Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
In May, I wrote about Speedy's weight loss and my plan for packing on some pounds. While he's not exactly round, he does have a bit more flesh on his bones. These aren't great photos, and the difference is really hard to see, but I can feel it with my hands. In real life, his croup and hip bones are less pointed. The fleshy layer over his ribs now extends farther back towards his flank. His belly is a bit rounder, and I am no longer flirting with the eighth hole on my saddle's billets.
His current diet includes as much alfalfa as he will eat, which is not as much as I'd like. He gets a modest flake twice a day, but there's always a small pile left. He simply won't eat any more. In the mornings, he gets three pounds of LMF Senior, about two and a half pounds of soaked beet pulp, and two scoops of Platinum Performance. In the evenings, he gets another three pounds of LMF Senior. In all, that's nearly nearly pounds of concentrated feed combined with what is essentially free choice alfalfa. I had planned on seeing the vet at the end of June if I didn't see progress, but I think I can hold off on that for at least another month. I am hoping that by mid July, he'll be rounder still. I don't want him fat by any means, but I sure hate to see all of his bones so close to the skin. Keep eating, Speedy G!
I'd try a month of omeprazole daily- and don't be afraid to get a compounded generic. I have one that I love and every horse that has tried it has had excellent results, if you're interested (I got 45 10mL doses for $224). There was a study that show horses reacted the same to 10mL, 5mL, and 3mL (I believe it was scoped racehorses that were studied). Compounded generics may not have as high a level of omeprazole (the one I used said it did), but I think you can beat that by dosing at 10mL. But that's just my two cents. I've had good results with it, so I'll keep using it. You do need a vet rx to get it though. 6/22/2017 12:44:44 pm
Thanks for the suggestion, Jan. I'll keep that in mind.
Darcy Safin
6/25/2017 07:43:46 pm
The LMF Senior is recommended to be fed at a 1.6-1.8 per 100lbs of horse... and the reduce 20-25% if you are able to feed grain. 6/27/2017 12:35:49 pm
Hi, Darcy! I actually spoke with an LMF rep about how I am feeding and what my goals were. She was the one who recommended the amounts that I am feeding. He gets all the alfalfa he can eat (which is not enough, apparently) and then 3 pounds of LMF senior twice a day. (there's no grain in the senior) In the morning he gets an extra 2 - 3 pounds of bet pulp. Comments are closed.
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About the Writer and RiderI am a lifelong rider.
I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010. Welcome to my dressage journey. About Speedy GSpeedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
About IzzyIzzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
National Rider AwardsState Rider Awards
State Horse Awards
Working Towards:
CDS Sapphire Rider Award Third Level: 63.514% Third Level: 62.105% Fourth Level: Fourth Level: 2023 Show Season
Show Rating (***) CDS/USDF/USEF (*) CDS (s) Schooling (c) Clinic (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic 2023 Show Schedule
TBD 2023 Completed … Pending 2023 Qualifying Scores
Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Training Level 3 Scores/2 Judges/60%: Score 1: Score 2: Score 3: Archives
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