hay is short here, people are getting desperate. I got a call that a man nearby had a first cutting of new hay and would sell us a round bale so we rushed and got one. It is I would say, around 90% pure fresh green new mown clover. So I just gave each horse about a half a flake or pad or book, whatever you call it. I know it must be high in fructans cause they went nuts over it, begging for more even tho they have their free choice costal bermuda out there. i was giving them the clover hay as a special treat, a green thing, since they have no grass. I gave them each a little treat of this three days in a row, then the fourth day, yesterday, GB, aging stallion, starting coming on to one of his mystery illnesses, colics whatever they are. He gets down and wont eat and looks like hes lost 200 pounds overnight, and each time he does this I think, well, this is it, but the last time was the worst and he was down three days and then came around. I give him banamine and treat it as colic but it does not seem classic colic to me. He has gut sounds and does not sweat. He just lays down and is off his feed and drink and acts like he is gonna die. I called the vet the first couple of times and he says well, he's old, but bring him in if you feel like you need to. Then I call the old man and he says give him wheat bran, which seems to help if I can get it in him. Sometimes I can put molasses in it and he will eat a few bites and it seems to help him. I dont know about cushings, but for horses who are old, maybe like kids, a lot of sugar just isnt good... He is still puny but eating a little and not laying down excessively... I havent fed him anymore of the clover. does anyone know about fructans or rich clover and old horses? He has one cushings symptom but many signs of no cushings, andhe is not a horse I would go to extreme measures to save, but a horse I want to keep comfortable in his old age until the end if I can. Janice
-- yipie tie yie yo
