Yup...hot rod worked himself into a lather...(giggles evilly)...he didn't think he wanted any part of this scenario, but Moon is a good sport and trucked along beside while Frosty tried to figure out a way to avoid letting that happen.Ya know...acting like a fool at a public event is a whole lot different than acting like a fool in the middle of a 20 acre, plowed field. Frosty finally figured that out and settled into his new role.
On a more serious note, I am ordering a stronger IR supplement for Frosty (Command IR Ultra) and have put him on the equine version of pepto-bismo that I have been feeding Moon (ProCMC). It really seems to have helped Moon. He's not nearly as crabby as he used to be and is a lot more relaxed.
I get mad as hell at Frosty for acting like a fool, and lord knows the horse needs some wet saddle blankets, but upon reflection...his behavior at public functions is not really 'normal'. He just seems to lose it and while Frosty has some quirks about him, going completely ballistic and getting more and more radical is not really his nature. While I hardly think it's possible for the horse to have full blown ulcers, it's possible that the nervousness he experiences when he is out of his normal element could be causing him some gastric distress. From what I have read, over-reacting and blowing up are pretty common symptoms.
Another thing I have noticed about the horse is that he smells bad. Particularly when he works up a good sweat. It's almost a rancid smell. So something is still not quite right with his system. There's more going on here than just a bad attitude and I am determined to get this horse fixed. He's too darn nice to let languish any longer. I really think he has the potential to run barrels on par, if not better than Moon. I'd say that I've only ever tapped into about his 3rd gear and that was plenty fast...and that hip...OMG...that HIP...this horse is built to just drive out of a barrel.
Yea well and vanity rears her head and says...How cool would it be to have both of my yellow boys running well?
17 comments:
Hope you get his issues figured out. As for ulcers, not sure what his lifestyle is like right now so this may not apply.... I was just reading about ulcers. They usual culprits are hauling and performance. Turns out that "modern horsekeeping" is also a cause, ie being on an exercise program and on a feeding schedule instead of eating free choice 24/7
Hopefully, you'll get it all sorted out with Frosty. They look good.
LOoks like a nice team of ponies there! hope you get him sorted out . The smelling bad thing is very interesting . Was Moon laughing at Frosty?
That is weird that he smells funny. Something going on there!
Be awesome to have both boys going. I know I love my pair of greys (was thinking of Roman Riding them today, which is NOT a good idea) so I know what you mean. The only thing better than owning a good looking working horse is owning 2 of them :)
I just found your blog and it looks wonderful, I will make sure to keep checking back. Crossing my fingers that you'll things solved with Frosty!
Have you tried probiotics too? Also when Hubby's mare had ulcers, we put her back on straight alfalfa and let nature take it's course. It worked for her. Something about the protien... he could tell you more about it. But then the IR stuff rears it's head and yeah, throws a curve in there.
I have to say I am glad you are seeking to rule out any and all issues health or pain related, before just saying "He's being a jerk, just to be a jerk!" and laying into him for it. Same reason I asked about a chiro for Kat. Going to the right is an issue for him. If he's out of whack, it's not fair to jump his sh!t because he is reacting to pain.
Let's hope it all gets sorted out soon. It would be awesome to have both boys running like Hell and in the money.
There is no proof that alfalfa and IR have a relationship. The problem seems to be that most IR horses are overweight and feeding them alfalfa makes it hard for them to lose weight.
I talked to my alternate vet today and was a bit disappointed. Her only solution seemed to be to keep them entirely off grass and feed grass hay that had been soaked.
I may try soaking Frosty's hay, as that is proven to leach out 60-70% of the sugars, but Frosty has been off of grass for months now. I do hand graze him and before it started getting hot, was turning him out early (at like the break of dawn) and getting him off by 10am, before the sugar started to rise in the grass. Now that it is staying warm at night and I am irrigating...even that is probably too much, so I am limiting him strictly to 10-15 minutes of hand grazing.
The smell may be Frosty's body trying to shed toxins in his system. He gets all the same basic supplements that the other horses get-MSM, Horse Sense, Apple Cider Vinegar, paprika, Healthy Glo and Basic Mineral...and now the ProCMC. None of the other horses have an odor and if anything the Apple Cider Vinegar helps to cut the odor of the sweat.
I thought I might have over-imagined that he stunk, but my husband told me that he read the blog and he also noticed the odor and it almost made him gag.
have you tried brewers yeast? I use a product called Diamond Yeast and it woprks slick as a prebiotic to settel sensitive tummies .That said he does seem to have more going on with the smell
Both of your boys are handsome, that's for sure! :)
I have never heard of horses having an odor... can you describe what kind of smell it is? I hope you're able to get him back on track!
Hmm i never noticed a stink from horses before, something definitly going on there. Hope you figure it out and get them both running, that would be awesome!
Wow. No idea, but I'm going to check with my holistic horse woman.
I can usually identify a horse that is Cushings or pre-cushings, they do have a rank body odor. Have had good luck with feeding Chaste tree Berry, you can buy in bulk and grind it in a coffee grinder. It helps regulate the pituitary gland. I'll have to look for the website again, but I believe it was 2 TBSP morning and night. A friend's mare went from rank to pussycat on the stuff.
Thanks Kestrel, I will look that up and see if I can find a place to order some. I'm all about the holistic healing approach.
For the Yeast suggestions...In the past I have fed yeast, but then switched to Fastrack, with good results. I am ordering a Yucca supplement. Yucca is considered a high anti-inflammatory supplement, as well as helps protect the gastro lining and aids in digestion. I specifically want to put Moon on it and I think it will help Frosty as well.
Tomorrow will be telling, as Frosty has been on the ProCMC since Saturday and I am hauling him to a barrel racing again. It only took a week for it to help Moon, but then Moon's system is in better shape than Frosty's.
Mikey has a book I sent her a while ago called Healing Horses Their Way, maybe you could borrow it from her. It is holistic healing, and has a lot of info in it.
It seems as though you are doing everything right; I hope you get to the bottom of this issue.
Got it on the hay part. I know a few of ours are on Bremuda blend pellets to help with their weight issues. My pony mare looked at alfalfa and gained weight.
The only time I notice ours having a stench about them is if they go too long between at least a good rinse. Hubby's mare Chica stunk the other day when I turned the hose on her. Sweat, dirt and who knows what else...
The ACV should help cut the smell too, like you said, but it is also an acid, which is why it reacts with baking soda. If the horse has ulcers, adding more acid may not be a good thing. Then again the stomach may react by creating less acid, since there is already more- ACV, if that makes sense...
I know you will keep us all posted
It really is worth it to hang around and sniff a horse that you know has Cushings. It's an unusual smell, has a funny rank sharp funk to it, and once you identify it you recognise it right off the bat.It sure simplifies the diagnosis process. I was amazed to find out how common it is. The mare had had health and behaviour issues for years, founder and colic, plus strange blow ups, and once we got her on the vitex (chasteberry) she turned into a really likeable horse.
CNJ-While all vinegars have an acidic content, ACV usually between 4-6%, it is easily digestible and actually acts like an alkaline when it is digested, so therefore is considered to soothe, not aggravate. That's where it's anti-inflammatory claims come from.
I have heard that horses with kidney problems will refuse to eat anything with vinegar on it, but ??? Guess I've never had a horse with kidney problems, cause mine have never turned their noses up at anything.
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