Comments on: No More Salt Blocks

By: admin

admin — Sun, 30 May 2010 15:10:34 +0000

Not expertise Graco. Just a journey of discovery :)

By: graco playard

graco playard — Sat, 29 May 2010 19:28:09 +0000

All babies deserve only the best care! I really appreciate your expertise.

By: admin

admin — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:31:03 +0000

My worry with it is that blocks were originally designed for cattle whose tongues are like sandpaper. A horses tongue is not. And there is research on the fact that a horse cannot get enough of what he needs by licking a block. The same ingredients can be found in a free-choice granular that you can hang in a bucket (or several) at good locations. Dr. Dan’s Red Cal is not even affected by the rain. Just pour off the water and what’s left in the bucket is just as good as before the rain. Insofar as “legitimate” research is concerned I agree with your mother. The first reason that there is no “legit” research on any subject is that no one is interested in it, except perhaps us who know it’s good or works and don’t have the time to goof with “legit” research. Auburn University vet school is currently doing legitimate research on the healing power of barefoot trims following the wild horse model on laminitis (and batting 1000)… but the time it’s going to take (and the funding) to get all the documentation together, get it published, etc etc etc is enormous. The simple answer of course is that every horse on the planet is genetically the same having evolved over millions of years in the western great basin and when we replicate that lifestyle and environment with our the so-called domestic horses, laminitis isn’t a problem. There is virtually no incidents of hoof lameness in the wild, and it’s rampant in domestic horses because of their lifestyle, diets, metal shoes, etc.

By: judy

judy — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:37:20 +0000

Hi again the equilix lick is designed for horses, they can eat it quite easily as I have three different blocks- the buckey , a salt and the equilix. The only one that is eaten a lot is the equilix (about 1/4 of 125 lb lick is gone in a few weeks) , it sort of crumbles instead of licking but does not get washed away by rain. I have no idea how they do it. The horse love it. So I am hoping that this is good for them. I guess in a way it is not really a lick – it is made differently – it looks and feels different. THey will not eat the buckeye ( I wish they would as it was not cheap) I even tried pouring molasses on it ( which I do not like to do). I had googled the DE ( that is why I use it) but this person said she was a 3rd year medical student and according to wherever she does her research online she said she could not find a “legitimate” research paper. I cannot prove or disprove as she said she has access to medical literature that I do not. Again I agree totally with you. I know doctors are taught little in the way of nutrition – my mom told her heart specialist over 40 years ago that she would be taking vit e for her heart – he disagreed that it would do anything. Thanks again. Have a great day.

By: admin

admin — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 05:50:11 +0000

Judy… every intelligent thing I’ve read says that blocks were originally designed for cattle whose tongues are much coarser, more like sandpaper, than horses. That horses cannot possibly get what they need from a block because they cannot scrape off enough to matter. As to DE there is plenty of research. Google it. I even take it in my morning smoothie :) The global problem with people re horses seems to be that if someone has never heard of it, it doesn’t exist. For someone to say “There is no real research” is ludicrous. I would never say that. Has that person seen all the research in the world on that subject. There is so much going on that there’s no way to know it all. We all must keep an open mind.

By: judy

judy — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 03:13:45 +0000

HI, this is a great site. We have just started using a vit/mineral block called equilix. The things people have said about this product is amazing. I hope it does half of what people say. Do you have any thoughts on this product? It has no sugar or starch and my horses love it. I thought that maybe they would not eat it as I have been giving flakes of vit and minerals from buckeye but the horses are eating a lot ( they said they would at first and then settle down) We also have a block from buckeye but they do not touch it and also a salt lick. The equilix has DE in it but I was also mixing it in a mash before. I had a bit of a discussion with a nutritionist from one of the horse products who asked why I would feed dirt to my horse -DE. I tried to say it was a mineral just like Ca that can also come from so called dirt
(sort of). She said there was no real research to support its use. Do you know of any that I can present to her at our next meeting. Thanks again for the great site.

By: Addie

Addie — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:09:48 +0000

Noelle is such a sweetheart. She seems like a great horse. I am reading your book right now, and I really want to take off the shoes on the front hooves on my horse. I don’t want her to be tender too long that I can’t excersise her. Can I still ride just easily? Could I run her to keep her healthy? As I read in your book, I am going to take off her blanket early spring. She has a pretty natual corral that has steep hills and boulders. I really enjoy your book and I can’t seem to put it down. I really like all of the adventures you and Kathleen have had. Thank you for sharing all those things with all of us readers!

By: Debbie Gore

Debbie Gore — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:50:23 +0000

although I”ve not had any problems per se, i give my horses electrolytes in the summer months, as texas is extremely hot weather, one of the vets i use suggested doing that. they always have access to water, and they drink alot.
i have been using platinum performance electrolyte, but recently switched to tractguard by foxden equine, as i like the absorption factors with that product.
i have in the past tried the red cal, but i couldnt get my horses to touch it, i wet it etc, but they just wouldnt utilize the product, so gave up on that.
also i’ve read up on the data on benefits of giving products with the diacemateous earth in it, but i dont like the idea of specifically what i deem to be basically dirt.
just my opinion on that one.
One of my horses is on thyroid meds, so I keep a close watch on him in regard to hydration etc
debb g

By: Debbie Gore

Debbie Gore — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 02:27:06 +0000

just finished your book soul of the horse, i think it should be a prerequisite for everyone that buys a horse! your experiences in every instance have mirrored mine with my first horse purchase. i feed triple crown low starch, i’ve gone the gammet of feed through fly, and also wormer, but now learning from research horses might have problems later as it gets processed thru liver, and may hurt them later on. I now fecal stool sample then paste, plus researched/books on equine nutrition, plus saddle fitting, plus everything else i could get my hands on, everyone as we all know has an “opinion” but I feel I now have enough longevity with horse ownership and my experiences, at least I can say what I tout as the “way” to provide the best care is what i’ve seen first hand!
i also bought the red cal, but my horses wouldnt eat it, i tried everything, wetting it etc, but they just didnt want the stuff, (I have two horses) i wasnt thrilled with the diacemateous earth in it, and i’ve tried to research that to the best of my ability too, and know it has its benefits apparently, but i’m not completely sold on it.
i live in the heat/humidity of texas, so although my horses drink good, i do supplement electrolytes in the summer time here.
again, i LOVED your book I wish everyone knew and would follow all that you’ve taken the time to put into words. I am lucky to get to use Eddie Drabek as my farrier, I waited 1.5 yrs for an AAHNCP practitioner to be in my area, and I’m thrilled he travels 2hrs into my area, i tell everyone I know of the benefits of barefoot trims. My horses have great hooves due to this, and while my vet wasnt totally closed minded he stated he just wanted to “wait and see” kind of attitude. You’re insight on why vets are so hesitant to promote was an eye opener for me.
i tease eddie all the time i swear i’m going to quit talking, of course I can’t, but it never ceases to amaze me how much ignorance is in the horse world.
Add to that I have gaited horses, and oh boy how could I know anything? LOL
thanks for your insighful and generous book,
dg

By: Gwen Quon

Gwen Quon — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 22:59:04 +0000

My quarter horse licks me on a daily basis. When we are doing our ground work and I
offer a rub or food reward for great effort, many times he would prefer to lick my hand. The other day for the first time after I had been away for 9 days he was very
excited to see and was very vocal in his greeting. After a few rubs I offered him a kiss
and to my surprise he gave me some big licks on my face. I was delighted with this
show of happiness.