|
|
"Roadie 8yo black gelding 16hh 3/4 TB x Wcob. Owned from 10 months.
Working 1 to 1 1/2 hours four to five days per week. Feed is Alfa A lite,
seaweed, apple cider vinegar and garlic plus has choice of mineral lick
or rock salt.
During this last winter I travelled him several times from Somerset to
Kent on training courses. He has always travelled well, but noticed on
the longer distance that he did not drink while travelling nor on
arrival. From the evening to the morning of the first three days there
he had only drunk half a bucket of water and had gone off his hay also.
By the third day he was a little 'flat' and yet did not appear to be
particularly dehydrated on skin test. On the third day he did start to
drink more. He has never been a horse to drink much in the stable
anyway, preferring to drink from the field trough, however this was not
an option in Kent as he
was stabled unless working.
He has never been a horse to sweat up much.
The work in Kent consisted of all three paces, all lateral work
including introducing half pass, on day four he seemed a little stiff,
so had day off and was walked in hand and allowed to graze in hand. The
weather was dry and cold.
This was discussed in detail with Richard Maxwell, and I decided to
try the patches before travelling him next time. One of the first things
that we noticed was that after about 3 days he started to drink from the
buckets in the stable (water always allowed to stand before given). He
was drinking two normal buckets per night whereas
before it would have been 3/4 to 1 at home.
He's always had a good coat, but that had also dulled this winter,
again after using the patches, this too improved. He seems to have
improved stamina, is more relaxed and generally appears
very fit, well and healthy. Prior to using the patches, he would start
work with exuberance, but would fade on occasions, he now seem to
maintain a more consistent approach all
the way through, with lightness, elevation and keeps his sparkle".
Leigh
"I have always had trouble maintaining Chester's condition in the
winter, he sweats up easily and loses weight rapidly and at the age of
22 years it has been a struggle to maintain his condition. He has had to
live off unlimited haylage and three feeds per day.
I was recommended to try the patches in autumn 2004, as he was in the
process of losing weight and I really thought they would not work.
Chester maintained his weight throughout the winter on two rations of
food and stayed in full work and throughout this summer for the first
time ever is maintaining a steady weight on restricted grazing. The
patches have also helped him to maintain condition when stressed.
I will be using the patches every year on Chester. I am amazed at how
effective they are".
Janet Dennis & Chester
|
