Introducing: The Dipsh*t Idea of the Week

I'd like to thank the person who wrote a thousand word hate letter to me last night. Most of the inane rambling is not even worth responding to, but one part of it hit things home about how stupid people can actually be! I owe this person a BIG thank you because she inspired....

THE DIPSH*T IDEA OF THE WEEK!!

Every Wednesday I'll post an idea, inspired by real life, that is so wacky and out of sync with reality that you shake your head in disbelief that someone actually said that with a straight face. An appropriate topic to cover on "hump day," isn't it?

This week's featured dipsh*t idea:

"GOOD GOD do you not even realize that she was not old enough to eat grain???? "

Then she proceeds to call me a nutjob. Classy! The "she" she is referring to is Bambi, the filly I bred that Darlene helped me rescue, emaciated at 2 months old. So one of the excuses is at two months old, she was supposedly too young to eat grain. *headdesk* And the scary thing is the person who said this breeds horses. Sure makes me want to run out and go buy one of her foals!

So, since evidently more people than just my family and friends (who are educated horse owners) read this blog, I'll outline for those that do not fall into this catagory basic foal nutrition, pre-weaning, with references.

From Oklahoma State's website: http://osuextra.okstate.edu/pdfs/F-3985web.pdf

"Foals receive their nutrition from the mare’s milk exclusively for the first several weeks to one month of age. If allowed access to their dam’s grain or grain by creep feeding, foals will begin to eat small amounts of grain rations within the first month of their life. Creep feeding provides supplemental feed to foals by using feeders constructed to restrict access of mares."

From Bayer Health: http://www.bayerequineconnection.com/Main/Conditions_Diseases/foal_growth.cfm

"As early as 10-14 days of age, a foal may begin to show an interest in feed. By nibbling and sampling, the youngster learns to eat solid food. Its digestive system quickly adapts to the dietary changes."

So in other words, at TWO WEEKS they will start sampling grain
"At 8-10 weeks of age, mare's milk alone may not adequately meet the foal's nutritional needs. High quality grains and forage should be added to the foal's diet." Again, in other words, by 2 months old they MUST have grain!

From Ohio State University: http://ohioline.osu.edu/b762/b762_3.html

"Creep feeding can begin as early as one week of age....Foals usually eat only about a pound of feed a day during the first month, but consumption will gradually increase to as much as 10 pounds a day by weaning time"

Hmmm...a pound of feed per day during the first month, huh? Sounds like they can sure eat grain!!

Care and Management of the Growing Foal, By Doug Thal, DVM: http://www.thalequine.com/Articles/Care%20and%20Management%20of%20the%20Growing%20Foal%201%20week%20through%20weaning.doc.

"Proper nutrition is a critical part of managing the nursing foal. At one to two weeks, the foal is eating solid feed in addition to nursing many times per day.... Starting at six weeks and through weaning the mare’s milk production gradually declines and the foal eats more and more solid feed. "

Well, I can go on and on and on. Every website says the same thing: between one and 6 weeks of age the foal gradually increases its intake of grain and at week 6 it is imperative to the foal's health to have balanced supplemental feed available. In my own experience foals will start mouthing feed as early as day one, although they really dig in and actually eat it starting around one week.

Ignorance is no excuse. These people can write me an online hate letter, put together websites, and yet they can't do a little research into proper care of the foals they are raising. Ignorance may be bliss for them, but they are ruining lives of the foals they are breeding.

Feel free to email me with any ideas for next week's dipsh*t idea!!