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Post by mags on Jan 21, 2013 15:50:37 GMT 1
I've read a couple of articles that mention that horses with insulin resistance can be constantly hungry because the hormones regulating appetite are out of balance (e.g. here: equine.uckele.com/Resources-Articles/cat/drkellon/post/ir-horse/)I know it can be hard to find the time and opportunity, but one of my new year's resolutions is to get the horse more exercise! Any time he's being exercised, he can't eat, and the more he exercises the more he can be allowed to eat without gaining weight. Also, exercise reduces insulin resistance (in case it is present), so a win-win all around.
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hammie
Advanced Poster
Posts: 448
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Post by hammie on Jan 21, 2013 17:30:22 GMT 1
Seems to me that most issues with horse behaviour boil down to a few basics:
- they are grazing animals, and grazing animals typically need to eat for most of the day
- they are prey animals, and they don't want to get eaten
- they are flight animals, and this is how they deal with being prey animals - it's in their best interests to run away first and ask questions later
- they are herd animals, and have a hierarchy within the herd
As for how we deal with issues relating to these behaviours, now *that's* the thing!
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Post by SarahW on Jan 21, 2013 22:40:28 GMT 1
I don't think it's a food obsession when a horse wants food but when he gets pushy and demanding for food, for example, banging at stable doors and pushing at a person's body - that is definitely inadvertently reinforced by humans. I think what I am saying is that horse's desire to eat most, if not all, of the time is not an obsession, it's just normal.
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Post by clara81 on Jan 22, 2013 17:54:19 GMT 1
If I chucked my ponies out on the moors they would definitely not starve! I think they maybe suspect I might so they keep practising lol!
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Post by mandal on Jan 22, 2013 18:02:30 GMT 1
I've read a couple of articles that mention that horses with insulin resistance can be constantly hungry because the hormones regulating appetite are out of balance (e.g. here: equine.uckele.com/Resources-Articles/cat/drkellon/post/ir-horse/)I know it can be hard to find the time and opportunity, but one of my new year's resolutions is to get the horse more exercise! Any time he's being exercised, he can't eat, and the more he exercises the more he can be allowed to eat without gaining weight. Also, exercise reduces insulin resistance (in case it is present), so a win-win all around. Excluding those who have learned to knock and push/barge for food I do think this is a factor along with a sugar addiction. Don't laugh. I do think it's a bit like eating chocolate the more you eat the more you want. I know I keep giving my cob as an example of this but she was a real bully and food bully with the rest of the herd. Once dieted on soaked hay she had a personality transplant. No more rushing around chasing every pile (and horse) in turn with quite an aggressive/assertive manner. The tyrant is no more though still given a wide berth by most and no more rushing round at the sight of hay piles.
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Post by sophieandmaisie on Jan 22, 2013 18:21:02 GMT 1
my girl paws the ground and gets really worked up when food is coming up - I feel a bit embarrassed sometimes as the others are very sedate lol I have one of these too! Fortunately, she does it in one of her banks, saves me digging it up ;D
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