I have been worrying about my own four horses for a couple of years. They seem more lethargic, carry their heads much lower, and unnecessarily trip a lot even though I keep their hooves trimmed regularly. I do not use, and neither does my neighbor, GBHs on the pastures. I do give them 1 to 2 lbs of Safechoice product and that certainly c…
I have been worrying about my own four horses for a couple of years. They seem more lethargic, carry their heads much lower, and unnecessarily trip a lot even though I keep their hooves trimmed regularly. I do not use, and neither does my neighbor, GBHs on the pastures. I do give them 1 to 2 lbs of Safechoice product and that certainly could contain GHBs. They also get whole oats which could contain it also. The man I purchased hay from (use between late Dec and mid April) about 12 miles away may use herbicides. Personally, I think it is a combination of 1) the constant fallout from the chem trails that have become much denser and more frequent, like in daily, over the last five or so years. I believe, as I have read, it is causing drastic changes in soil PH and polluting the water supply; 2) GHBs in the feed and 3) possibly possum dung on the pastures that may be ingested when foraging in the dormant periods. My horses are rotationally-dewormed, this year I decided against any vaccines given they never leave my property and no other horses are nearby or on my property, and their teeth are routinely floated as needed. They are only in their stalls when they want to be.
Next time I have the vet out for those floats I will ask him about blood work. I heard about that mane hair analysis that can tell about deficiencies, but my other vet told me a few years back it is not reliable because of when the hair is pulled. I thought that was rather strange.
I do have three separate pastures so they can be rotated. They normal just eat the clover down to the dirt level. But in the winter months like right now as the grass is going dormant they would rather hunt around for snippets of grass rather than eat the hay I put out for them.
I trap a possum about five times a year on my deck where I feed the birds. They also come around for the water and food I leave out for my cats. If they won't go in the trap I shoot them.
I have been worrying about my own four horses for a couple of years. They seem more lethargic, carry their heads much lower, and unnecessarily trip a lot even though I keep their hooves trimmed regularly. I do not use, and neither does my neighbor, GBHs on the pastures. I do give them 1 to 2 lbs of Safechoice product and that certainly could contain GHBs. They also get whole oats which could contain it also. The man I purchased hay from (use between late Dec and mid April) about 12 miles away may use herbicides. Personally, I think it is a combination of 1) the constant fallout from the chem trails that have become much denser and more frequent, like in daily, over the last five or so years. I believe, as I have read, it is causing drastic changes in soil PH and polluting the water supply; 2) GHBs in the feed and 3) possibly possum dung on the pastures that may be ingested when foraging in the dormant periods. My horses are rotationally-dewormed, this year I decided against any vaccines given they never leave my property and no other horses are nearby or on my property, and their teeth are routinely floated as needed. They are only in their stalls when they want to be.
Maybe consider a blood check on one of them to see if there are any deficiencies or other pathologies?
Next time I have the vet out for those floats I will ask him about blood work. I heard about that mane hair analysis that can tell about deficiencies, but my other vet told me a few years back it is not reliable because of when the hair is pulled. I thought that was rather strange.
Guess one would also like to know about whether hair analysis would turn up disease and toxicities which as you note are of valid concern
I can say this abt possum poop. For SURE rotate your pastures and if you see horses nibbling at very low blades
of grass regularly, consider
putting them on another field for a couple of months if possible. If they only
have “a hangnail’s length” of grass they are much more
prone to eat possum
poop than if the blades are
longer and have grazing breaks here & there.
I do have three separate pastures so they can be rotated. They normal just eat the clover down to the dirt level. But in the winter months like right now as the grass is going dormant they would rather hunt around for snippets of grass rather than eat the hay I put out for them.
I trap a possum about five times a year on my deck where I feed the birds. They also come around for the water and food I leave out for my cats. If they won't go in the trap I shoot them.
Everything you said