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We’re in!
Two geldings-3-4 days in.
For us it was about adding protein as I never fed grain. I have a track standie (1 year off the track, retired at 5, looks substantially older) and a mustang draft cross who I thought was congenitally angry but now am wondering if early IR could be a factor. He has objected to riding at the moment and interestingly enough did the same last fall.
I have also cut out camelina oil after the joint LPS comments (although I do have some mufa pufa questions). Standie was getting1 TBSP twice daily and mustang 1/2 tbsp twice daily. And the standie has OCD in his hocks, left more than right and OCD pellets were suggested. Vet used the term “monster sized lesion” in the left hock, was told it was large enough that it may be inoperable.
I just started SBM 3 days ago. I am giving some hay soaked hay cubes with the SBM and omneity from Mad Barn (at half dose) and about 10 g magnesium oxide (thinking this is reasonable as their water is rain water and I believe this is devoid of minerals).
Second day I noted my mustang laying down outside mid morning-have not seen this since spring (although he does lay down at night) and third day after a hand walk his chest was damp-he’s dressed like a polar bear and it was a warm sunny day here yesterday (+10C). I had not realized his lack of sweating but I think it was there.
What I am hoping for the most is a happier horse and willing partner.
Thank you for your material Dr Tucker and I will continue to study it in depth.
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4 Replies
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We look forward to your observations as you get into this some more. Reduction in food aggression and the return of sweating are common observations in as little as 4 days once the gut inflammation is reduced or eliminated. I heard from a trainer that one of the 20 horses in her barn started to sleep a lot during the day but that pony’s work ethic and willingness was at 100% ( a vast improvement) so we decided to look at this sleeping as a good thing.
OCD is a developmental disease of the joints that is permanent with or without surgery. I don’t believe any diet will erase this lesion. However, reducing joint inflammation by eliminating the PUFA’s (polyunsaturated fats found in seed oils) will make them feel better. I have a podcast on that as well as other materials on fats.
Come back in about 2 weeks with your thoughts on how this is going. Remember that it takes about 2 weeks (max) to see the dramatic changes but another 2 to 4 months to see hoof improvements and about 6 months to see a top line developing (from the rump moving towards the withers). Replacing the lost protein (amino acids) will help your Standardbred look younger.
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I do have a more willing horse for sure and he seems more content and not constantly hungry. He also seems a better pasture mate to our standardbred. I used to rush out in the morning to feed because he would start running the standardbred which I thought was frustration and hunger. Well it was but the solution was not adding more hay at bedtime which I thought it was prior to listening to the podcasts. After adding the protein and decreasing bedtime hay he no longer does this.
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Thanks @AngelaM – it is amazing to think that what we eat can affect our disposition. Oops. I mean what our horses eat….
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We’re a couple of months in now and never going back-I will always feed SBM, or if I win the lottery, perhaps hemp meal. I did not feed grain before but I think 50% of this is getting rid of the crap in grain that actively works against people and their horses and 50% is supplying the protein they need with the SBM. I tell everyone who will listen about it but humanity is generally slow to change.
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