Killing Them With Kindness
“Killed by Kindness” So often in the cases of horses and dogs we do things thinking we are being “nice” but in the end we not only harm but have even caused the death of our four footed friends. I’m Susan Allen I’ll be back on OpenRange to explain. A few days ago I watched an obese Labrador struggle to walk and I thought what a disservice it’s owner has done to the poor critter. With horses it seems people either over fuss and over feed or the flip side (like our sweet mighty mouse, discovered starving on a dry lot) forget about them. Horses’ digestive systems are much more complex than either a dog or cow and can easily die if miss fed. A press release just issued by the United States Equestrian Federation warns of giving horses something many people routinely offer, grass clippings. A horse can safely graze on a lawn that has been mowed where the grass has dried in small amounts but never should be fed piles of clippings. Grass piles mold quickly and when consumed can cause fermentation in the hind gut leading to colic and botulism can quickly develop in dense piles of decaying grass making what many back yard horse owners consider a treat, deadly. In the words of trainer Tom McGuane “ I have often noticed that good horsemen are like good sailors, meticulously and quietly tending to one detail after another. All to keep things running smoothly and safely.” Good advise for most aspects of life where animals are involved. I’m Susan Allen
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