HC Minis - new pics pg 172

[chandab]

Thank you.

I'm still working on getting stuff done, just not into it with feeling crappy and all. I have at least 1/2 done, maybe more, so it shouldn't be too bad in the morning and tonight to finish up.

 

[chandab]

I know its hard to tell when they are fuzzy, but from the pics I've shared do my babies look to be of good weight? Just reading posts here and there about how to feed babies; and to be honest, they aren't getting much more than what mom provides and grass during the day and grass hay at night (with minimal alfalfa in it). I do put the two older boys in their own stall at meal times and they share 1 cup of growth feed, its all they'll eat at this time; and Manny eats with his mom (he's still such a momma's boy).

 

[AnnaC]

Dont panic -your babies look perfectly ok to me.

Hope your busy afternoon went well and you had plenty of sales.

 

[chandab]

Perhaps what we feed is more important after weaning when they are getting nothing from momma, so they need more. Wasn't really in a panic, just wondering; next month wil be a panic when I might start weaning, depending on how they are doing.

I had 15 shoppers this afternoon, down 6 from the original head count, not sure where all six went to, but one had a family emergency, so couldn't make it. A couple live close enough, that they can come down anytime and its not a big deal for them (hope one of them can make it soon, I have lots of lovely flannels for her). Overall a good afternoon for sales. Just need to get a few new fabrics listed in my eBay store, so they can sell, and all will be good to go. Thank you.

 

[chandab]

Little boys are doing very well with their leading, well Junior and Monte anyway; Manny is still such a momma's boy, I just let him follow her to and from the pasture, and he follows pretty good. Junior and Monte stand for their halters very nicely, most days, and come along with mom to and from pasture like they've been doing it forever. They are so darn cute. Will need to get started with Manny, but just don't have enough hands to get them all; I take Bonny, Manny's dam, and Showy to and from pasture at the same time, so it really helps that Manny follows along, so I don't have to make another trip or try to manage 3 leads.

 

[chandab]

I didn't realize it til late today, so no pics, but... Manny is 2 months old today.

And, he's becoming more independent, so time to start haltering him for trips to and from pasture. The last two days, he's followed the two mares all the way to the corral and at the last minute darted off and out of sight, and then doesn't come easily. So, time for halter and lead.

 

[AnnaC]

Good luck with the haltering and leading. Its a pity you cant get hold of an extra pair of hands for a few days, then you could teach him by letting him follow his Momma while you are leading him. Cant believe that he's 2 months old already!! Hope he proves to be a good boy for you.

 

[chandab]

Good luck with the haltering and leading. Its a pity you cant get hold of an extra pair of hands for a few days, then you could teach him by letting him follow his Momma while you are leading him.

The first two boys took to following momma while on a lead quite rapidly, so I'm guessing/hoping that Manny will do the same. Just means I'll probably have 4 trips to and from the pasture, instead of three to get the open mare too. Its just been so convenient that he's just been following his mom loose with no issues til the last couple days, then I could lead the extra mare while leading his mom; not sure if I want to try 3 leads at once, when one's a baby (done it with adults before, it can get ugly, even with minis).

Cant believe that he's 2 months old already!! Hope he proves to be a good boy for you.

Me either. He's still pretty small compared to the other two boys, I know he's 3 weeks younger, but still at least a couple inches shorter. He absolutely hated being haltered for my attempt at registration pics, so I'm thinking at least a little fight or pout-fest.

 

[Wings]

Don't blame you, I hate doing anything more then 2 leads even with the really well behaved horses. I guess growing a third arm is out of the question?

 

[chandab]

Don't blame you, I hate doing anything more then 2 leads even with the really well behaved horses. I guess growing a third arm is out of the question?

Not quite as scary with the minis, I've led 3 mares to and from pasture with little problem; but with full-size horses two can be quite the adventure. [Ask me how I know, scratch that, don't ask.

]

Well, if you figure out how to grow that third arm....I bet you'll have lots of interested people wanting to know how! Two is hard enough to do. I wouldn't try 3 with youngsters involved.

Its the added youngster that makes it interesting.

And, I'll be sure to let you know if I figure out how to grow an extra arm.

 

[AnnaC]

"Pout-fest" LOL!! Love it!!

 

[chandab]

Weighed Honey this morning, she may have gained 5# since her Aug 14 vet appointment. I've adjusted her diet yet again, and will be starting her on rolled oats this week, nothing else has worked for weight gain, so I'm going to try the basics instead of commercial feed: grass hay, tim/alfa cubes, beet pulp and oats plus her supplements (joint supplement, BL pellets, flax and probiotic). [May or may not keep her on the rice bran pellets, I decreased them, may drop them altogether, not sure yet.] The BL pellets seem to be helping, she's getting around better and does more walking while she's out grazing (she no longer stands at the gate most of the day waiting to go back in).

Manny did not like his halter lesson last night, fought with all he had. And, then pouted. The other two boys are very good about their halter work, which mostly consists of leading them to and from pasture. [About done with moving panels for pasture space for the girls and babies; getting sick of moving them, but also running out of new ungrazed areas to put them.]

 

[JAX]

Hey Diane would that happen to be whey protein? Sold in all different forms usually for weight gain with body builders. Can you post a link? I may have missed that thread... Or are you talking about "body builder" the liquid made for horses that smells and tastes like icing

that is mostly rice bran oil (I think)? Link Please???

Oh and one more thing... If you are trying the protein supplement for humans would you mind letting me know which brand and flavor you are using that they like and how much.

 

[chandab]

Chanda -- have you tried that "Body Builder" powder that men use when they are lifting weights? I read a topic on the main forum here about adding it to their grain like a supplement (along with pictures) and am trying this with some of my oldsters and hard keepers, and they seem to like it, and it seems to be making a difference. You might try adding it to her feed -- "double" the dosage listed for humans -- and see if it helps with the weight gain. It's designed for muscle building so shouldn't add anything that might harm her recovery and might just help giving her extra calories without her having to "eat" them to take them in as "extra" food. Just a thought.

I don't think the Body Builder they are talking about is the same as what bodybuilders use, as far as I know its specificially for horses. I've actually used it in the past on a different horse, its been awhile, so I can't remember the results I got. Here's a link: http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=59e7205b-13e9-4dda-aa4d-ff7e54a94e35&ccd=IGO043&gclid=CMzbhtyQubICFeY7MgodZh8AjA Since its rice bran oil, I've tried rice bran pellets, as they aren't as messy as liquid and don't freeze in the winter, but have had mixed results. If her latest diet change doesn't work well, then I'll probably try a bottle of the Body Builder.

Poor little Manny -- pouty boys!! I can just picture his lesson.....can't help but laugh a little at the picture in my head! (not at you, of course, just at the pouty boy!!) I imagine moving panels gets old in a hurry. But the babies are beautiful and doing so well!!! You really got some "winners" this year!!

I move panels all summer long, most summers, my mini pasture is the hay yard and a couple other areas that we don't fence for various reasons, so panels work, although time consuming and laborous. The minis appreciate the effort.

Poor little Manny gets so upset over haltering. I'm using the same halter on all three boys, and its huge on Manny, the other two have moved to the second hole now and it won't be long and they'll be moving to the next hole or a bigger halter depending on the nose.

Thank you for hte compliments on the boys. We'll have to see what 2014 brings, I didn't get any mares bred this year, which isn't all bad, so will have to work on it next summer and see if we get any fillies in 2014; might try for slightly earlier foaling dates, but not too early, its too cold here in the spring.

 

[chandab]

Hey Diane would that happen to be whey protein? Sold in all different forms usually for weight gain with body builders. Can you post a link? I may have missed that thread... Or are you talking about "body builder" the liquid made for horses that smells and tastes like icing

that is mostly rice bran oil (I think)? Link Please???

On the whey protein, I think that's what the Cushings group recommends for added protein; they call it whey protein isolate, if it makes a difference, and of course they are talking plain no sugar added, but I think it comes in flavors and vanilla seems to be popular. [i might have to try this, Honey has pretty good rib coverage, now; but is still bony on top, so likely needs more protein.]

 

[chandab]

Yes, it's the whey protein. This is the one I got, and I just plop in/on the grain. The human dose is one scoop, so I use 2 scoops. It's the vanilla flavored one.

I liked this one because it was lower in calories, fat and carbs than many of them.

Chanda, I think you're right, the forum lady was talking about the body builder liquid, but my vet said that this powder over their feed would do the same thing and be less messy. So, that's what I'm using on my oldsters.

I like the looks of the powder you found, and with winter coming I'm all for dry stuff to try over something that'll freeze before they can eat it. However, for now, I'll stick with the change in her diet and see what it does for her, then add something more if needed.

 

[chandab]

Junior and Monte are now trying tim/alf cubes with their grain; just a few cubes crumbled into their grain. They are cleaning their pan. Manny still eats with Bonny, not sure how much grain he actually gets; will probably have to start putting him with the other two for meals, but he marches right into the stall with Bonny, so I let him. The other two boys wait to go in their stall, and happily eat 1.5 cups TC growth and a few crumbled tim/alf cubes twice a day. They tend to paw their pan, but I haven't noticed too much spillage. Such cute little toots.

Junior will be 3 months old tomorrow; I'll try to get pics.

 

[AnnaC]

You could always try giving Manny his own little bowl in the stall with Bonny - but then I expect that Bonny would scoff her feed and go and eat the rest of his!! LOL!!

Oh yes, pics of Junior would be great - to celebrate his 3 month b/day!

 

[chandab]

I'll try to remember to grab the camera before I let them out on "Pasture" after their grain meal. No promises as to good pictures, as they either run away or stand on top of me.

 

[chandab]

Got a couple pics, just loose in paddock/pasture, so not great, but you can still see their cute little selves. And, yes, I know Manny needs his hooves trimmed, I'm going to request the farrier do him this week; he did the other two little boys last month.

Here's Junior, 3 months old today:





and, with Monte:



Here's Monte, he'll be 3 months old in 6 days (checking out Turtle the kitty):



And, little Manny:





And, had to add one of daddy, Topper: