Can anybody give me advice on a horse?

Question

My friend's horse is 30 years, maybe older. She's a mare and has dental problems. Her teeth have NOT been floated for 15 years and my friend refuses to pay the money to pay for the horse's teeth job. I have been trying to sneak smushed up carrots, oatmeal, and apples to her. Any advice on how to put the weight back on this dying mare?

Answer 1

As mean as it may sound if your friend refuses to take proper care of her senior mare she is commiting animal abuse and should be reported.
As for the mare bran mashes, beet pulp soaked in hot water until it expands, grain formulated especially for senior horses, alfalfa cubes anything along this line would help unless there are other medical conditions going on. A vet really needs to be called in to access the situation.
People who refuse to take proper care of their animals on any level don't deserve to have them and should be fined royally and do jail time!!!

Answer 2

Soft feeds, like bran mashes, alfalfa cubes, etc. will help, however the problem is with the teeth. If they haven't been floated in that long, she could have some serious points that are causing pain anytime she chews and she still won't eat much. Try to encourage your friend in getting the vet, if she can't afford it, maybe take up a collection from all your friends to cover the fee. Try asking the vet for a discount due to the situation. Or have the vet come out just once for all your horses (shots, Coggins, etc.) and split the transportation fee to save money.

After the floating, try switching to a senior feed plus whatever extra vitamins the vet recommends. She may not put on wight quickly due to her age, but at least her food will do her good again.

Answer 3

first off your mate needs a good kick up the behind for not putting her horses needs first. People that own animals, particularly old ones and do not spend the time and money needed on them do not deserve to be owners - thank god you're around in this mare's case though.
Feed her anything soft - I think the best one for her would be bran mash - soak the bran in boiling water and feed it when its cooled down - soaked beet pulp would be of help too. Also if you could get a vitamin/mineral dilute that you could add to her water, that might give her an extra little boost also.
If you cant afford to do this - why not anonomously report this case to the RSPCA or local animal authority - obviously your friend doesnt really care about her horse - particularly if you have to SNEAK food to her - so put the horses needs first - let her be taken to somewhere where people will look after her. And well done on trying to help this poor poor horse

Answer 4

Beet pulp helps put weight back on. Alfalfa pellets help as well - my trainer soaks them for her older horse so it's much easier to chew. Also consider putting her on weight gain, and upping her hay amount.

Is the horse dewormed on a regular basis? It should be done every other month (six times per year). Paste wormers are pretty inexpensive - I can get IverCare at a local tack shop for $5.28/dose (treats up to 1200 lb. horse).

Try talking to your friend about this...if the mare's health is declining, something needs to be done. If you have the extra money, and are willing to spend it on this horse's teeth floating, talk to your friend and arrange an appointment.

Answer 5

Buy equine senior. Its a special feed made for older horses with teeth problems. Its got everything they need, and just dissolves in their stomach. They don't have to chew or anything. I feed Purina's senior feed to my 17 year old mare and she looks far younger than her real age.

You didn't say anything about her living conditions? pasture and self exercise is the best for old horses like this. At her age and condition, I wouldn't ride her. If she can't get out in the pasture, hand lead her. When she's in better condition, you could ride her but check with your vet first.

There are also farms that accept old horses and let them live out there lives with them. Your friend might consider that as an option, then they don't have to take care of her anymore. But its your friend's job to make sure she has the best quality of life she can.

There's a lot out there for horse retirement farms. The link I added will tell you a lot about retirement farms, what to watch out for and how to find a good one.

Answer 6

Contact: www.hahs.org for more information. They can refer you to an organization in your area that will do a wellness check on the mare. A wellness check does not mean they take the horse away. It means they will help bring your friend the information she needs to properly care for her elderly horse. It's also done in confidence, they do not divulge who called them. It's a hard thing to do, to call on a "friend", but if the mare dies from neglect you'll never forgive yourself.

There are lots of well meaning responses posted above, but this mare need care and consistency not sneaked in food.

Good luck, and blessings on the poor old mare

Answer 7

It is hard to keep weight on a older horses and even harder when the owner does not care to help the horse. Your friend should be responsible and care for the horse properly by having its teeth done. It cruel and unfair treatment to an animal that can not help itself, do the right thing if your friend won't and call animal control. Theywill force her to give the horse the right care.

Answer 8

Teeth floating isn't THAT expensive - my last bill was $140 for the teeth and my mare (rescued) had 2" razor hooks in front and back.

Offer to PAY for the vet - or give rice bran (but be sure the horse doesn't have any problems with sugars or starches..ie...cushings, laminitis, etc....NEVER feed starch or sugars to horses with cushings or laminitis/founder)

Weight Gain is a great powder..but it'll be cheaper for you in the long run to pay for the teeth floating

Answer 9

except they have been bumped off there must be a yet bar or chain to close the pony interior the front stall so they are able to't try this. If no longer then make a yet chain by utilising taking a length of chain (you've it shrink to length at maximum walmart shops the place the chain is provided in rolls and you pay by utilising the foot. Use the screw type chain hyperlinks on one end and a heavy accountability clip type or hook on the different. Set it up so the pony can no longer ruin the trailer tie because of the fact the yet chain is tight sufficient to stay away from it. If there isn't any place to attach it interior the trailer, have a close-by welding save weld in some loops or use eye bolts (reckoning on the way your trailer is made and the textile it is created from. additionally, instruct your horses to load by utilising themselves while given the command. they ought to stroll each and each of ways in and help you in in the back of them to shelter the gates. to help with this i will on social gathering (no longer consistently yet each and every so often) have grain interior the front 2 stalls waiting for the horses. Then i will close the yet bars and gates and shipment the back 2. As for the holiday.....until eventually you get them to the factor they are going to load everywhere, every time, even while they do no longer decide for to in any respect......Then circulate away THEM interior the TRAILER. Sorry yet on long journeys like that horses will bitter approximately getting interior the trailer and because you're having hardship now....what do you think of will ensue while say you're taking them out at a give up and that they thoroughly freak and ruin their halters earlier they even get interior the trailer. reckoning on the place you give up, you could finally end up with horses on a hectic street or worse the interstate.

Answer 10

i may be able to help... i dont have a horse but i do go riding and know quite a bit about horses. there are a number of ideas here are a few. p.s by the way the idea you have all ready used is a good start.

1. try a few more times with the fod idea ut try some other food e.g hay.

2. if she needs any meadicen try puting it in some food .

3. ride her to try and wear her out a bit .

4. do some gentle exersise.

5. try doing some fun activetes then giveing her a treat as a reward.

if non of these work she may need to go to a vet.