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Picky Hard Keeper

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Last activity 2020-05-23 6:36 AM
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taylorschip
Reg. May 2020
Posted 2020-05-20 1:27 PM
Subject: Picky Hard Keeper




100

I need some advice. My 1/2D gelding I rodeo on is the pickiest horse in the world. He's not awful thin, in fact hes a 4-5 on the body score but he will be a 4 one week and a 5 the next, goes back and forth. He's out on pasture 24/7 (prairie grass and alfalfa), he gets a LOT of alfalfa in his system through the pasture alone. I also give him soaked alfalfa cubes and 1-2lbs ProElite Omega Advantage (a fat supplement), and 1lb of oats (cause he won't eat anything without some oats lol).

We have done BB Omega Force, Triple Crown Senior and Complete, Renew Gold, no grain (which he lost weight on because he has a super high metabolism AND he literally sprints and bucks everywhere he goes). He will love it, then he gets bored and refuses to eat it. Anything wet or oil on his feed is a HUGE nono. Won't touch that with a 10ft pole either. He is ulcer prone, but currently a clean slate and just got treated with Succeed Vet Formula and Zesterra (which we do every year before starting our season). He is on Zesterra and Purina Outlast for prevention, Lifeline by Stride daily. I have him starting Pure Equine Herbs hindgut conditioner program here soon, but I need something he will actually eat to get that into his system. I will not stall him, don't even stall him at races, his ulcers seem to always come back and flare up when he is stalled, so he eats his grain separated from the rest but still 'with' them. The only things he seems to love are of course the baddies like sweet feed, omelene 200, and oats and he looks great on them, but his gut health is number one.

At this point, I'm thinking I should just give him a cup of oats just to get his outlast and PEH down the hatch (the herbs can't be fed with Lifeline at the same time, which is why I will have to take him off that supplement for the first 3o day phase). But any advice? Maybe someone with a similar spoiled brat?

Thanks in advanc

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Fancy Lass
Reg. Jan 2011
Posted 2020-05-20 4:35 PM
Subject: RE: Picky Hard Keeper



Extreme Veteran


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My 2 horses sound a lot like him . They have been doing very well on purina Ultium gastric care with Outlast topdressed . My young horse is really picky & she has been eating consistently for about a month now on this mixture . Hope you find something that works ! I know just how stressful it is when they won't eat ! 

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Dreamin of 3cans
Reg. Nov 2004
Posted 2020-05-20 10:42 PM
Subject: RE: Picky Hard Keeper


Military family

JMHO


Posts: 1869
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Location: Oklahoma

I have two on Purina Ultium gastric care and can't believe the difference.  I also have an old pony that's missing teeth and I started her on Alfa-pro.  That pony has bloomed!  So I put everyone on it.  I can't believe the difference.  My pony would choke on stanlee alfalfa pellets soaked but does great on the Alfa-pro plain.  I've also added Platinum Preformance GI for my picky mare that wouldn't eat at the trailer, wouldn't take treats away from home and she's a different horse now.  Of the three changes, I've seen the biggest difference from the PP GI.  It took less then 2 weeks for her to seem more relaxed.  Hope this helps.  Good luck! 

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taylorschip
Reg. May 2020
Posted 2020-05-22 10:59 AM
Subject: RE: Picky Hard Keeper




100

Update. Picked up some Ultium and he HATED it LOL Tried Strategy GX next, meh he ate it but wasn't a huge fan.. Gave him oats right next to it? Cleaned it up. I just don't get it -_-

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JLazyT_perf_horses
Reg. Dec 2010
Posted 2020-05-22 12:09 PM
Subject: RE: Picky Hard Keeper



Expert


Posts: 1511
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Location: Illinois

Have you tried Nutrena Pro Force Fuel? It's got a little sweetness to it and it's high fat, but controlled starch. When I was using it I was able to cut my horses grains all down significantly to about 1lb a day or less. My gelding gets ulcers just thinking about riding, and he did fine on it. It was just too hard to get my hands on to keep giving it, nobody close stocked it at the time. It's not very low NSC, but it didn't take anywhere near a recommended feeding amount for any of mine so the NSC stays lower when your volume is lower. My cushings gelding was on it and it never disrupted his metabolic balance, and he's pretty sensitive. Might be something to try if you can get it in your area. 

 

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chiquitamagic
Reg. Jun 2019
Posted 2020-05-22 3:35 PM
Subject: RE: Picky Hard Keeper


Member


Posts: 21
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Try adding Rice Bran, I use Rice Bran pellets and it really helps put weight on my older not stocky built horse about a cup with their feed.

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willrodeo4food
Reg. Dec 2004
Posted 2020-05-22 7:34 PM
Subject: RE: Picky Hard Keeper



pressure dripper


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I'm not a zestera fan. I would scrap that and replace with THE muscle mass w/ ulcer added in both for the weight gain and the tummy.  Then I'd try plain old rice bran.    I'd also try beet pulp but if he doesn't liked soaked foods that'll probably be a no go.  

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Texas Tornado
Reg. Dec 2006
Posted 2020-05-22 7:54 PM
Subject: RE: Picky Hard Keeper


Elite Veteran


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MVP Gastroplex! Great stuff. PM me if you want to try some. I'm a dealer and will help you out. 

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streakysox
Reg. Jul 2008
Posted 2020-05-22 10:47 PM
Subject: RE: Picky Hard Keeper



Take a Picture


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Have a friend that has had major problems with ulcers. Dr Honnas recommended oats and Purina Outlast. They have tried every product out there. This combination seems to be the key. Then I read an article about the benefit of osts so I decided to try them. I have one horse that is a hard keeper and picky eater that loves the osts and certainly looks better. My horses get in stalls to eat and now you better get out of their way because they run to get in their stalls. I feed an inexpensive pellet with 1 quart of oats. Honnas said straight oats. Anyway, this is something you might try. (Rolled oats)

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winwillows
Reg. Jul 2013
Posted 2020-05-22 11:10 PM
Subject: RE: Picky Hard Keeper


Expert


Posts: 1694
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Location: Willows, CA

Call me. Let's work through some options that may work.

Win, (530) 518 8254 is my cell. 

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IdahoBarrelRacer756
Reg. May 2015
Posted 2020-05-23 6:36 AM
Subject: RE: Picky Hard Keeper


Veteran


Posts: 111
100

I'm here to second the rice bran. They love it, you can feed a lot of it without them getting hot, and it's great for ulcer prone horses. Mine is super picky and he paws at the fence now, waiting for his beet pulp and rice bran. 



Edited by IdahoBarrelRacer756 2020-05-23 6:37 AM
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