would I have to have it tested?  Or maybe beet pulp.  Can beet pulp be put in hay nets.  Do either of these have too many calories?    I'm just looking for something she could nibble on after her hay ration is gone.  Does anyone else have this problem?

Thank you,
Susan in CT
7-2012
Mandy Woods
 

Hi Susan,
You didn’t mention if your hay is tested?   Some of us have to soak hay that is 9 or 10% esc/s.  Some horses/ponies/minis are super sensitive.    Are your minerals balanced to your hay analysis.   You may see a big change for the better if your minerals are balanced.  
 
Feeding BP is a great idea but it has to be rinsed/soaked/rinsed first.   This reduces the iron and esc left in from the plant when it was prepared by squeezing   out the sugar.   You can feed up to 30% her body weight in dry BP.   She can gain weight or lose weight on this.   It will depend on her total calories.   How many pounds of hay do you feed? How many meals is this divided into?
 
Straw is not safe in the US.  It is high in sugar.   Go into the library at Dairy One.  You may find some information there on  straw averages.   I think trying to put BP that has been R/S/R would be like nailing jello to a tree!       Have you considered ODTB cubes?   Place them around her stall/paddock like hiding easter eggs.  Once she gets the taste down she’ll be trotting for more.   I would suggest you break them up so they are no longer than one inch.  Some of the cubes are very hard.
 
Please add your Case History to your signature so we can see the big picture.
 
Mandy in VA
EC Primary Response
OCT 2003
June Nishi
 

Hi Susan...I too have a mini with IR/Cushings.  I have the hay tested, her minerals balanced, etc. but unless I weigh the hay and limit her hay to a certain appropriate amount daily, she would surely get too fat.  Have you tried TheHayPillow slow feeder nets (http://thehaypillow.com/)?  They come in mini sizes with varying mesh size openings.  For my one mini, I have to get the very smallest size...1/2" opening....for her hay to last long enough so she has fairly continuous feeding of limited hay.  You might try going to that site.  The owner is super helpful and nice to talk with.  I would encourage you to call and talk to her if you have not tried these nets and she can help you choose the one that would fit your mini the best.  It sure has helped my mini.  Good luck!  June
Oregon
Dec. 2012
thelittlebarnonwhiteoakfarm@...
 

Hi Mandy,


Yes, I have my hay tested, the ESC is 6.1 and the starch is .8.   But according to my vet I should be soaking it because he uses WSC and starch.   I decided I'm not soaking it.   I am also balancing  minerals to the hay analysis, one of your experts has helped me with that.  

She gets 8 pounds a day divided into 2 meals.

I do have the ODTB cubes but she never liked them.  They're so hard, do they have to be soaked or wetted a little?  If not could she choke on them?   If I break them up like you say will they be safe for her to eat dry?
It's a good idea you have about placing the cubes around different places.  I'm going to try that.  She may eat them if that's all she can find.  

Thank you Mandy,

Susan in CT
7-2012
thelittlebarnonwhiteoakfarm@...
 

Thank you so much June for providing me with the link to the "hay pillow site".   That's great that they have even smaller holes than 1".   This just might be the answer to my problem.

Thanks so much
Susan in CT
7-2012
June Nishi
 

You are more than welcome Susan.  I know firsthand how frustrating your situation can be.  The HayPillow is a great help.  She has so many variations.  I buy the basic pillow separately and then purchase different size meshes so I can interchange them.  It is more cost effective for me.  These are not the cheapest slow feed nets but they are the only ones that work for my minis.  Good luck to you!

June
Oregon
Dec 2012
Mandy Woods
 

Hi Susan,
We don’t use the WSC value.   So your hay being a total of 6.9 esc/s is great and would not need soaking.   Lucky you!    Are you using a smhn?   One inch holes would work for a mini.    The ODTB c can be wetted but don’t pour the water off as the minerals will be lost then.    You could spritz them.  Your mini probably makes enough saliva when she chews.   Any horse can ‘choke’ especially if they bolt their feed.  Keeping the cubes at ground level makes that a harder possibility because they are moving up hill to the throat!   You will find that some bags are rock hard and need to be broken up into smaller pieces  and some bags are mostly crumbs.   Do you have a NOSE-IT ball?    Now that is a great  delivery system that encourages movement and slower eating! 
 
Mandy in VA
EC Primary Response
OCT 2003

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