[QUOTE=caballus;4943124]
Well, two days on the road and I just had to check in here. I don’t know why I’m replying to you Delta except to just ‘set the record straight’ …
My TB is an off track (raced for 6 years) and is now 29 years old. He is (veterinary Dx’d) suspected of having intestinal cancer and that’s been for a few years. He is a rescue. I’ve had him, now, for about 10 years or so. In fact, all but one of the ponies are former throw-aways – 2 of them to be euthanized for behavioral issues. I have 9 critters here and that includes a Sicilian donkey who is almost 50 years old. The youngest of the herd, right now, is 3 years old. I’ve foaled on farm and raised from 4 months and older. (PMU’s straight off the field). I also have a Mustang here – and they are ALL doing just fine on their ‘salads’ once a day and free choice hay. Misty and Dorian get supplemented Alfalfa cubes. The rest- no supplements. None get de-wormed other than monthly Homeopathic, none get vaccinated and all are shiny, bright, healthy (other than Mist and D, the TB) and have awesome dispositions and stupendous, strong hooves. I have no complaints (nor does anyone else who interacts with them in any capacity). I’ve been able to save 1/2 of what my grain bill used to be. For all these guys PLUS 3 dogs, 3 goats and hubby & myself I spent about $60 - $80 every other week in ‘grain’ costs. I used to spend MORE than that, WEEKLY, on various feeds and that’s not including all the supplements etc. I do purchase herbs as necessary (as I determine needed; not LSJ) for Misty but also have our own that we grow here on farm.
So, while you make fun of the veggie diet, I do believe, without doubt, that those ‘plant enzymes’ and raw foods make a HUGE positive difference in the overall health and well being of my critters – all of them; not just the equine. I also believe, more than ever, that the increase in Cushings, IR, Heaves, Allergies, Laminitis, White Line Disease etc. etc. in younger and younger horses can be attributed to not only their present diets (and faulty hoofcare) but also to the generations before them. (Read Pottenger Cat Study).
So keep on making fun – that’s OK. Cause it just gives me the opportunity to reply and post, publicly, the benefits of the ‘raw’ diet for not only equine, but cats, dogs, goats and humans, as well. I know there are others who are interested.[/QUOTE]
When it comes to humans, go to any blood bank and ask them how many true vegetarians, not those that just call themselves that but eat this or that animal product anyway, give blood.
Not many, because so many are anemic.
I don’t know why you are so hept on feeding grain against hay, because most anyone I know with horses not in heavy work don’t feed grains or supplements.
We have not fed grain for years now, just alfalfa and pasture.
You just think you are doing something special, but if you look around, there are many that have and always have fed whatever suited the horse and their management and for many, that was not grains anyway.
As for deworming or delousing or vaccinating, as long as you have a closed herd, ok.
If you bring in new horses, sooner or later your clean herd will catch something that could have been avoided with more appropiated, standard management.
I sure hope that at least you vaccinate for tetanus, that is a terrible disease every horse out there may catch from any little puncture wound you may not even see, to chance on some odd, way out principle.:eek:
Playing russian roulette with the health of our animals to prove a point you can’t prove anyway is really sad to see.
As you say, I sure hope enough are reading these posts and learning, although maybe not quite what you so happily think they are learning.
