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  Discussion on Old guy needs help mentally..
Author Message
Member:
Erika

Posted on Sunday, Aug 14, 2005 - 9:15 pm:

My 30-something Morgan gelding has always been an easy keeper until last winter. He is "low man on the totem pole" and since they are all on a run-in situation, it is impossible to feed him more, or anything more desirable, or the mares he is pastured with chase him off and eat it themselves.I separated him from the three mares he is always with in order to feed him his special food.
All went fine except, I think he got lonely. He was mopey and lackluster, lost weight in spite of doing everything right.
One morning I awoke to find him all but dead, lying in the snow, with signs of colic that appeared to have been going on all night.
To make a long story short, I moved him back with the mares, and fed him 4-5 times a day the rest of the winter with pellets and Senior, all soaked in warm water. I had to catch him and bring him out of the pasture while he ate. He recovered nicely, but I nearly died of exhaustion!
Any suggestions of how to keep this guy well fed without closing him in a stall all year, but letting him socialize? He has been out all his life, I don't think he would take well to being stalled any more than he took to being in a different pasture.
I spoke to a rescue organization about finding him an appropriate home. They told me that most of these old timers die within six months of being moved. That's what I'm afraid of with changing his surroundings. He's such a great old gentleman--still riding and enjoying life, but I just dread winter coming and putting him through a tough time. I really don't want to put him down but I don't want him to suffer nutritionally or socially.
Should I perhaps move one of the mares with him and feed her as if she were a senior citizen, too?
How have you other geriatric horse owners dealt with this?
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Sunday, Aug 14, 2005 - 10:41 pm:

Erika,

Is it possible to put up a half wall in one end of the run-in, and then put electric fence from the end of the wall out to the pasture to split the pasture? That way, your guy can socialize with the mares over the stall wall, and he can go in and out and walk along the fence next to them, but won't be nagged by them.
Member:
Paul303

Posted on Monday, Aug 15, 2005 - 1:32 am:

You mentioned stalling him. Is stalling a possibility? If so, you could possibly stall everyone twice a day for feedings, then turn them out as usual for haying. Make a whole bunch more hay feeding areas ( piles ) than there are mares.

If the change was recent, you might consider reading up on Cushings.
Member:
Erika

Posted on Monday, Aug 15, 2005 - 3:46 pm:

Holly, Thanks, that was a thought I had, too, seems reasonable to put together. I have two pastures, but only one shelter with running water in winter.
Lee, I would have to stall him someplace else. The problem isn't that he can't get to the hay--he can't chew it anymore. I need to give him pelleted food when the grass is gone. That means I have to feed more than twice a day to get enough into him.
Thanks to both of you for the suggestions. It is so hard to see this horse get old. He's always been like the Little Engine that Could! I guess I just needed a little sympathy for him, too. My friend thinks I should put him down, but he so healthy and capable, I just can't do that over a convenience issue.
Member:
Sunny66

Posted on Monday, Aug 15, 2005 - 4:20 pm:

Erika, I'm sorry to hear about your boy.

How about putting him and another mare in the other pasture just until winter to get some fat on him? Perhaps he'll be more feisty and ready to fend for himself?
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Monday, Aug 15, 2005 - 4:21 pm:

Erika, do you have power in your shelter? If so, maybe you can keep a large trough on the mares' side and put up a large, heated bucket for the older guy. My oldest fellow quidded his hay, and he would get pellets and alfalfa cubes and hot water mixed in the a.m. and p.m. I actually tried to keep him away from the hay because I was never certain that the occasional colics he showed were because of swallowing an errant quid or from gas manufactured from the amount of concentrate he received. He really was a gassy horse, and the kids at camp, while they adored him, would laugh when they heard him passing it, and I would tell them that as long as old General made that kind of music, it meant that everything was working inside . . . it was a happy sound.
Member:
Erika

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 17, 2005 - 10:56 am:

Holly, that's hysterical! Yes, Timmy is a gas-man, too. My kids find it quite funny because he can never sneak up on anyone.
The hay issue is my concern also. I feed the mares with round bales. Timmy has a good appetite and even though he can't use any of the hay, he does chew it up,too. I wondered if that brought on the colic episode that nearly did him in.
I guess my only choice is separation. I will try rigging an electric divider and see if he is satisfied socially with that.
Thanks everyone for your suggestions
Erika
Member:
Heidim

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 17, 2005 - 7:00 pm:

We had a similar situation last year with our son's ancient mule. Our solution? We separated him into a separate pen with our 20-something burro. We fed the mule his rations in a bucket fastened too high for the burro to reach, and gave the burro hay lower down. It worked great.

We originally purchased the burro as a lawn ornament. He is now an invaluable babysitter. Tonight, he is keeping company our nearly weaned foal. When that job is done, he'll go back to being buddy to whichever mule gets left home on a trail ride. We paid $150 for our little guy, and he "keeps" for next to nothing. A worthwhile investment, and he's cute, too.
Member:
Erika

Posted on Saturday, Feb 25, 2006 - 8:58 am:

Update on Timmy: He is still separated from his mares but the neighbors bought two weanlings last fall who are right over the fence from him. He has always been great with babies, and they seem to have cheered him up. He runs around the pasture often when they are playing. They can even reach each other over the fences at certain points.
Timmy is eating well. I hired a helper to share in the 5x a day feeding he gets (with a warm water bucket next to the food). Timmy is fat and sassy, and you would swear he was a ten year old.
Thanks to all of you for your suggestions and sympathy. Timmy was given to me by a friend who has since passed away, and he is special for many reasons. He may outlive me yet!
Member:
Qh4me

Posted on Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 - 2:19 pm:

Excellent news Erika. Timmy is lucky he has such a caring owner
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