Newbie with Questions

[Dona]

Ok this has all been wonderful advice! :saludando: I would like to clear up a few lil things, I have had my guy for 3 weeks now and wormed him again today. Everyone was telling me he was fat but to me he looked like a wormy puppy. Should I worm him for consevitive days? I have horse ranch hand experience BUT not much as far as horse being mine. So far I seem to be doing things right - teaching him feet holding, trust , no crowding, NO nipping , or lipping either.

As far as gelding I havnt made my final disision yet. But will add I do not plan on breeding him, He is not (at this point) that good of a represintive of his breed. I am not sure though that I want to castrate him, though I would if he was a goat (go figure). I wish for him to mature to at least 2 years b4 I decide.

Does it make a difference bettween those gelded early to those later on?

Ok couple of feeding questions -- How much is one pound of food? (sounds stupid I know but I want to be right with it). Which would be better for him right now Hay or pasture? And the other thing I dont quite understand - I can feel his hip but not his ribs? Could someone help me with that one? Thanks again to all!

CONGRATULATIONS :aktion033: And welcome to the Wonderful World of Minis!

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Your new guy is really cute. I think you have already been given som excellent advice. I also, think he looks "unthrifty"....needs to be wormed & on a good feeding regimine. Purina Equine Jr. is excellent for that.

You asked how much 1 pound of food is. Well, that varies...depending on the food. A pound of hay looks a lot bigger than a pound of grain. That is why it is important to measure a Minis food until you get used to what 1 pound looks like. For the grain....use a scoop or measuring cup & weigh it to see how much a pound is.

 

[Mini Mouse]

Hi and welcome to the forum. I'm new to the forum too and also a new mini owner. I have two six month old colts and one is nice and rounded and the other looks similar to yours. I've been feeding Omolene 200 but going to change to 300 when this food runs out. I was told to feed 1 1/2 cups twice a day but I have increased it to 2 cups since I thought he looked skinny other than the big belly. I am now thinking of increasing it more cause he hasn't changed much. Actually I think I'm going to get rid of the Omolene 200 today and buy the 300. I feed Timothy hay as much as they want which is not really that much. I had the vet out three weeks ago for their shots and she wormed them for me with Vermectin Gold and will come back in 30 days to do it again. She thought they looked alright but I'm just not satisfied with the way the one looks. She also thought I should decrease the grain and increase the hay but I don't agree since they don't seem to eat that much hay. My pasture is very poor so I take them out in the yard most every evening and let them eat grass .. they love that.

Like you, I can't figure out how many pounds of grain I should be giving them so I go by the cup. I can't find anything that is specifically for minis, everything is for big horses and I can't seem to do the math to bring it down to mini size. I wouldn't even worm them myself, I let the vet do it.

I just ran out of the daily wormer that the owner gave me and couldn't find that brand so I bought Strongid C x2 and now am afraid to give it to them. I think it would be like 1/4 oz but not sure so I will wait till the vet returns. IT SURE WOULD BE NICE IF THEY MADE MORE PRODUCTS SPECIFICALLY FOR MINIS.

Good luck with your little guy and wish me the same. I know it's really worrisome trying to take the very best care of them and I get a lot of info here.

Oh ... I hope you can find him a friend. Mine are siblings and they sure love each other.

 

[Lil' Horse Lover]

Hello and welcome to the forum, you'll learn lots here gaurenteed! Well I think that it's pretty much all been said and I agree with the others. He definately looks like he needs to be looked over by a vet so that you can know exactly what needs to be done and to what extent. He looks malnurished and wormy. And like everyone else has said DON'T USE QUEST!!! I think you should get a vet's advice and see exactly what needs to be done to improve his health and exactly what type of feed should be fed. I also agree with rabbitsfizz, he needs a horsey companion, its just not fair to him and goats aren't the same species, he needs a horse. Of course he has you and I am sure that you will be spending lots of quality time with him but truly its not the same, he needs a buddy of the same species. I also think that it would be best to geld him as soon as his testicles have dropped. You would be a lot better off with a gelding for your first horse. Personally I love geldings a lot better then mares and stallions. I do have one yearling stud colt that will be my herd sire when he is older but he will be my only stallion. He is what I want for breeding and I believe that he will improve the breed, otherwise I would have him gelded. He is a yearling like your lil' guy and he is such a terd and quite the handful! But I have had horses and worked with and trained stallions (big and small) for a couple years now and let me tell you, they are a handful, I think that with him being your first horse that you should have him gelded. He will make a really nice gelding. But it's your horse and you know what you want for him. And I respect that and the fact that you are open to opinions. Good luck and God bless!!!

 

[WolfLady]

: I got a nose rub tonight!!!! my first on his own! I have a new Question -- Why do some do a head and neck clip and some clip all over and some dont clip??? what are the purposes?

Also I called the old owner today and was told they were feeding him a soup can and a half morn and night does that sound right?

 

[kaykay]

well that depends on what was in the soup can LOL do you know what grain he was on? but generally no that wouldnt be enough for a yearling. How tall is he?

some do head and neck clips in the off season to help buyers see whats under the hair without totally clipping the horse

 

[WolfLady]

complete pellets. in the can. and campells soup can

not enough?

 

[Lil' Horse Lover]

Don't take any of this info. in a harsh way, we all mean well!! We all love horses and want to set new owners off on the right path. I am 15 years old and have had horses since I was about 5 yrs. old and I have learned that everyone means well, they just want to be sure that the horse(s) are taken care of and that the new owner gets on the right path so that there is a positive outcome.

Now, to answer your first question. I do a head and neck clip when its too cold to do a full body clip and when I want to show what the color is like under their coat without doing a full body clip. I don't know exactly what others do them for but that why I do. To answer your second question, it depends on how big the soup can is, do you know how big it was? If it is what I am thinking of it would not be enough for a growing horse like him. It obviously wasn't because he looks pretty malnurished. Are his old owners miniature horse breeders? Do they have any other minis or horses? If so how is their condition? Do you know what kind of hay he was getting? Just be sure to start him off really slow with whatever you are going to be feeding him, you don't want him to colic so be sure to change feed nice and slow.

And your colt isn't fat at all, the big belly like others have said is probably from worms and being so malnurished. I know a lady who basically killed her own horse by not giving him the nutrition he needed and the correct feed all because she was looking at his big belly and she thought he was fat. He was a 17 yr. old gelding mini and one day this lady called me up saying that her mini was down and they couldn't get him up, they suspected colic but weren't sure. They knew that I had a horse died from colic just a couple months before so they called me up. I went over to find this cold, terribly skinny, malnurished, horse. I told her that he was WAY too thin and that he hasn't been fed what he should be. She said "Well look at his big belly, we've had him on a strict diet trying to get rid of it". I told her that you should NOT go by how big a horses belly is but to go by how well you can feel the horses ribs and back bones. The poor horse was basically skin and bones, but this was partly hidden by his extremely long shaggy coat. Once I was able to get him up we called a vet and I asked to see what they were feeding him. They showed me this old, musty, stocky, somewhat moldy, hay. I couldn't believe what they were feeding him. I told her that if he recovers she needs to get him started on Equine Sr. and go buy some good quality hay. She said she would and I understood that she did mean well. Well to make a long story short we ended up having the vet put him down. She said he was too far gone. Now I am NOT saying in any way that you are going to starve your horse unintentionally, all I am saying is that don't let anyone tell you he is fat and needs to be on a diet. Right now he needs lots of high quality hay and the appropriate amount of grain.

Keep up the good work and keep asking the questions!!!! Good luck!!!!

p.s. Please don't take any info. given by anyone harshly, we all mean well!!! We care lots about you and your horse!!! Keep updating us with pictures as he gets older, I would love to see more pictures of him!!!!

p.p.s Sorry this is so long, I am a blabber mouth when it comes to horses, LOL!!!!

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[kaykay]

imo no that isnt enough. Do you know what kind of complete pellet. For example i just posted that i have a weanling filly that is on the tall side. She gets (estimating cups here because most understand cups better then pounds) 3 cups in the am and 3 pm. She is fed Equine Jr.

 

[Nathan Luszcz]

There are a loooooooot of different kinds of pellets out there. Some are vitamin suppliments, designed to suppliment specific feeds (such as "AlfaGro", an alfalfa balancer) vs "Strider", a Blue Seal (New England) grain designed to suppliment an average diet. Then BS offers something called "Trotter", which is a "complete" feed. A complete feed is a feed that is designed to completely replace all other feeds in the diet (including hay). Feed is a hugely variable thing that really shouldn't be generalized. Also feeds shouldn't be switched fast, its a good way to ask for colic. Change diets very slowly, up to a week for a minor change. You need to find out what exactly they were feeding previously.

Horses are huge responcibilities with a huge knowledge base required to keep them healthy and mentally sound. I'd HIGHLY suggest either boarding your horse until you learn all these little details, or to take lessons at your local stable as far as management is concerned. I know you are asking questions here, and that's wonderful, but nothing can replace hands-on training from someone local who can help you out.

 

[Horse-Cow-Gal]

Hello,

I just weighed my sour cream container/cottage cheese container, (the plastic ones from the store) - 500ml size. With 14% sweet feed, it weighed almost 1 pound. The literature from Rebecca L. Frankeny DVM, suggest 1.25 lbs grain/250 body weight.

Weanlings - 14.5-16% protein

Yearlings - 13-14% protein

It is suggested that 65% of the gut capacity is dedicated to digestion of plant fibre. So hay should be the main ingredient of the horse diet. (I personally feed a timothy/alfalfa mix).

These are just some numbers for you.

Good Luck!

 

[Sunraye Miniatures]

Before you make any too quick decisions, PLEASE, consult your vet about this situation. He might beable to help you with this problem. IMO this is a medical problem, not just an weight issue. From the HUGE belly this boy was probably not at all getting the right nutrients he was receiving when he was younger, and probably not on the right worming program. Also you can tell he is very thin by looking at along his back bone. The way its sticking up like that tells me he is very thin. He needs to be on a good solid feeding and worming program. Thats why I ask that you can find a vet that is willing to help you, and I must stress this, this is a medical problem, not a weight issue. Your guy is seriously lacking nutrients. Not yelling at you, please don't get me wrong, I just want to get that out. Cause you could not have caused this problem in such a short time. Whomever you bought him from does not know how to feed right. To be honest with you I'm afraid to think what condition his dam is in right now. And no 4 months is not young to wean, thats when I wean my foals and they never get bellies like that and stay in great health.

Now as far as gelding is concerned, if you don't plan on using him for breeding, then whenever he drops, which will probably be near the spring time, I would geld him. He and you will be much happier, and he will be healther as a gelding.

Ground manners and leading is pretty much all you can do with him at this point. Right now you just need to focous on getting him better.

Good luck with him, and I hope you still ask questions. Thats what we are here for. We just want to get you back on the right path. But please do get ahold of a vet on this situation.

 

[irishmini]

hi

my name is steph

i have only had miniatures for 8 months..but have had big horses all my life.........

i just want to say hello and welcome, and give you some assurance that it will all work out.....it is very confusing whaen you first get an animal..they are all so different..i have learned so much since getting my little ones, some from the forum.. some from other sources..

i posted a pic of one of my little ones a while ago... a two year old that i had bought....i had thought she had a grass belly.. but forum members seemed to think if i gave her more, better quality feed....and of course worming......that she would improve......and she certainly has...the rest of her body has filled out to match the big belly!!!!!

my horses are out at grass 24/7...but i also give them pony nuts...( 12% to be precise...morning and night....)..this seems to keep them in fine fettle...... i also have bought some really nice hay.. which i give them at nigght, if its a cold evening to keep them munching and warm throughout the night....

good luck...your little one looks cute...........you will have hours of pleasure with him..

p.s............i think horses should always have horsey company... but where its not possible, how about another animal....such as chickens....or how about a donkey.

 

[Tammie-C_Spots]

Congrats on your new guy!

I have some good articles on my site on basic care and other things if your interested-

C Spots Webpage

1. He is 6 months old, Name Commanchee (im Kim). When do i start ground work with him?

You can start right away! Just keep sessions short (10 - 15 minutes) and simple (leading, whoa, walk, turning ect).

2. How many times a day and what do you feed your guys?

I feed my 7 minis grain twice a day with hay just about free choice (I go out and give them hay 3-5 times during the day)

3. Reasons to geld or not? And IF i keep him as a stallion how do i raise to have manners?

If your not going to breed and your boy is not an outstanding individual gelding is the best choice. Whether you keep him a stallion or a gelding teach him the same manners either way- to respect your space and pay attention to you. Ground work is excellent for this.

Good luck!

Tammie

 

[Charlotte]

Hi Wolflady and WELCOME to the wonderful world of miniature horses!

There has been lots of good advice in the answers to your questions, but I didn't see anyone answer about 'how to weigh feed' This is the way we do it. Get a little kitchen scale from WalMart or some such store. I pick out the kind that has a flat surface that some kind of pan can sit on. The scale needs to weigh up to several pounds (the one I'm using now weighs up to 5 pounds) Then get a small kitty litter pan to use as your weighing pan. Put the empty pan on the scale and set the dial to '0'. Then put in the feed or hay that you want to weigh and VOILA! You know what the feed weighs! The same with hay.

Every feed product weighs differently. If you use a ...say a kitchen measuring cup....as your 'feed scoop' then a kitchen measuring cup of complete feed pellets will weigh differently than the same cup of oats or the same cup of Progressive diet balancer, or the same cup of Purina Equine Junior. So using a container as a way to judge how much feed to give doesn't work. You have to use weight to judge how much to feed.

I do agree with some of the others that your little guy is very typical of a young miniature that isn't getting sufficient nutrition.

You have dewormed him twice I think you said so you are probably ok on that front. We usually deworm our weanlings every 30 days.

That big belly is classic for a youngster that has been malnourished so just get a good 'foal feed' and feed according to the package label. You don't have to add a lot of extras, just give enough of a good product and use a good quality hay whether grass or alfalfa. Most of our foals get free choice grass hay and a measured amount of alfalfa hay. And a free choice salt block to lick

I bet in a few months you will see a very handsome fellow out there!

Again, WELCOME! (from the great state of OKLAHOMA!) :bgrin

Charlotte

 

[wcr]

Welcome to the forum and to minis. You have a lot of good advice but here is my 2 cents worth.

Feeding- I like the KISS method. Keep it simple stupid. A good quality hay with something complete like equine junior works well. By adding this and that and mixing feeds you can throw off the balanced ration so that even though you are feeding alot they aren't getting what they need. It is also more expensive to mix and match feeds and use additives when you may not being getting it right nutrition wise. With equine junior you can give more or less depending on the weight of the horse and still have a balanced ration.

Training-Every time you spend time with your horse you are training. I love playing with the young horses as you can get alot done with them just by playing and spending time with them. Basic ground manners are a must and need to be consistant. Being mindful of your space, not kicking or biting, being pushy ect. Since you have a colt he will try to nip and be mouthy because that is what ungelded colts do. I recommend gelding him for many of the reasons already given.

Relax and just spend time with him without stressing about a training program at this age. You both will enjoy it more. Every time you get him out and tie him for brushing and scratching he is learning something. You will bond with the time spent with him. Young horses love to be scratched and petted. This teaches him to be touched everywhere and easier to be handled. He is learning to tie and stand and be patient. Cleaning his feet teaches him to stand quietly for the farrier. Taking him for a walk exposes him to scary stuff so he gets used to things and you are there to "save" him from horse-eating boogers.

Inhand trail obstacles are a good way to expose him to many things and desensitize him to scary stuff so that you end up with a willing, confident horse when you do enter a training program with him. I have some training tips on my website that may help you.

Good luck with your little guy.