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Post by Charlyfarly on Apr 9, 2013 22:31:53 GMT 1
Quite interested by this thread, being wary of acid levels of foods though through own health issues, could sea salt or mineral salts be better than table salt (NaCL)?
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Post by portiabuzz on Apr 9, 2013 23:18:00 GMT 1
at least your there now mrsfields xx
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Post by mrsfields on Apr 10, 2013 8:14:12 GMT 1
Quite interested by this thread, being wary of acid levels of foods though through own health issues, could sea salt or mineral salts be better than table salt (NaCL)? i think plain table salt is fine - i would use plain table salt but where i am in France it's difficult to find it in large quantities as it's mostly "iodised" and the iodine levels in our forage are already quite high, so i end up using coarse rock salt... not sure about mineral salts - i guess that would depend on minerals already in the horse's diet...
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Post by mrsfields on Apr 10, 2013 19:30:51 GMT 1
ok, i'm officially letting myself lose the plot with excitement - tonight, it was (and still is) raining heavily when i went to feed the lads, so i had a good chance to watch Reggie like a hawk, to see how he coped in proper heavy rain...
well, they were right up the farthest end of the track when i called them, and so they had a long walk down to me - Reggie walked the whole way, in the pouring rain, with his head held high, his ears pricked forward and his face and eyes looking so relaxed - i cried LOL
not a single twitch, and not once did he put his nose to the ground - normally in these conditions he would be inconsolable, nose to the ground, twitching like mad and really uncomfortable and stressy, and looking pained... the difference is astounding - i can't believe it... it's like i've got my lovely happy mellow boy back, and i swear he is practically smiling lol and he didn't even seem to notice the rain...
i seriously cannot wait to tell the vet about it when she next comes to do their vaccines! she saw how bad he was and said there was nothing they could do for him - i can't wait to tell everyone, especially those who thought he was just being "naughty"! ecstatic!
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Post by jill on Apr 10, 2013 21:08:15 GMT 1
Fantastic, sounds really good. It will be interesting to hear what the vet says.
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Post by mandal on Apr 10, 2013 21:27:15 GMT 1
ok, i'm officially letting myself lose the plot with excitement - tonight, it was (and still is) raining heavily when i went to feed the lads, so i had a good chance to watch Reggie like a hawk, to see how he coped in proper heavy rain... well, they were right up the farthest end of the track when i called them, and so they had a long walk down to me - Reggie walked the whole way, in the pouring rain, with his head held high, his ears pricked forward and his face and eyes looking so relaxed - i cried LOL Awww, hug. It's such a fab feeling when you see such a change when you thought and were told there's little hope. xxxx It's such a simple, cheap thing to try as well. I hope it's pouring when the vet visits. ;D
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clava
Novice Poster
Posts: 30
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Post by clava on Apr 11, 2013 9:37:22 GMT 1
I did this the year before last with my mare, upped her salt intake to 50gms and removed her from the clover in mmy field. Removing her from the clover seemed to work, but she started again the following year I still feed her salt as I think it is essential and I'm waiting to see what happens this year (she starts May and continues to August). I have had the clover poisoned so I'm hoping that might make a difference as it is linked to potassium spikes. I have heard of at least two horses who either stopped headshaking or the pattern changed when they moved location which can have a huge effect.
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Post by 2 bays & a grey:D on Apr 11, 2013 9:51:59 GMT 1
I haven't read all the replies but it works wonders for me. Nancy has always been cranky in the stable (let's put her behavioural issues in the school to one side , aggressive in fact and she kicked me a few weeks ago. I knew it wasn't ulcers. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I had her on 40g of mag and salt. According to CHH (and I've spoken to Jenny, the founder) when the ratio of elements is in harmony you should get a horse with big soft eyes, well, I wasn't getting that with nancy, I was at my wits end as I thought I was doing everything. I started giving her more mag,20g a day more and over a period I have a completely different horse, loving, cheeky, engages with me. When she concentrates. On her work she offers active beautiful work, nice relaxed expression. What I'm getting at is, if things aren't changing with the behaviour, up the mag, each horse is different and will absorb differently. If you give too much mag they will get the squits, so just reduce it . I've also got mine on copra. Already I've seen a difference in both the top line and coats. Nancy's dapples look amazing and she looks darker. If you want athletes, you have to feed accordingly. they cost me a blinking fortune though, but at least they are happy bunnies
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Post by 2 bays & a grey:D on Apr 11, 2013 9:54:02 GMT 1
And mrs fields, congratulations on the improvements. Becky has head shakers and she has seen a difference on this diet. It's great to see them feeling more comfortable and happy isn't it
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Post by ladyndibs on Apr 11, 2013 10:11:40 GMT 1
I loved your post from yesterday, I'm so pleased you've found a solution, long may it continue.
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Post by mrsfields on Apr 11, 2013 11:21:45 GMT 1
ahh thanks so much everyone! xxx
am just over the moon, and it's so nice to share with you folks who understand these things... it really feels so great! still tipping down this morning, Reggie looked like a drowned rat, but ever so perky and happy looking
2 bays and a grey - it's great to hear how it's worked with Nancy - that's fantastic! and you're so right about the eyes - Reggie's eyes looked so pained and tense, sort of narrowed before, but his expression is so soft now - he looks ever so bright in the rain, as if he's saying "look mum, rain's not hurting!" (ok i'm projecting big time there hehe)
clava, i really hope it works for you this year - i guess it can depend what's triggering it, whether it's a genuine pollen allergy or nerve dysfunction due to diet... are you feeding magnesium as well? i also added a small amount of calcium (based on our forage analysis we don't need any for maintenance but do require a small amount if we do more work so i upped it to the next level recommended in my feed plan) because i read that the low sodium and potassium imbalance can also cause low calcium levels in the blood which specifically affects the nerves supplying the muzzle area in headshaking - the symptoms were exactly the same as Reggie's, so i thought i'd tackle everything all at once and make sure his sodium, magnesium and calcium were balanced...
i can't wait to discuss this with my vet - vaccines aren't due til summer, but i'm wondering if a simple blood test would have been able to pick up the electrolyte imbalance and whether that could be an approach to treating headshaking...
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Post by portiabuzz on Apr 11, 2013 11:23:55 GMT 1
great to hear, glad you feelin good!!
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clava
Novice Poster
Posts: 30
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Post by clava on Apr 11, 2013 12:12:08 GMT 1
ahh thanks so much everyone! xxx am just over the moon, and it's so nice to share with you folks who understand these things... it really feels so great! still tipping down this morning, Reggie looked like a drowned rat, but ever so perky and happy looking 2 bays and a grey - it's great to hear how it's worked with Nancy - that's fantastic! and you're so right about the eyes - Reggie's eyes looked so pained and tense, sort of narrowed before, but his expression is so soft now - he looks ever so bright in the rain, as if he's saying "look mum, rain's not hurting!" (ok i'm projecting big time there hehe) clava, i really hope it works for you this year - i guess it can depend what's triggering it, whether it's a genuine pollen allergy or nerve dysfunction due to diet... are you feeding magnesium as well? i also added a small amount of calcium (based on our forage analysis we don't need any for maintenance but do require a small amount if we do more work so i upped it to the next level recommended in my feed plan) because i read that the low sodium and potassium imbalance can also cause low calcium levels in the blood which specifically affects the nerves supplying the muzzle area in headshaking - the symptoms were exactly the same as Reggie's, so i thought i'd tackle everything all at once and make sure his sodium, magnesium and calcium were balanced... i can't wait to discuss this with my vet - vaccines aren't due til summer, but i'm wondering if a simple blood test would have been able to pick up the electrolyte imbalance and whether that could be an approach to treating headshaking... I do feed magnesium (have done for years for hoof quality), I think even if pollen is the trigger it is still the trigeminal nerve that starts to misfire and all the symptoms end up similar, I can't put a fly mask on Belle as this can also act as a trigger , but I'm sure rape ollen is the main trigger.
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Post by megansmum on Apr 11, 2013 12:46:41 GMT 1
is there any where you can buy salt other than the supermarket' I have 4 horses and 2 table spoons a day each is hard to keep up' thanks'
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Post by jill on Apr 11, 2013 13:22:33 GMT 1
is there any where you can buy salt other than the supermarket' I have 4 horses and 2 table spoons a day each is hard to keep up' thanks' I googled it (you do have to put food quality salt or you get rock salt or salt for roads etc) and I found somewhere selling 20kg for about £15 inc postage. I did a quick comparison and 3kg for £1.36 in Morrisons is far cheaper. Let us know if you find somewhere - it's the postage that kills it, but I know what you mean, I am feeding 3.
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