Comments on: Foal Growth http://americashorsedaily.com/foal-growth/ The Complete Source for All Things Horse Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:10:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Greta http://americashorsedaily.com/foal-growth/comment-page-1/#comment-5505 Greta Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:13:16 +0000 http://americashorsedaily.com/?p=10646#comment-5505 I am a middle of the roader! I agree too much feed and too fast growth causes more problems than it avoids. I like waiting to ride most horses until they are a good 3 years, but I do think they need grain as well as hay. Hay doesn't have all the needed nutrients and looses nutrients as it is stored. The recomended amount of vitamins and minerals top dressed in feed is the most sound way to make sure your foals and adult horses are getting what they need. I am a middle of the roader! I agree too much feed and too fast growth causes more problems than it avoids. I like waiting to ride most horses until they are a good 3 years, but I do think they need grain as well as hay. Hay doesn’t have all the needed nutrients and looses nutrients as it is stored. The recomended amount of vitamins and minerals top dressed in feed is the most sound way to make sure your foals and adult horses are getting what they need.

]]> By: Tina http://americashorsedaily.com/foal-growth/comment-page-1/#comment-5201 Tina Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:27:26 +0000 http://americashorsedaily.com/?p=10646#comment-5201 I have a question. I have a stud colt that will be 2 in may 2010.I was told his dam was 15 hand but I think she look like she is just under 15 hands and sire is 15.3 but my colt is only 14.1-14.2. do you think he will get up to 15 HH. My e-mail is royalbluebloodranch@hotmail.com I have a question. I have a stud colt that will be 2 in may 2010.I was told his dam was 15 hand but I think she look like she is just under 15 hands and sire is 15.3 but my colt is only 14.1-14.2. do you think he will get up to 15 HH. My e-mail is royalbluebloodranch@hotmail.com

]]> By: Becky Smith http://americashorsedaily.com/foal-growth/comment-page-1/#comment-4974 Becky Smith Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:02:09 +0000 http://americashorsedaily.com/?p=10646#comment-4974 I free feed my babies untill they are a year old then I grain feed them twice a day untill two. This way I know they are off to a good start even if the next owner doesnt take proper care of them. At 90% growth they have a great start and are up to the chore of being broke and trained. If anyone wants to compete at least they have a good chance of it. 20 use to be old but with better care and nutrition are belove equine freinds can live to a very ripe old age. I have had horses live into thier late forties and early fifties. I free feed my babies untill they are a year old then I grain feed them twice a day untill two. This way I know they are off to a good start even if the next owner doesnt take proper care of them. At 90% growth they have a great start and are up to the chore of being broke and trained. If anyone wants to compete at least they have a good chance of it. 20 use to be old but with better care and nutrition are belove equine freinds can live to a very ripe old age. I have had horses live into thier late forties and early fifties.

]]> By: Heather Sabine http://americashorsedaily.com/foal-growth/comment-page-1/#comment-4917 Heather Sabine Sat, 28 Nov 2009 22:36:29 +0000 http://americashorsedaily.com/?p=10646#comment-4917 I have a two year old colt that is out of small parents (both are 14.1hh) and at two and a half, I think he's about 12.2hh. I am constantly getting questioned about his health, age, future use, when he's going to be broke, etc. It makes me crazy! Just because he's little now doesn't mean he won't get bigger - just more slowly than some! In addition to that, he's from cutting stock, who are consistantly small and slow growers. I don't need him to be 14hh today - or ever if he doesn't feel like it! :) I am a firm believer in slow starts - he does just fine working on a lunge and has been tacked up with no stress. Why do I need to have him "fully broke" at two when I have the next twenty years with the horse? And inherently, why do I need a 90% grown horse at two when I have the next twenty years to watch him grow and mature with me. Grain just give young horses too much energy that they don't yet know how to focus. If you're giving hay and turnout, you're doing everything they need. I have a two year old colt that is out of small parents (both are 14.1hh) and at two and a half, I think he’s about 12.2hh. I am constantly getting questioned about his health, age, future use, when he’s going to be broke, etc. It makes me crazy! Just because he’s little now doesn’t mean he won’t get bigger – just more slowly than some! In addition to that, he’s from cutting stock, who are consistantly small and slow growers. I don’t need him to be 14hh today – or ever if he doesn’t feel like it! :)

I am a firm believer in slow starts – he does just fine working on a lunge and has been tacked up with no stress. Why do I need to have him “fully broke” at two when I have the next twenty years with the horse? And inherently, why do I need a 90% grown horse at two when I have the next twenty years to watch him grow and mature with me. Grain just give young horses too much energy that they don’t yet know how to focus. If you’re giving hay and turnout, you’re doing everything they need.

]]> By: Kathleen Nobert http://americashorsedaily.com/foal-growth/comment-page-1/#comment-4827 Kathleen Nobert Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:08:10 +0000 http://americashorsedaily.com/?p=10646#comment-4827 I have to agree with Dan. I have been raising horses for 25 years as well, and I find what they need is lots of exercise, fresh water, a good mineral supplement, good grass in summer and good hay in winter. Grain is only necessary as a treat or reward and for working horses, or old horses that can't get enough nourishent due to bad teeth. All tooth problems can not be fixed by floating the teeth, sometimes decay and old age set in. Many, many reiners and cutters have ruined legs by the time they reach their third year - caused by overgrowth, overfeeding and too much stress at too young an age. I have to agree with Dan. I have been raising horses for 25 years as well, and I find what they need is lots of exercise, fresh water, a good mineral supplement, good grass in summer and good hay in winter. Grain is only necessary as a treat or reward and for working horses, or old horses that can’t get enough nourishent due to bad teeth. All tooth problems can not be fixed by floating the teeth, sometimes decay and old age set in. Many, many reiners and cutters have ruined legs by the time they reach their third year – caused by overgrowth, overfeeding and too much stress at too young an age.

]]> By: Dan Pandolfo http://americashorsedaily.com/foal-growth/comment-page-1/#comment-4781 Dan Pandolfo Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:22:58 +0000 http://americashorsedaily.com/?p=10646#comment-4781 I think articles like this that suggest feeding any horse concentrate(grains or grain biproducts) is part of the reason that we are losing the market base of users of horses........not only is grain not in the natural diet..its absolutly what they do not need for proper development. Groups like yours are only feeding the desires of the feed processors...your not really helping the horses or the owners......for example....pushing a 2 year old to be 90% of his mature wieght is certainly asking for structural problems...we see it all the time when we try to utilise the salvage horses of the cowhorse or reiner groups(halter horses even more so)....these horses are crippled at a very young age and cannot be used for ranch work or roping in the pen...they are virtually worthless as riders at that point....this in turn hurts the market base...not many people want to lose a whole bunch of cash on a burnt out cripple, it happens and poof..! they leave the business for good...they go buy a set of golf clubs or a boat....anything but another dead end horse. Horses need time to grow and lots of fresh water,quality forage and enough pen space to develop muscle mass and bone density...no concentrated high energy starch based feed can replace the result of proper age, resistance, and impact on skeletal and muscle growth. I do know this because I have bred and treained horses for 25 years now and even an old cowboy can see the results of reality....if your interested I will tell you how I develop horses that will be the kind that stay sound and colic free....its not always the genetics...its mostly the enviorment with some common use of INDIVIDUAL GENETICS. Best Regards Dan I think articles like this that suggest feeding any horse concentrate(grains or grain biproducts) is part of the reason that we are losing the market base of users of horses……..not only is grain not in the natural diet..its absolutly what they do not need for proper development.
Groups like yours are only feeding the desires of the feed processors…your not really helping the horses or the owners……for example….pushing a 2 year old to be 90% of his mature wieght is certainly asking for structural problems…we see it all the time when we try to utilise the salvage horses of the cowhorse or reiner groups(halter horses even more so)….these horses are crippled at a very young age and cannot be used for ranch work or roping in the pen…they are virtually worthless as riders at that point….this in turn hurts the market base…not many people want to lose a whole bunch of cash on a burnt out cripple, it happens and poof..! they leave the business for good…they go buy a set of golf clubs or a boat….anything but another dead end horse.
Horses need time to grow and lots of fresh water,quality forage and enough pen space to develop muscle mass and bone density…no concentrated high energy starch based feed can replace the result of proper age, resistance, and impact on skeletal and muscle growth.
I do know this because I have bred and treained horses for 25 years now and even an old cowboy can see the results of reality….if your interested I will tell you how I develop horses that will be the kind that stay sound and colic free….its not always the genetics…its mostly the enviorment with some common use of INDIVIDUAL GENETICS.

Best Regards
Dan

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