Shredded Beet Pulp

[billboe]

Cowboydoc,

What are your $0.02 on the wet vs. dry beet pulp? My wife has always fed it wet, but her trainer now tells her that dry is fine...

Also, my wife says her horse is very sensitive to the type of feed she gets... Exercise doesn't seem to be the problem (horse is in pasture each day and gets ridden 4 to 5 times a week), so, maybe it is training or temperament? Her horse is a thoroughbred mare...


Billboe

 

[MikePA]

Billboe,

The horse we have that needed 'calming' is a TB/QH (more TB than QH) mare.

 

[cowboydoc]

Billboe,
As long as your horse has free choice to water it doesn't matter if it's wet or dry. A little moist certainly isn't bad but dry isn't either as long as there is plenty of water around.

As far as your horses behavior problem I can almost 100% guarantee you it's not related to food. Thoroughbred are a little hotter horse naturally than others. They're bred to run first and ask questions later, well they all are but some more than others. It's harder to train that out of them. As far as temperment goes I always go with a quote from my Grandpa. He said there's no such thing as bad horses only bad trainers. It depends alot too on how your wife rides and how your trainer trains the horse. Without knowing anymore about the situation I would have to say it was the training of the horse. If you can give me some specifics and such about the style of riding, equipment, etc. I can give you some pointers about how to calm him down.

 

[billboe]

Cowboydoc,

Thanks very much for the advice! The mare has water always available, so, the dry beet pulp shouldn't be a problem...

In terms of behavior... My wife rides dressage with a snaffle bit. That's about as technical as I can get. I can describe one problem that she has...

There is an 80 acre horse park where they ride. In the past, they had to trailer to the park (about 10 miles) and the mare was reasonably sane. About six months ago, the place where she boards moved so that they now border on the park. Now, when they try to ride in the park, after about 15-20 minutes, the horse becomes unmanageable. She has a very strong tendency to go home (her barn mates are within sight from most of the park). When you try to keep her going in the park, she begins bucking, spooking, and running backwards. Any advice for this type of behavior?

Thanks again for your great advice!


Billboe

 

[billboe]

You know it Mike! TBs can really be "full of it"! /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif Its funny tho... Our horse is an angle on the ground (well, MOST of the time), but, when you're on her back, you don't know what you're gonna get. Either beautiful lively movement or not so beautiful very lively movement! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Billboe

 

[cowboydoc]

Yea I used to work with those kinds of horses all the time Bill. The horse is what is called barn sour. Give me your email and I will write up a how-to for you tonight and send it to you.