[Scarlet.Dragon]

Where are you Eeyore?

Try Kevin Douglas in Oldmeldrum for hay.  He supplies the feed merchants and quite a lot of the horse yards in Aberdeenshire.  He takes high quality big bale hay and re-bales it to small bales to make it more manageable (it also means you get more hay to the bale as the double baling means the hay is tighter packed.  Despite the weather he even made good hay this year (I know, he did mine although he hasn't had time to re-bale mine for me yet).  There's not a lot of good hay about in this area this year.

Have you tried hay cobs (soaked if necessary)?  I used the Thunderbrooks ones last year when my lad was suffering colitis, but there are others on the market.  I was also feeding him on soft and soak, and foal pellets while he was in recovery.  May also be worth getting some gut restore and liquid gold if you can get him to take anything.  Does he like/dislike sugar beet/molasses etc?  Have you tried sprouting oats/barley?  Again I get mine from Thunderbrooks (oats).I'm guessing you've also tried dried grass/alfalfa etc?

Not eating for an extended period isn't good as it can lead to gut motility.  What is your vet saying?

It sounds like you're having a rotten time!  It may be worth talking to the local feed merchants to see if they can point you in the direction of a kindly farmer in the area who may be able to help.  Really hope things pick up for you soon!

There were fireworks going off here again tonight.  My lot were racing around like head cases... I couldn't get near the mare, it simply wasn't safe so I'll need to try to check her in the morning before work.  I have no idea how the liveries will be as they were closer to the fireworks than my lot.  Hopefully they won't get out on the main road again.

[Eeyore]

Thanks Scarlet.Dragon for your suggestions etc.  My boy is on medication for his cushings and he has had a few of these episodes where he stops eating - usually brought on my stress.  It started after he had 2 episodes of colic caused by stress from nearby fireworks.  He got his annual vaccinations a few weeks after this and the very next day he was poorly - stopped eating and it took 2 weeks for his appetite to return.  Him loosing his appetite started just under a year ago.


We know that the tiniest little thing can stress him and he looses trust very quickly.  Trying to give him Zylkene in his food last Thursday (to help keep him calm during the fireworks weekend) made him loose trust in his bucket.  He won't take anything from me - or in a bucket.  He is nibbling some grass from time to time.  From experience there is nothing the vet can do just now.  Getting the vet out would only make him more stressed and less trusting.  I can't get his little cushings table in him as he won't eat and If I get it in his mouth he just spits it out.  So he is drinking a bit more than normal, but not as bad as he has been in the past. 


We went back to my old hay supplier and got one of this year's hay bales which is quite good.  Yesterday the local farmer that I wrote to got in touch and said he has hay and haylage I can purchase from him.  I'm hoping to go and see what it's like at the weekend.  This is great as he is really close by. 


Because of my rubbish health etc, I have been looking for hay or haylage close by as I find it hard to have to soak or mix not so good hay.  Before this new bale, I was mixing not so good hay with rich haylage and because of the time and effort it took I did most of it on my knees and it took me hours.  I'd make a pile and give it to the horses and by the time I had made another pile they had finished the first lot.


Before my boy got poorly I was trying to find a good home for them both.  I have had them 18 years and they are the only horses I have ever owned.  Life is a struggle, but I love them soo much.

[waterbuffalofarmer]

Could he have developed a growth or something inside of him which is making him lose his appetite more this year?
I am sorry if I have worried you by this comment, truly this was not my intention... It could be old age (although horses can live for 30 years) but it could be something either external on his body or internal, maybe an underlying problem?

[Eeyore]

In July this year the vets did lots of tests and they came back with a diagnoses of Kidney Failure and Cushings Syndrome.  I am scared to get the vet out as I know this will stress him greatly - even the sight of a vet.  He has been fine since the last episode in July - apart from his poos are really runny which I believe is part of having Kidney Failure.


The vets have said there is nothing they can do for kidney failure but the Cushings we are treating with tablets.


I just wish I had a big grassy field I could give him and a large barn to put him in when the weather is wet.  Need to win the lottery first! 

[Scarlet.Dragon]

Sorry to hear you're struggling.  It's always tough when you have to balance your health against animal welfare.  If you really need to re-home then you could try the SSPCA at Drumoak.  They have really good facilities there and the staff seem pretty good too.  They also seem to have a pretty good record on the rehoming side.

Mixing bad hay with good haylage isn't a great idea.  Easier to buy in small bales of good hay and it's less likely to do you damage too.

Sorry to hear about his stress levels with the vets; I know what that's like as 2 of mine get stressed by strangers.  Hope he picks up soon for you.

[Eeyore]

Thanks Scarlet.Dragon.


I say "bad hay", it's not actually bad in any way - just my horses turn their noses up at it.  It is dirty in places and has big clumps of dirt mixed in.  They just waste it and tramp it into the ground.  I suppose they are spoilt - but it's only because I am always trying to make sure my gelding is eating well.


I have thought about the horse charities etc.  Sadly, once you've signed them over you are not allowed to know what happens to them, and this I don't think I could cope with.  I think the term is "being stuck between a rock and a hard place".   

[LeanneR88]

Hi Eeyore,

Did you ever find anywhere for last year?

If you are struggling at all this November then give me a shout we are out beside Huntly and would have spare grazing should you be in need.  We do not have stables but looking to build a field shelter before Autumn/Winter this year.