Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Dudie & Brownie Weekly Update

We have had a very busy two weeks, so I didn't have a chance to post last week. Here are this week's pictures. Brownie is looking great as usual; I catch myself searching for him among my other horses because he is as healthy looking as all of the others. He is still getting about two pounds of 4-way grain with each feeding of hay to continue a slow weight gain. We have ridden him three times a week or more for the past several weeks. He really likes to run and is very easy to handle. He is so gentle, that when we've had several different families over recently, many of their children have enjoyed riding him (even though they are beginning riders).


Dudie is still improving; he is getting nine pounds of Equine Senior, two to three pounds of 4-way grain, two cups of rice bran, and a full scoop of Amplify (a high-fat weight gain supplement) at each feeding. He is not getting hay right now because he was just stomping on it. He is shedding out very nicely now, though his neck is not. He is much friendlier and really likes to be brushed. We have been letting him out of the round pen to be with the horses after his morning feeding. He seems to like running around with them. They don't seem to be picking on him anymore, so he is obviously much stronger now and able to hold his own.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Dudie and Brownie Weekly Photo and Update

This is a picture of Dudie today (his weekly photo shoot :-) I am finally seeing some good improvement in him! We gave him a bath to help him shed out some of the winter hair he is holding onto because of the malnourishment. He really seemed to like it! His feed routine now looks like 9 lbs of Equine Senior, 2 lbs of 4-way grain, 2 cups of rice bran and a splash of corn oil (this is fed twice a day).

He is no longer weak and sickly, so he is now able to hold his own with Edward who was determined to beat him up the first few weeks we had him. So glad to see him getting healthy!


Below is a picture of Brownie this week! He is doing GREAT! Son # 2 rides him often (and in 4-H) and they are a great match! Brownie is so perfect for this boy! Brownie is such a blessing to us, we had friends over Monday and several other kids rode him around the front yard. He is so gentle and well behaved, very fun for the kids! His feeding routine is reduced to 3 flakes of grass/alfalfa mix hay and 2 lbs of 4-way grain twice a day. His weight is pretty good now, though I would like to see another 50 or so pounds on him, but we can take it slow now and add muscle along with the fat! I am very pleased with his progress!

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Dudie & Brownie weekly photos & update

Here is this weeks photo of Dudie. I am a little late taking it since I have been very busy this week. I think I am seeing some improvement in Dudie (finally). When I brush him, it doesn't feel like I brushing bones so much now. About 3 days ago I switched his feed again. He is now getting Equine Senior feed by Purina (1 full scoop...the 3 lb size), along with the 2lbs 4-way grain, 1 1/2 cups soy meal, 1 1/2 cups rice bran, 1/4 cup corn oil and hay. I also bought him a horse lick so that he can have calories and vitamins all day long. He pretty much leaves his hay on the ground and won't eat it, so I decided that he needed the senior feed to make sure his diet is well balanced. I am slowly increasing the senior feed to the full amount he will need and keeping the other stuff too. We will see how this works :-) I am hoping that in time, I can bring his weight up to fully healthy and then cut the supplements back to minimal except during the winter months. Maybe I am dreaming? I hope not :-)


Brownie seems to have held his weight well, even with 3 full days of riding at the 4-H Memorial riding clinic last weekend. He should start to gain some muscle with more regular riding!