Kathy
Forum Replies Created
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“Definitely no over cleaning- he’s only had two bathes with soap in the last month. I’m pretty judicious about using soap on my guys.
Diet is the same as all of mine (hay, alfalfa, SBM, Himalayan salt block).
I did add a probiotic to the diet, I’ll stop and just withdraw SBM.
Bedding doesn’t make a difference- he’s on straw now but was on shavings with same result.
Smell is definitely decreased now. (I.e. He doesn’t reek with being off SBM for three days. Very faint smell now.)
Thoughts I had- excessive protein? He is a hair underweight so is getting really high test alfalfa.
His urine/manure doesn’t have a strong smell though.
He had a medically resolved impaction and seemed to start stinking around that time so I was thinking gut biome or ulcers…but haven’t had one….stink. He smells sour 😰
Will keep y’all updated 😜“
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Welcome Dinah! My sensitive horse has thrived on this diet and I am happy to hear how well your mare is responding. Great to have you here.
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You made a sink on wheels!
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Thanks! So interesting that sand accumulation is a result of decreased gut motility from inflammation. But I don’t think it’s what’s going on with my horse. It made no difference when I soaked all his hay for a couple months when he was first diagnosed with asthma. Since then I’ve been steaming all his hay (homemade steamer). Again no difference in his odd manure-passing behavior under saddle.
Since I first posted, I’ve sort of figured out the pattern. In my horse’s case his issue seems to have to do with working his back and collection. He passes manure quite normally at liberty. He often pass when I’m walking him to warmup, or on the trail, or in the trailer etc. But when I start working him at the trot and canter with increased collection and thoroughness there is another load that presents itself and I have to literally work the **** out of him. He can’t really go forward and work properly until it’s out. And if I don’t push through his urge to stop and defecate, instead making him canter in an FEI frame until he can’t manage anymore and HAS to stop and poop, then he never quite passes the load and works awkwardly at a low level and like he’s wearing a full diaper.
This wasn’t such a clear weird issue until he was working in advanced collection. But something about that frame brings this on. Once he has passed the “working load” (and he could have passed two other loads in the previous 20 minutes or none for over an hour, it doesn’t matter) he is lovely, fluid, forward and good to go for the rest of the ride. Just very odd.
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Glad you are seeing improvements already. The contentment and lack of meal-time anxiety is a common improvement observed on this diet. Your horses are right on schedule!
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I sometimes use a smaller screen with a really messy bag but it takes forever to sift. The 1/4 gets most corn and pellets and is quick and easy and is what I use 95% of the time.
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I’ve found a large variety of things in my SBM from various sources. I’ve taken to screening all SBM before feeding to my horses. I found some nifty gold-miners screens on Amazon that fit on a five-gallon bucket.
SE Patented Stackable 13-1/4″ Sifting Pan, 1/4″ Mesh Screen – GP2-14 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008B0T5Z2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_EC5WJGG0BH0D9XEMBD70?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
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I’m not sure what the dimpling is, but his overall condition looks great in that second photo.
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I am SO happy to hear that Remi is feeling so much better!! I look forward to reading any comments Doc T has to your questions. I hope you’ve cracked the code for this horse.
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I personally prefer the hay form because it’s less processed than pellets or cubes but nutritionally I think it’s pretty similar by weight other than the fiber length.
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Mine all eat it dry, by itself. They will also eat it wet.
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I’ve paid more for non-gmo ($25.50 per bag) and one store was getting I think $35 for organic (I never bought it as neither the store nor the mill could tell me if it was Dehulled). The regular SBM is $18.50 at one store and $20 at another IIRC and the price is pretty steady.
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I’ve been completely compliant with this diet for 2-1/2 years. Two years in, I spent $300 to run a full blood panel on one of my four horses just to check and it came back showing he was getting everything he needed from pasture, grass and alfalfa hay, dehulled SBM, water and free choice naturally mined salt.
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Appreciate the additional info and am looking forward to the zoom!
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My best advice is to be patient and trust the process. At two months in I think it’s the point that folks are most likely to bale because the fat is leaving and revealing the loss of muscle underneath, and the protein supplementation hasn’t been going on long enough to see the impact it will make on topline. It just takes longer to build muscle than to reduce fat. But if you stay the course I think you will start seeing the muscle layering on before much longer. Since you’ve taken the course, you are recognizing exactly what is happening and why. People feeding the traditional way just see “weight loss” and are alarmed and don’t recognize “fat loss” as a tge good thing it is
I think horses who’ve been on this diet a while look leaner and more athletic than they did before on grain. I can see a real difference in the underbelly, the grain free horses are much more streamlined there. I see a lot of chubby to obese horses at shows. Your eye gets used to what it sees all the time.
But given a bit more time as muscle fills in you can expect comments on how good your horse looks. People will notice 😁
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Signed up. Very timely topic for me. Thanks Doc T!
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I listened to the podcast today on soaking. I’ve had to start soaking for a horse recently diagnosed with asthma, and I’m actually interested in hearing more about steaming. I’m not dealing with metabolic issues with him, just don’t want him inhaling dust and mold.
The Wikipedia link talks about how dirty the water left after soaking hay is, and considers is a hazardous waste. There are several articles sited in the references on that page, I’m not sure if you’ve seen them all @Doc-t . There is info on soaked hay going bad that might answer some of the questions you raised in the podcast but I haven’t read all the sited articles.
I guess my question is: are the benefits of steaming hay for an asthmatic horse and for the general health of normal horses real? A lot of the info I find googling goes back to HayGain. It’s not an inexpensive investment, but treating breathing issues is less appealing than fixing the source so I’m considering a steamer.
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That’s a good point!
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Thanks Jenny! That was our first weekend at Grand Prix’ last month. 2-1/2 years ago, before finding this diet, I was going to have to sell this horse or likely get badly hurt. His response to pulling grain was dramatic and quick. The protein supplementation from SBM has him beautifully muscled and strong with all the strength and endurance he needs for the job. He is happy and healthy in his work and an absolute joy to ride.
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I don’t see a picture with your post. I’m viewing on a phone.