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Discussion on Pony won't stop eating! | |
Author | Message |
Member: mysi |
Posted on Tuesday, Dec 11, 2007 - 9:42 am: So I've moved into my new farm in NC last week. My horses are so happy. I turn them out all day and they are in at night. My horse Moose grazes for a while, naps, walks around and then starts all over, my pony Sweetheart on the other hand never lifts her head all day. This was never a concern in FL because they weren't in lush pastures and our grass there had no nutrition. Here my pastures are fairly lush still and it is fescue and orchard grass. I have 2 questions:1. Is it to much for her to eat 10 hours straight? (she's already a little chubby) 2. Do I still have to give her hay when she's in at night? (right now I give her one flake of T&A) |
Member: ekaufman |
Posted on Tuesday, Dec 11, 2007 - 10:08 am: Hi Melissa,Well, it's hard for a pony to hide over-nutrition. I suspect you'll know real soon if this one is over-eating. Unfortunately your pony may risk founder as well as fatter. If it were my pony and already chubby, I would get a grazing muzzle with the assumption that we were at risk of pony-blimposis and/or founder. Is it possible to restrict pasture access during the day? I would allow a small amount of straight grass hay overnight in order to avoid a feast/famine cycle (14 hours w/o food is a long time for a horse). Green pasture in December-- what a thought! |
Member: annes |
Posted on Tuesday, Dec 11, 2007 - 10:12 am: Melissa, in my experience...yes, the winter grass can be too much when you have easy keepers. I am in Tennessee. My horses can come out of winter being too heavy and then it is too hard to keep them from gaining more in the Spring. Mine are up in small paddock with barn at night and I keep some hay in front of them at all times. It can be stemmy hay, just to keep them occupied. Congratulations on your new place, I know you must be excited! |
Member: canter |
Posted on Tuesday, Dec 11, 2007 - 1:49 pm: Melissa, nothing to add except Congrats on the new place! Glad everyone has settled in well. |
Member: mysi |
Posted on Tuesday, Dec 11, 2007 - 3:01 pm: I can see after a week she is rounder than usual and I know of the founder risk with ponies that is why I was concerned. I have 2 pastures and 4 paddocks (2 small, 2 larger) and they are all green. I never thought I'd wish for dirt, but I wish one was and I could keep her in there 1/2 the time. And to think I was in a panic over the hay situation here, I brought more than enough to last me all winter.I thought about the muzzle. I think that is probably my best option. I'd hate to punish my very large horse and put them in the small paddock because his little sister is a pig. And I can't bear to separate them, I feel like they would be lonely. By the way...I love living on a farm!!! There is nothing better than looking out my window to see my horses enjoying their life! It's going to kill me to start working, but I have too if I want to keep this place! |
Member: amara |
Posted on Tuesday, Dec 11, 2007 - 7:44 pm: Melissa,When my pony was getting really good grass and good hay I had a grazing muzzle on him.. He and my arab pretty much go everywhere together, and the Arab cant get fat enough, so in order to keep the pony from turning into a bigger blimp i put a grazing muzzle on him.. he didnt particularly like it, but it really did help with the weight.. in fact, he lost some weight... (tho never got to the skinny point for sure!)(as far as he's concerned there are calories in air, so thin is never an issue...) if you can fence off a small enough area you can turn it into dirt eventually and then have a dirt place just for him... where my horses are now its really overgrown coastal and such, so its really perfect for the 24hr grazing pony... good luck with the blimpo...does he lose weight if you get him to exercise regularly?... |
Member: mysi |
Posted on Tuesday, Dec 11, 2007 - 10:55 pm: She does lose weight with exercise and a strict diet but you give her that extra flake of hay and it seems like she put on 20 bs. lol. Unfortunately, she is no longer getting that exercise because we have moved away from all the kids that ride her. You would thing with all of this space she has now (she's never been in anything bigger than a 100ft x 100 ft paddock) she'd move around alot but she barely comes up for air! I would pony her with me, but my horse is on rest until March, then I will pony her with me on walks and such. I plan to go to some of the local riding schools and let them know I have a pony that needs a little rider too. She's a bomb proof little show pony, the kids would always fight over her so I'm sure I'll find one.But I'm going to go get a muzzle for her, it seems so mean but I know it's for her own good. |
Member: frances |
Posted on Wednesday, Dec 12, 2007 - 5:34 am: Hi Melissa. I remember that there was a discussion on different kinds of grazing muzzle, and problems with some of them. It's under "Grazing Muzzle Rubs" - just thought I'd mention it before you buy one.Good luck! |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Wednesday, Dec 12, 2007 - 5:48 am: Melissa,anytime a horse's condition becomes fat to obese they are receiving too much nutrition. Review the Overview of Nutrition and Obese Nutrition so that you can understand all the factors but a muzzle might be the way to go. DrO |
Member: hpyhaulr |
Posted on Wednesday, Dec 12, 2007 - 9:15 am: Welcome to the Carolinas! Congratulations on getting your place up & running so quickly. I don't think you can have too much hay at this point.... what if the first cut doesn't happen til the end of June???? You will bee the stressfree mama come May/June. |
Member: annes |
Posted on Wednesday, Dec 12, 2007 - 11:40 am: Not to mention if you have ice/snow. My horses stay at the barn waiting for hay when the ground is covered with snow. |
Member: patricia |
Posted on Wednesday, Dec 12, 2007 - 1:34 pm: Don't feel bad about using a muzzle. My mustang gets fat on air so several years ago I had to come to grips with using a grazing muzzle. I felt awful when I started using it, but there was no access to a dry lot where I boarded so I had no choice as all of the horses were out 24/7. Funny thing, he adjusted to it more easily than I did. He wore it at least 4 out of 7 days and still does. I now live in Idaho and in the spring and early summer you will find him wearing one more often than not. The alternative is the possibility of founder or putting him in a stall for half of the day- both are worse than the grazing muzzle. As to rubs, I simply fitted my halter with fleece on all parts that touch his skin. You can sew it on or use duct tape to fasten it. I've had no further problem with rubs. Remember to attach the muzzle to a break-away halter only. The one piece muzzle did not work for me - he was able to rub it off in no time. The nice thing about a grazing muzzle is they are still able to be with their herd, can still "graze" and can be out 24/7 - all good things. |
Member: mysi |
Posted on Wednesday, Dec 12, 2007 - 10:51 pm: I went to the tack store and bought the pony size muzzle, got it home and it was WAY to small. I measured her and had to go all the way back (I'm in the boonies) and get what was a horse size. I sure hope they run small or my poor little fat pony has a huge head! So I put it on her and she didn't seem to mind at all, she went on her way with her head to the ground.Now...can they breathe ok in that thing? It seems so enclosed! And do I leave it on the entire time she is outside? She could stand to lose some weight but will she get enough food through the little hole? |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Thursday, Dec 13, 2007 - 7:56 am: If she could not breath with it on...but are you hearing odd noised for restricted blood flow?Concerning use of the muzzle the article on Obese Nutrition has a step by step procedure for determining this. DrO |
Member: mysi |
Posted on Thursday, Dec 13, 2007 - 5:19 pm: I know she can breathe, lol . I thought it would be a little more airy than it was. And I'm just feeling terribly guilty.Today she was not happy at all with it on. She struggled all day trying to eat, pawing at the ground , pacing, circling. It was sad, but amusing at the same time watching her try her hardest to get some grass in that thing. She DrOve poor Moose crazy today! She was never so happy to see me at dinner time she galloped to the gate. (She has NEVER galloped to me for anything). She's in her stall without it now and eating her hay. I made it through the day, lol. I almost went out and took it off several times, but I stopped myself. I keep telling myself it's for her own good. |
Member: mysi |
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008 - 10:57 am: It's been about 3 weeks with the muzzle and Sweetheart has not seemed to figure out how to get food in that hole. She goes through a cycle of trying, pawing, dragging her head around and then stands against the fence pouting. I thought she would figure it out, but she gets frustrated and quits. I have started leaving it off for 2 hours in the morning then she has it on all day until she comes in her stall for the night and gets a flake of hay. But since this, her behavior has become retched. She's chewing on her door (which she has never done, ever!), pawing non stop at the ground (she always air pawed briefly at feeding time only), she's making me CRAZY!!!Do you think 2 hours is enough, too much or should I just leave it on and assume she's getting enough food? Will these behavioral issues stop eventually? Is there something I can do to stop them? |
Member: scooter |
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008 - 11:47 am: Melissa that is how Hank acted too. He pawed and rubbed the muzzle on the ground back and forth...got down right miserable, and major pouting. Someone said to make the hole bigger so he could get a little more, worked very well with him. I slowly made the hole bigger until we hit a happy medium and he didn't gain any weight and continued to loose. |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Thursday, Jan 3, 2008 - 6:12 am: I think Diane's advice good and the only other suggestion I have for allowing free access to the pasture while controlling condition is trying a different type muzzle.DrO |
Member: quatro |
Posted on Thursday, Jan 3, 2008 - 10:39 am: Hi Melissa, I had very good luck with Levi acclimating him to the muzzle. It took a little conditioning on my part though. I first put a small plastic bowl in the bottom of the muzzle and fed him his grain every meal. I don't know if your pony gets grain, but maybe just a little cleaned oats to get them to like the muzzle. Levi' dove into the muzzle after a few days of putting it on.I did have my husband use a hole saw and make the hole a tad bit bigger. The real trick was sitting on the ground with Levi for 10-15 minutes a few times a day just snapping off chunks of grass and slipping them in the hole so he could eat them. At first I just put it in the hole, while he munched the grass, I got him to DrOp his head down, snapping off the grass and shoving it in the hole, with his head down. This took about a week, of carefully watching those fingers, before he started to get the hang of it. The shorter grass was actually easier for him to bite off. It took patience,and he still gets frustrated sometimes, but he figured it out with my help. I don't know how they can just be expected to have this contraption slapped on their faces, and figure out how to make it work. Good Luck! suz |
Member: mysi |
Posted on Thursday, Jan 3, 2008 - 9:23 pm: Susan, I do spend time with her everyday trying to help her and show her. She has NO PATIENCE! She's like a crack attack when it comes to food. She won't hold still for me to get it in the hole she gets overly excited. I tried leaving it on while she eats her grain (she gets a handful)but she becomes a maniac throwing it everywhere. She gets the concept because I see her trying, I think she just gets frustrated with one strand here and there. Ponies!!!I will definitely cut the hole a little bigger, I don't know why I never thought of that. I hope that helps. I'll let you know. |
Member: quatro |
Posted on Friday, Jan 4, 2008 - 12:14 pm: Good Luck Melissa! I know the feeling, Levi is a chow hound. He lives to eat, not eats to live! Right now we are covered with snow, but he finishes every morsel of hay anywhere!Cutting the hole bigger did help alot suz |
Member: mysi |
Posted on Friday, Jan 4, 2008 - 9:49 pm: I cut a bigger hole and put her muzzle on this morning. She went out in the pasture pissed as usual, pacing around, rubbing her nose on the ground, then stood and pouted. I went inside and watched her as she stood. Then Moose went and nudged her away from the fence as always telling her to stop pouting and she put her head down, discovered she could get four blades of grass instead of two and grazing away she went!You guys are the BEST!!! The bigger hole did the trick, YAY!!! |
Member: scooter |
Posted on Saturday, Jan 5, 2008 - 7:42 am: Glad it worked out for you Melissa. I know Hank was much happier...once in a blue moon he would go in a pout with it, but got over it quickly. |
Member: dove2 |
Posted on Saturday, Jan 5, 2008 - 9:22 am: What is the best way to cut the muzzle hole bigger? That is, what sort of tool do you use? |
Member: scooter |
Posted on Saturday, Jan 5, 2008 - 9:33 am: Dove I just used an old kitchen knife. I ended up making the hole bigger 3 times before he was happy.I didn't take much each time...but you know the old adage...you can always take more off, but you can't put it back. I think it ended up being about 1.5 in. bigger in circumference. Of course with my knife cutting it wasn't completely round, but he didn't care |
Member: mysi |
Posted on Saturday, Jan 5, 2008 - 9:37 am: I used one of those razor knives to cut it. |
Member: dove2 |
Posted on Saturday, Jan 5, 2008 - 10:51 am: Thanks! I do have a muzzle on my daughter's 6 yr old mare, and when I first put it one her, I'd fold up some hay and feed it to her through the hole. Later, I found it helped her to stand for the muzzle being put on by my feeding some broken-up (flaxseed) horse cookies - only one or two - through the hole.I'll admit to being a weak human and keeping the muzzle off when the temps are low (20's and 30's) by convincing myself she needs to eat to stay warm. I think I might be emotionally better knowing she can actually get a little hay through a slightly larger muzzle opening and be better able to keep the routine going through the winter. My rational side knows it's in her best interest not to be overweight. Oh yes, I'm working on creating a "haynet" over the round bale to keep both my horses from plumping up. I'll let you know how it goes. Perhaps I'll start up a new equine product line! |
Member: scooter |
Posted on Saturday, Jan 5, 2008 - 12:27 pm: Dove the haynet idea for big bales is great. Please let us know how that turns out. Actually if you brainstormed it on HA you might get some very good ideas....very smart, talented people here. |
Member: canter |
Posted on Saturday, Jan 5, 2008 - 10:52 pm: Hmmm...the haynet on the round bale got me thinking (our barn hasn't used them this year but in previous winters, I always got a chuckle out of the horses standing hip deep, at the "buffet"). I would imagine you could find some type of heavy duty open meshing material at a fabric store? Some heavy type of fabric thread could be used to "sew" pieces together to make it big enough. I suppose a net could be crafted out of that type of material (with an eye towards safety so that a horse can't get caught in it. Or, another thought is to encircle the bale with a type of open weave plastic fencing. However, you'd probably have to climb into the middle of it several times a day to fork the depleted hay towards the edges of the fencing so the horses could get to it thru the openings...which might then defeat the purpose of a round bale to begin with....Just some thoughts off the top of my head... |
Member: dove2 |
Posted on Sunday, Jan 6, 2008 - 11:26 am: Actually, I've purchased nylon rope, the kind they make regular haybags from, and intend to "knot" it like a haybag. I found instructions on the internet. To secure the net to the round bale holder, I'm using a rubber garden hose, but am not sure how to join it together where it comes together. At first, I was going to find a slightly larger diameter hose and insert both ends into it sufficiently to hold, but that doesn't seem strong enough, nor easy to find.My horses are still young and mischievous. Their favorite game is to pull the white plastic tips off the metal fence posts, even though I glued them on once. They also like to bite or snap off the plastic ties which support the rope fencing at the posts. So, I need to make sure they don't see any part of this round bale haynet as a play toy. Any one have ideas on how to securely join together the two ends of the hose? Ideally, I'd like to be able to disassemble it for storage once they're solely on pasture. By the way, this project will be somewhat delayed as I had a pretty bad fall off my horse yesterday and am moving like a snail. But that's another thread.... |
Member: mysi |
Posted on Sunday, Jan 6, 2008 - 2:46 pm: Dove,You can buy these hose attachments that are made for when you have a hole in your hose and have splice it together, they are like $3 and super strong. |
Member: patricia |
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 8, 2008 - 6:33 pm: A note about the hole in the grazing muzzles - I realized, after noting my horse's frustration with his, that the hole was not too small, just poorly placed. I found that when I pushed the muzzle against his nose as he would when eating, the hole was nowhere near his teeth or lips! No wonder he was so frustrated. I ended up lengthening the straps holding it to the upper part of the noseband of the halter, and shortening the straps on the lower part of the noseband, effectively putting the hole over his lips and teeth. What a difference it made! |
Member: mysi |
Posted on Tuesday, Jan 8, 2008 - 9:47 pm: Patricia, I noticed the same think too even after I made the hole a little bigger it was above her lips. After the same adjusting, it was perfect. |
Member: mysi |
Posted on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 - 8:08 pm: So the muzzle has been great. She hates when I put it on in the morning before I turn her out, but she is very content all day munching through the hole. I've also got a little girl that lives by me riding her 5 days a week. She's a beginner and only walks for 45 minutes each time but she's doing some trotting now, it's better than nothing! So Sweetheart has been losing weight which is great. But with the allieviation of one problem comes another...(HORSES!!!)She is now chewing her stall door. Something she has NEVER done in the 8 years I've had her. I read the article on chewing and it could be a few of the things. First lets go over what she eats. She gets a handful of equine senior AM & PM, grazes from 6am to 6pm on fescue pasture and gets 1 flake of timothy/orchard mix at night. She has a mineral salt block in her stall which she licks regularly. It's could be that she's hungry but unfortunately I cannot give her more hay she's too fat. She could be bored because the other two are eating away and she's done. I am only concerned with the part I read about it possibly being a vitamin deficiency, could that suddenly occur? The only thing in her diet that has changed is she use to get T&A about an 80T/20A mix and now its Timothy/Orchard grass (the vet said no Alfalfa for her due to her weight). Before I moved to NC, she was hayed 1 flake in AM and 1 in the PM with no real grazing, she was turned out but FL grass has no nutritional value and there wasn't much in there. Dr. O do you think it could be a vitamin deficiency? Should I put her back on T&A? |
Member: lilo |
Posted on Thursday, Jan 24, 2008 - 7:10 pm: I don't know the answer to your question, but something similar happened when my gelding was put on a restricted diet (not as restricted as your girl - but still, he needed to lose weight). I had just mended some fencing with 2 x 4 rails of wood. A few weeks on the restricted diet (about 12 lbs of hay - divided into two feedings) and I walk into the paddock and he had almost chewed through one of the 2x4 rails. Fixed that with electric wire - now he is starting on the fence posts. I think it is chewing time they are looking for. He is in a large dry lot and wanders around looking for something to chew on.I am considering a hay net - but have not found a safe way to attach it. (I have had to rescue a horse once that pawed and got his foot caught in the hay net - want to avoid that). Lilo |
Member: mysi |
Posted on Thursday, Jan 24, 2008 - 9:38 pm: Lilo, I wish a hay net would help, but I have a doubled one in her stall and I swear she's like whodini, she gets through it all so quick. See, she's not really any more restricted eating wise then she's ever been before(she's barely 12.3h). I've had her for eight years and she's always eaten the same amount, except in my moments of weakness (and I've had a few). Actually now she probably eats more, she grazes all day, where before she got a flake of hay in the morning. I'm concerned it may be taking out the alfalfa, or the pasture is not nutritious enough, or it is likely she just being an obnoxious pig!?! I only want to make sure she is not being deprived of what she needs and I'm not sure how to go about finding out, because except for the chewing all other factors are good. I'm hoping Dr. O has some words of wisdom! |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Friday, Jan 25, 2008 - 8:27 pm: Melissa, all of the possibilities you list are potentially a cause but the article is pretty clear on why most horses with your history chew inappropriate items. If you are concerned about vitamins check out the article on vitamins to see if your diet should be of a concern.DrO |
Member: mysi |
Posted on Monday, Feb 4, 2008 - 11:21 pm: Well, I am giving her a few alfalfa cubes now. I bought so much hay without alfalfa because of her so I had to buy the cubes! I can hear your voice in my head Dr. O about how alfalfa is not bad. My old vet in FL and my trainer always drilled in my head that alfalfa causes foundering especially in ponies. But, she was always on it before, I just got worried because she put more weight on.I taped the fat little girl and she has lost 90 lbs. She was at 690 in November, now 600. YAY!!! Even taping over her thick fur. I'm not sure what a 12.3h pony should weigh, she still looks fat to me, no ribs in feeling distance. She doesn't have fat anywhere except that round protruding belly. I leave her door open and just close the door guard, so she can't chew on it if she wanted too. I feel confident after reading the vitamin article that she is getting everything she should be now that I added the alfalfa back in her diet. I bet you wish you could shake some of us sometimes Dr. O! You put it all in front of our faces and we still question it! |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 5, 2008 - 7:53 am: Whoa Melissa your post suggests you do not know how to judge "fattiness". The size of a horses belly is the one thing you cannot judge condition by. Many starved horses on straw have huge bellies. If you cannot feel the ribs it is because of the fat over them. Reread the article on judging condition, you seemed to have forgotten many of its main points. I love when you ask questions about what you have read, that is not the problem. The problem is when it has not been read at all that I begin to shake my lap top.DrO |
Member: mysi |
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 5, 2008 - 10:02 am: I did miss the area of where to expect the body score that is to the right of the scoring itself. I would put Sweetheart now at a 6. She was an 8. She looks bigger at a glance with the fur and this is the first time she has had a coat so I wasn't noticing that she was loosing so much. That coat is very misleading. I'm glad I got the tape out. She has a nice back line, no fatty deposits around the wither or tail area, just a layer over the ribs. From what I read she is at a good weight/body score. So I will keep giving her Alfalfa cubes and stop worrying. I now have to find that happy medium of a normal balanced healthy diet. I struggle with having her loose weight and then over feeding to make up for the guilt. |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Wednesday, Feb 6, 2008 - 6:51 am: Perhaps your improved ability to judge condition will make detecting changes earlier so the swing is not so wide. Nutrition Overview gives you some recommendations that specifically address the see-saw problem, see the "Practical Consideration" section.DrO |
Member: mysi |
Posted on Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008 - 9:25 pm: So, I've been doing great keeping Sweetheart at a good weight. She looks great. Now, my next dilemma. This is my first time having edible pasture. I got here in the winter so the "new pasture" was old. The pasture I keep her in is eaten to the ground, but has started growing new grass. She eats it as soon as it comes up and keeps it sparse. But...she is a pony, and I know they more commonly founder, so am I supposed to limit her grazing now even thought there really isn't a whole lot there? Is it still too much? |
Member: scooter |
Posted on Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008 - 10:45 pm: Hi Melissa, I had the same question. I decided to leave hank and herd on the pasture, so far they are eating it faster than it can grow and haven't gained any weight. I did cut their hay back a little more...just in case. I know Sweetheart is a pony, but Hank is a pony in a horse suit as far as metabolism. Keep the tape handy and if she starts gaining cut her back is the best suggestion I can give |
Member: paardex |
Posted on Thursday, May 1, 2008 - 4:10 am: Melissa and Diane, I am trying to keep pony in small horse dress Grasse within the limits of healthy weight in a very 'eaten paddock' to and give her each day a small new part to eat.How much pasture do yours have in acreage? I don't have any idea when to stop making the pasture bigger. It is so difficult to stay in between a not fat Grasse and a sandeating Grasse. Thanks Jos |
Member: scooter |
Posted on Thursday, May 1, 2008 - 7:00 am: Jos my 3 are on about a half an acre. They are keeping it mowed pretty low, but at least it's better than a dry lot and they move around all day.The calves are working on the pasture I'm going to rotate them into when the grass is less lush, probably July. It is around 2 acres. One thing I know when keeping horses on a small area like that it can get "trashed" and turn into a mud lot quickly so I do want to rotate pastures. |
Member: paardex |
Posted on Thursday, May 1, 2008 - 7:17 am: You are right Diane as we have had loads of rain it really gets filthy. Perhaps rotating is better than giving a little part extra each day.I just thought it would keep her diet the most even as she can't eat any hay. It is really like walking on eggs with these fatties isn't it? Foundering and obesity always lurking around the corner.. Jos |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Thursday, May 1, 2008 - 8:04 am: Melissa there is no simple answer to your question, the amount and type of production of the pasture daily and the sensitivity of your pony are the variables we don't know. On top of that it will change with differing weather conditions and work load of your pony. So this is an experimental question and problems can usually be avoided by monitoring your pony's condition.DrO |
Member: mysi |
Posted on Thursday, May 1, 2008 - 6:50 pm: Dr O, I think I've gotten the hang of managing her weight, and I am keeping a good eye on that and will continue to do so. I think my concern is founder, due to the new grass. (something I've never had to deal with before) Everything I read talks about being careful because of the sugars and starches. It's fescue only in the pasture she is in. Do they have to get overweight to founder? I guess I'm confused. |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Friday, May 2, 2008 - 7:57 am: Horses evolved to eat grass Melissa and is singly the best foodstuff available for horses. This recent hysteria about grasses and horses is a bit out of kilter. Some have singled out the much richer pastures of today, others look at declining exercise of our horse population... it is the whole picture Melissa and looking at any one aspect without considering the others will cause misunderstanding. In that same vein, obesity is a risk factor for most types of founder but not some types of founder, for more on this see the articles on founder.DrO |
Member: mysi |
Posted on Saturday, May 3, 2008 - 5:28 pm: Thanks Dr. O. I've read the founder articles over again. I think as long as I keep an eye on her weight and not let her out in the big pasture all day she'll be ok.Thanks for putting it into perspective for me! |