tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post5046666300556553974..comments2024-02-29T09:31:25.294-05:00Comments on camera-obscura: keeping horses and donkeys comfortable on hot daysbilliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-68467914870501390962010-06-16T11:41:05.482-05:002010-06-16T11:41:05.482-05:00Sheaffer, if the woman needs a holiday, tell her s...Sheaffer, if the woman needs a holiday, tell her she can motor you and Jack on down here and we will have a special spa stay just for you!billiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-57930727352947504102010-06-16T09:52:10.286-05:002010-06-16T09:52:10.286-05:00Ahhhhh, Billie, your place sounds like equine heav...Ahhhhh, Billie, your place sounds like equine heaven to me. Jack and I would fit in just fine.ponymaidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02996833096239732307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-45761618055306609012010-06-15T20:05:31.465-05:002010-06-15T20:05:31.465-05:00Arlene, I love that they have the option to stay o...Arlene, I love that they have the option to stay out or come in! Sometimes I wish we had run-ins too so in the event of a late-night thunderstorm, they could just wait it out in the shelter right there.billiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-48525830177760756082010-06-15T19:33:22.553-05:002010-06-15T19:33:22.553-05:00Yes, V, I'd highly recommend it. I took it fir...Yes, V, I'd highly recommend it. I took it first in November 2008 and have audited every class since. She allows you to audit for free once you've taken the course as a paying student one time, and you can participate fully as an auditing student - she just asks that you not ask questions ahead of the material being covered.<br /><br />There is also an NRC-Plus grads list where a number of us hang out and get math checks on our calculations, run things by other grad students, etc. Many people end up making up a sort of "base mix" and then tweak that as needed when they get new hay. The analysis is really not that expensive and they email the results very quickly, so it makes it possible to keep up with what your horses are eating.<br /><br />We are fortunate to get most of our hay from one local grower, but even then I am still getting new cuttings tested.<br /><br />I wasn't having major problems with my herd (although Cody's PSSM was a mystery that needed solving and is what led me to Dr. Kellon in the first place) but I have been absolutely thrilled with the results of balancing their diets. <br /><br />My vet initially was very wary of my taking over all the diets, but when she saw the horses after a 6-month or so time span she said "whatever you're doing, keep doing it." <br /><br />I've also taken Dr. Kellon's Nutrition as a Therapy course and her Comprehensive Care of the Older Horse.<br /><br />I was signed up for another one but had to postpone due to budgetary constraints. :) But I'll be signing up again as soon as I can.billiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-83973848300973797262010-06-15T19:10:22.715-05:002010-06-15T19:10:22.715-05:00Thanks for the info Billie. I have run across Dr. ...Thanks for the info Billie. I have run across Dr. Kellon on an online IR group - Yahoo I think. I got a lot of good info there when I took care of a very IR horse a couple of years ago. <br /><br />Unfortunately the hay analysis part is hard if you buy numerous types of hay throughout the year like we have to living here in the hinterlands lol.<br /><br />I'm guessing you'd recommend the NRC Plus class?!Valentinohttp://transitiontoharmony.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-71076819157810819572010-06-15T17:46:04.801-05:002010-06-15T17:46:04.801-05:00Sounds like they all know and enjoy their hot weat...Sounds like they all know and enjoy their hot weather routine. I think you have an admirable system that works very well for everyone. We're not that hot here yet and I hope we don't ever get into a 100 degree index. Some of our equines are staying out at night already and some prefer to come in. They let us know who's staying out by remaining in their new shed or not coming to the gate. Hope you cool off soon.Grey Horse Mattershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05837575441967937196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-41928759396088908492010-06-15T14:34:55.986-05:002010-06-15T14:34:55.986-05:00Maire, they have shade in each pasture, but the bi...Maire, they have shade in each pasture, but the biting insects are fairly intense here in the southern U.S. this time of year, so they enjoy the refuge.<br /><br />This morning Keil Bay was so ready to get into his stall he actually banged the back stall door so hard it went through the opening and wedged itself shut! I managed to get it out but there is a bit of repair work to be done on that door now. <br /><br />I also found the pony in with Salina and the donkeys this morning when I first went out. He had put himself in one stall on that side and Salina and the donkeys were in the other. I had to laugh at how they put themselves in when it's time, whether I'm right there or not.billiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-50618506028854490642010-06-15T14:05:42.721-05:002010-06-15T14:05:42.721-05:00Very interesting to read about your routine. Extr...Very interesting to read about your routine. Extreme heat is something we do not need to cope with here in the West of Ireland! I am not surprised that Keil Bay likes the stable. It is nice to think that some of our man-made comforts can be very happily accepted by horses.<br /><br />I had meant to say that I really envied you your writers' weekend. What a wonderful gift for you and how clever of you to organise it. I look forward to reading your book.Máirehttp://poniesathome.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-36059313143641439712010-06-15T13:36:59.799-05:002010-06-15T13:36:59.799-05:00V, the salt amounts are actually calculated indivi...V, the salt amounts are actually calculated individually using our hay analysis, each horse's individual feed mix, NRC guidelines for horses, and Dr. Eleanor Kellon's recommendations from her NRC Plus class that teaches equine nutrition.<br /><br />Your mileage may vary depending on what you're feeding. But this is the breakdown here, for our herd:<br /><br />Keil Bay (1350 lbs.) gets 2.5 heaping tbsp/day, divided into 1 tbsp in the a.m. and 1.5 in the p.m.<br /><br />Cody (1250 lbs.) and Salina (1200 lbs.) get the same but not heaping. :)<br /><br />The pony (750 lbs.) gets 1/2 tbsp. in the a.m. and 3/4 tbsp. in the p.m.<br /><br />The donkeys get about 1/8 tbsp. each in the a.m. and a 1/4 tbsp. in the p.m.<br /><br />On days that the temps go above 90 I will usually add 1/2 tbsp. to the a.m. and p.m. portion.<br /><br />If anyone has a particularly hard work-out, or a work-out in temps above 90, I'll cool them down, let them drink, and then give them a "mini meal" with some additional salt mixed in. This is to balance the sweat loss during the work - and there is actually a formula you can use to determine how much sweat loss and how much sodium, potassium (almost never needed, as most hay is high in potassium), and chloride to supplement for that loss.<br /><br />We use the generic iodized salt from the grocery store. I would prefer a salt without the non-clumping additive (kosher salt would be one option) but I use the iodine in the iodized salt to supplement part of the iodine in their diets. <br /><br />My understanding is that most horses cannot actually meet their salt needs with a salt block - they would have to lick it quite a lot to do so.billiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31257856.post-26899333904716781042010-06-15T13:07:15.008-05:002010-06-15T13:07:15.008-05:00Hay Billie-
How much salt and what kind do you fe...Hay Billie-<br /><br />How much salt and what kind do you feed loose? Val really went to town on his block for the first few months he was here but hasn't touched it in ages.<br /><br />I'm assuming he's getting what he needs in his feed (Triple Crown Supplement 12%) but I'm not sure. He's really been sweating a ton the last few days...<br /><br />We have a fan + a canopy to keep the stall shady - your setup sounds deluxe :)Valentinohttp://transitiontoharmony.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com