become refractory to the lights over time (in other words, you can only fool Mother Nature for so long). Some weanlings kept under lights are somewhat challenging to fit as yearlings the next spring. Feeding at least one-half cup (125 ml) of oil daily or a minimum of one pound (500 g) of stabilized rice bran (or a higher fat supplement), and a biotin, zinc, and methionine coat conditioner for a month before the sale will also really help the coat. As much as two-thirds of a pound (300 g) of added fat per day has been fed in some instances when it was critical that more energy be provided without increasing starch (grain) intake. If horses are gradually adjusted to fat intake, a great deal of energy may be fed to the weanling in the form of fat. If a weanling has physitis or other DOD, it is preferable to feed a high -fat rather than a high-grain diet, but these young horses still need supplementary protein, minerals, and vitamins, which is usually fed in the form of a low-intake balancer pellet The last thought for the weanling deals with weaning time. In general, five months of age seems to be the most ideal time to wean, all things considered. However, it is best to let the individual weanling tell you when to wean. If a weanling is top-heavy and too fat or starts to get upright in the pasterns or show severe physitis, there are good reasons for weaning as early as three months of age, primarily so nutrient intake can be controlled. A general rule of thumb is to wean a foal at least 45 days before a sale or futurity. If that is too early for late foals, wean five days before a show. Forty -five days gives adequate time to get the weanling over the post-weaning slump and into good shape, and five days before a show does not give the weanling time to fall apart.
Feeding and Fitting Young Horses for
Show and Sale, Part Two: Fitting Tools By Kentucky Equine Research Staff · May 6, 2011
The essentials of fitting show and sale horses really only start with the feed bucket. Hair quality and athletic appearance are crucial if a professional appearance is to be achieved. The exercise program that one uses to get horses fit may be very different from farm to farm and indeed even from horse to horse. Preparing a future athlete is incredibly hard work, but it is achievable with superior nutrition and a carefully planned exercise and grooming program. The most useful tool on a sales prep or training operation is a covered round pen (yard). The pen should be a minimum of 15 meters (50 feet) in diameter. The ground surface needs to be very forgiving and absorb concussion effectively. The surface should be a minimum of 6 inches (15 centimeters) deep. If this kind of forgiving surface is used, the occurrence of splints and other exercise-related blemishes is minimized. Even though the preference is for a covered longeing ring, an open-topped round pen can be effective in some parts of the country, especially with a little thought about drainage prior to construction of the pen. It should be pointed out that there are many uses for covered round pens. Mares and foals can spend their first day out of the stall in these structures, especially in inclement weather; they can be used for postsurgical turnouts and turnouts for horses off the track before they go to larger pastures or paddocks; stallions can be exercised in them; and if tanbark is used as a surface, they make excellent breeding sheds. Once the exercise area is built, design of the exercise program is the next order of business. A free- longeing or loose-line
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