miggy
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 1,208
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Post by miggy on Dec 18, 2006 20:44:44 GMT 1
I did send calli a PM about the balancer and my horses becoming spooky but feel i should mention it on here as some of you have had the same troubles. My two ridden horses are usually bombproof, literally as we ride next to the Army using explosives that shake our house thats a good 1/2 mile away, last week they were terrified and now even a distant gun shot makes my lad leap forwards, they have been ridden on the training area for the last 4 -5 years with NO problems., they are both now on full ration of balancer and seem far more spooky than they ever have been before even jumping at pheasants flying up, so im taking them off it to see if i can get them back to what they were otherwise there is going to be a nasty accident
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Post by Casper on Dec 18, 2006 21:14:12 GMT 1
I think I read on an earlier thread about Top Spec and balancer's in general that they can bring to the fore any vit/min imbalances? Which is why a lot of people who feed balancer's also give their horses magnesium to help address such deficiencies. (Or did I dream it LOL). Apparently a lot of grazing in the UK is low in magnesium and this affects the horse's nervous system.
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Post by mags on Dec 18, 2006 21:18:20 GMT 1
Finn how much mag do you feed
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Post by fin on Dec 18, 2006 22:43:28 GMT 1
3 x heaped 5ml measures of Mag Ox, so probably about 20ml. I'm not happy feeding more than that until I get a hay analysis done. I'm starting to take samples out of each bale--I can't get to enough bales in the barn to get a decent varied sample--so it'll be after CHristmas now I guess If the calcium/phosphorus and sodium/potassium levels in our hay and other feed aren't balanced in the right ratios to the amount of mag JJ's getting, though, then he won't actually absorb the magnesium. So even if he's theoretically taking in enough, he won't be able to use it.....and I guess adding more calcium etc in the Top Spec would have been enough to cause him problems. I was going to call Top Spec today but didn't get chance. Insofar as it's not just me having problems it should be interesting to see what they say! Should I point them to this thread or not? I walked JJ out in hand today for a little way--about half a mile--and while I don't think he's 100% sound it was all I could do to stop him trotting, so he's obviously feeling better. H has also calmed down somewhat, though that might be because JJ isn't bullying her as much....
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Post by Donny on Dec 19, 2006 0:33:50 GMT 1
finn, i think it would definitly be a good idea to point TS to this thread, i know if it was my product i'd want to see. and its probably better than everyone phoning them at different times.
behaviour wise B has returned almost to 100% normal behaviour! he was very excited when i put him in the school, but quickly calmed down and was even seen throwing a lunge whip about lol. i can definitly put the excitement down to being stuck in the stable all day. when i went back to get him he dropped his lunge whip (so funny, carrying it about like a dog!) and came over to the gate and allowed me to catch him with no fuss. so behaviour today is 100% normal for him.
feetwise he is still quite sore although again was quite willing to walk over the rough stoney ground. hope to get him back out to the field in the next few days, i'm thinking the extra movement may be the best thing for him.
donny
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Post by fin on Dec 19, 2006 0:41:57 GMT 1
Yep, having thought about it, I think you're right-- I will give them the link to the thread.... Interestingly there are a couple over on EE at the moment on the same subject too.
Glad your ned's feeling better, donny!
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Post by Donny on Dec 19, 2006 1:00:49 GMT 1
thanks finn it certainly is a weight off my mind! B's only been barefoot for about 3 months and i'm still kinda at that touchy stage where i start doubting myself and barefoot when the slightest little thing goes wrong. i do know its the best thing though in the long term.
donny
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Post by mags on Dec 19, 2006 6:29:18 GMT 1
Could be that you find you need to feed more mag. I didnt realise I wasnt giving enough till my trimmer told me what to feed which was fair bit more
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Confuggled!
Olympic Poster
Who among us has not as a child asked Father Christmas to bring us a pony on Christmas day?
Posts: 968
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Post by Confuggled! on Dec 19, 2006 10:05:43 GMT 1
Ive found this thread very interesting!
Ive got a thread of my own up regarding my boy completly going the opposite way and lacking any energy at all! Could it be the Topspec i wonder?
Ive had him for about 6 months, when he came to me it was difficult circumstances and i didnt know much about what he ate apart from Formula4Feet!
He was a complete bomb bunny when he arrived, never dangerous etc just very lively and aware and the way i like it! So, having been reccommended Topspec i put him on it a few weeks after he came to me and for some reason his attitude has spiraled from being this happy, energetic bunny to nearly dragging his feet behind himself AND even needing my instructor to get him going as he was working me into the floor after 30 mins of trying! -keeping in mind i am feeding him 1000g of Naked Oats a day!!
Could i be the only story that might have a unhappy, lacklusture horse because of topspec? Or perhaps its something else? I rang TS yesterday actually and after going through ALL the possibilities the only suggestion was to add a tablespoon of salt and see if that makes a difference! (Hes been blood tested and checked over by my vet- all clear and healthy)
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Post by Amanda (S Yorks) on Dec 19, 2006 10:11:53 GMT 1
Well, I'm still feeding full ration of TS Anti-Lam with 10g of CalMag added to it.
Spookyness and watery manure has subsided but she's still lacking energy, not something that's usually a problem for us. She's less footy than she was last week so I'm guessing I can write that off to a short spell of being out 24/7 on very wet ground, she's back in overnight now and better for it.
I can't blame the balancer for all the recent changes in behaviour, etc but there's a definite difference between my mares energy levels when on Lo-Cal vs TS Anti-Lam. Based on this and the huge price difference I'll be switching back to Lo-Cal as soon as I've used up the open bag of TS. I've already got a sack of LoCal ready and waiting.
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Post by mags on Dec 19, 2006 20:22:31 GMT 1
Just out of interest has everyone thats had problems with top spec been feeding it with something else. I had just been feeding TS conditioning flakes and balancer and Dan was doing brilliantly on it. Lately iv added suger beat just for fibre as there is no grass in field (he has morning feed in field).
However as you my have noticed iv been having problems with how dan is ATM and wondered if TS was connected. He seems to have gone off slightly in appearence as well and he looked mega before for a TB in not much work
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Azrael
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 2,733
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Post by Azrael on Dec 19, 2006 20:46:17 GMT 1
Mine are on speedibeet and MgO with their TopSpec, the one that's been a bit of an ASBO-pony has happy chaff with it as well. Left the TopSpec out of her feed yesterday (she only has it in her evening feed) and there was a lot less random sh*t-stirring while they were out in the school tonight and I didn't see her threaten her neighbour while I was there. She's still an opinionated madam, doubt anything will ever change that, but I think there was less evilpony behaviour. Will see over the next few days if she was just in a good mood today or if it really has made a difference.
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Confuggled!
Olympic Poster
Who among us has not as a child asked Father Christmas to bring us a pony on Christmas day?
Posts: 968
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Post by Confuggled! on Dec 19, 2006 21:39:38 GMT 1
Mine havent had any change in diet, he was only on TS throghout the summer then as winter set in he was changed to Conditioning Cubes (No good) Conditioning Flakes (No good) Then speedibeet (good) to keep his weight on. Yet his behaviour has been progressive since the summer so def not any change in diet im afraid.
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Post by Donny on Dec 20, 2006 1:13:43 GMT 1
wow this topic is getting interesting!
went to the yard about 11 and took B for a short walk. still a little footy but definitly a marked improvement on yesterday. decided to put him out in the field for a bit (well 8 hours lol). when i brought him in he was fine. no problems whatsoever at walk. only in trot was he still a little delicate. behaviourwise again 100% normal. it definitly does appear to be the TS thats at the root of the problem.
i was feeding him the TS with a scoop of alfa a original twice a day, ad lib hay and whatevers left of grazing.
donny
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Post by nich on Dec 20, 2006 9:45:21 GMT 1
I am just feeding half a scoop of hifi with the top spec, so its not that - no sugarbeet or alfa a just in case. after a week on the new regime I hope to see if that was what was causing the beahiour changes, so will report after the weekend (can't ride this week)
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