Hi, Jake has been totally off his minerals now for almost 3 weeks. He did start on Prascend; I started APF and got him back eating after approx  3 days. Now, after moving to new barn, nothing is working. I have a new mineral mix which he still won't touch. The Uckele U Balance Foundation was suggested as being close to the minerals he needs, but comments were that it smells - he SMELLS everything and is very suspicious. 

I tried to read up on ulcers, but not sure. Would it help to try something like aloe vera? or? Like another poster here, I am wondering if I should try other mineral sources?

Should I try just individual minerals on top of the ODTBC and eliminate the flax as a base, try whole flax, chia or something else?  Is there a super palatable mix I could try? (I was suspicious of the distillers grain he was on before his laminitis episode). I tried offering individual items by hand one by one to see what he responds to; plain fresh flax from HorseTech-refused, timothy pellets- accepted, beet root powder-accepted, BOSS-accepted, Beet-E-Bites treats-accepted. I tried adding very small amount of his mineral mix to the ODTBC with taste tempters and he refused. I am at a loss. 

BTW, tried low sided bowl (not rubber as he hates the smell), cocasoya (no longer likes), and everything else on the picky eaters list!
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Monti/Jake in Mich 2010

https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Monti%20and%20Jake

I tried adding very small amount of his mineral mix to the ODTBC with taste tempters and he refused. I am at a loss. 

 Monti,I understand from your CH that you are feeding 1 lb of ODTBC a day. I'm thinking that's 1/2 lb , morning and night.

If that's the case, I don't think that's enough cubes. At least, my boys need more than that.

If you can't get away with sprinkling the mineral mix on top of soggy cubes,then the cubes need to soak into flakes so that the minerals are not just sitting on top, but have rather become part of the mix.

Maybe the "very small amount" of the minerals you are feeding is not small enough, at the moment. Most of us who have had trouble have had to add just a smidgen, a pinch, a breath (whatever) of the minerals. And not just once. This needs to be done numerous times before daring to double that teeny, tiny amount. Patience is required.

If the taste tempters don't seem to be working, stop the taste tempters. Some horses don't like what we think should be accepted. Some horses don't like any 'taste tempters'.

If he cleans up the ODTBC with nothing added, try that a few times.

Jake has just moved to a new barn.That's quite a switch to deal with.He's getting used to a lot of new smells, different water, new routines, and so on.

You have to ask yourself question after question, and not assume anything. You need to try anything  which you haven't tried,anything that he hasn't already rejected.

Give each new thing time, enough time before moving on to something else .

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Lorna in Eastern Ontario, Canada
ECIR Moderator 2002

Hi, thank you! I board so it is very difficult to have the control I would normally like! I will have to double check on how much ODTBD the BO is now giving; he is eating the ODTBD (refusing his beet pulp) with BOSS and timothy pellets so I started adding a small amount of his mineral mix. I will try with an even smaller amount and have her mix it in!  She says the mineral mix smells funny, but it is fresh so I am not sure what to think.

Should I consider adding some Vitamin E pills to help balance out the BOSS or eliminate it?

He is getting used to a lot of changes for sure so I will keep trying. (I also have sick dog and very senior mother who broke her femur, so I am a bit overwhelmed)!

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Monti/Jake in Mich 2010

https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Monti%20and%20Jake

She says the mineral mix smells funny, but it is fresh so I am not sure what to think.

 Hard to know what 'funny' means.Could mean 'off',even if it is a new mix.

Could mean a flavouring is added by the company. Only way to know is to contact the company. Some of my horses don't like custom mixes.Sometimes something is added which the companies think (from studies,etc) the horse will like.Even I don't like the smell sometimes,

If it were me I would focus on trying to get the minerals worked out. Vitamin E capsules shouldn't put him off, but if they do you are then dealing with an extra issue.

>>he is eating the ODTBD (refusing his beet pulp)

I understand from this that you have stopped the BP altogether. Good if he likes the cubes.

Try to impress on the barn staff how important the details are. Once you go through the agony of getting him on board,the rest will be easy.

Lorna in Eastern Ontario, Canada
ECIR Moderator 2002

North Bay, CA

April 2016

https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Robyn%20and%20Toons

Hi Monti, you're not alone on the minerals thing, for sure. I'm new to this and still working on getting my horse to accept his minerals. I posted a few thoughts in another thread here today, Uckele minerals for picky eaters. I just wanted to say that Lorna's approach about trying a tiny, tiny amount repeatedly over many days has worked OK for my horse. I discussed a bit about how I'm working through this in the other thread, in case it is of any help to you.
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MaryS and Hoover

Sept. 2016,  South Central PA

Hoover's Case History: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Mary%20and%20Hoover  .

Ojai, Ca

September 2016

https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Linda%20and%20Peanut

https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=1813

https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Monti%20and%20Jake