Purina Feed Greatness Challenge, Week 2

2 weeks down feeding the Purina Outlast now. I'm still giving all three horses one cup of the product per day. Still no real differences. I did notice DC and Demon were leaving behind about half of their hay pellets, so I cut them back. Hoss may have put on a little weight. I took him for a ride this week and lost a notch on his girth. So, the fat horse may be getting fatter.

I'll be taking Hoss and Demon to the Death Valley XP ride. I plan to ride each horse two days. They'll continue to get the Outlast supplement, and I may add it to anything they are fed during the ride days. Since Purina's information indicates they expect it to be fed 3-4 times per day, and they assure users their product is "legal" for competition when fed as directed, it certainly isn't a bad thing. So when they get an additional bran or beet pulp meal, they'll get an extra helping of Outlast.

I have one more 2-for-1 coupon, which will expire on the 29th. I'll have to go redeem it tomorrow. At that point I'll have 3 unopened bags in addition to the half bag or so which I originally opened. At the very least, it last quite a while, at least when fed my way.

Purina has not sent another email yet. It's only been 2 weeks, though, so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised.

When we return from Death Valley, I'll be sure to "weigh" Hoss and Demon again, to see if they've changed measurably. At that time we'll be just past 3 weeks and it'll be time for another update.

This post is rather thin, as there's little to say. So, Merry Christmas, ya'll, and the very happiest of New Years.

2018 Ride Year Goals

I have generally made a habit of setting goals for each new ride year. Since I'm blogging again, I will set those goals out here.

2017 was a bit of a disappointment. After my shoulder surgery in late January, Beth also underwent several surgeries, requiring me to stay close to home. Hoss was bitten by a rattlesnake in mid-June and while he recovered exceptionally well, and finished a 50 a mere 2 months later, the first weeks required intensive attention on my part. Then there were 2 cross-country trips to pick up horses (2 broodmares to breed to Demon, and a horse for a friend). Brake failure in the trailer led to many hours of trouble shooting and several missed events. The truck also required serious work on its brakes as a result of the trailer brakes having quit. DC suffered a tie-up at Grand Canyon, then was pulled lame at Git-R-Done (stone bruise; her sole is still mushy). Hoss managed to complete 100 miles total, and Demon got one day done at Gold Rush Shuffle. I was so sick with asthma it was a miracle we were able to complete the course together.

Ah, well. Onward and forward.

The big advantage of having completed at least one 50 on Hoss and Demon is they're both still on track for a longevity award, and to get Decade Team awards in 10 years. This is especially significant for Hoss. 2017 was his 8th consecutive year of endurance competition. He crossed 4,000 miles at Grand Canyon. It is my goal to have him at 5,000 miles at the end of his 10th competition year. 2018 will be his 9th year. I'm hoping to get at least 500 miles on him in 2018.

I do know I will be scheduling surgery to have my left hip replaced. This will happen sometime after March 15th. I had a hip injection on December 15th, which, unlike the last injection which did nothing, seems to have made matters worse. I was hoping for a little relief, as I can't do the surgery until after my daughter's wedding on February 28th. Unfortunately, it does not appear I will realize that hope, and will have to soldier on until I get the surgery.

My last hip replacement went remarkably well, and if it hadn't been for several unexpected misfortunes in the family, I would likely have been back to competing that summer. As it was, I barely managed to get one 50 on Hoss in the 2014 ride year. I'm hoping this replacement goes as well as the first, but I'm hedging my bets. I am hoping to get at least one 50 on all three horses before I have the surgery. Demon has already completed a 50, at Coso Junction. Between now and when I have surgery, I will be taking horses to as many rides as I can squeeze in.

Mileage goals are pretty simple this year. At least 50 on each horse before mid-March. 500 on Hoss before the end of the ride year. Anything more will be cake.

Feed Greatness, Week 1

I haven't received any emails from Purina at this stage. Perhaps they don't think I should be seeing any particular changes as of yet. That's OK, I tend to think it's a bit soon to be seeing anything in particular.

So far, the only thing which might remotely be linked to the supplement is all three horses seem to be eating better. Unfortunately, 6 days prior to starting this feed, we also made the annual switch from pasture mix hay to mountain oat hay. The pasture mix is available about 6-9 months per year, after which we get the mountain oat, which is generally available about 4-6 months per year. Both are very seasonal, and because we can't store a whole year's worth of hay, we are at the mercy of the market. The thing about the mountain oat is, it seems all the horses really prefer it to the pasture mix, and all the horses are eating better. So there's no way to really link it to the Outlast.

Since there are 9 horses here, we are doing this with a little bit of experimenting in mind. 4 horses are not getting any gut supplement at all. 1 horse is getting the U-Gard, which was Demon's previous gut supplement. 1 horse is getting Ul-Cer-Aid. 2 are getting the Outlast, and were not getting anything before. 1 is getting the Outlast in lieu of the U-Gard. I figure we'll have a somewhat better chance of noting any changes if we have horses who are not getting anything and some who are getting a different product.

The weight tape thing I found rather funny. It measures Hoss at just over 1,000 pounds. He's been using the same saddle and girth for some time, and has been on the same girth holes for quite a while, at least 6 months. This despite having visibly gained weight. Demon measures just under 850 pounds. This came as a shock, as I've measured him before (with a different tape) at 900, and he looks heavier to me now than he did then. It was DC's measurement which really got me skeptical. She measures just over 850. Last time I measured her, again, a different tape, she was barely 750. She's definitely heavier than she was then, but 100 pounds? I find it hard to believe. Additionally, I find it difficult to credit she's heavier at 14.1hh than Demon at 15hh. She's a super petite little thing. I'd believe 800 right now, but not 850.

The point of the weight tape really isn't about accuracy. It's about change over time. So I will shake my head and laugh, while recognizing the utility of the measurement, even if the numbers are suspect.

Purina still has not sent any follow-up information. Perhaps they're waiting for a month or so. I suspect they figure most consumers are feeding 1 horse, so they may send follow-ups at an interval of expected use of a bag. We'll see.

This is the Outlast Sell Sheet

Based on a closer reading of this, I'm not entirely convinced I'm feeding this at the rate Purina expects. I'm giving each horse 1 cup, which is a single serving, in their regular bucket feed every day. The sell sheet says: Typical feeding rate is 3-4 times per day—top-dressed with each meal and a snack 30-60 minutes prior to a stressful event. Well, we're doing 2 hay meals per day plus buckets at lunchtime. Unless I sprinkle it on their hay, all they're going to get is one serving. I don't see us changing the way we do things anytime soon, and it's not like anyone seems to be suffering, so we'll keep going as we are.

The Purina Feed Greatness Challenge

*Quick note: I am taking up blogging again. It has been a long time. There have been many changes and loads of challenges. Since Cthulhu was killed by coyotes in January of 2016, it's been tough for me to write and share about my horses and our adventures. I intend to pick up here and leave the intervening time aside for now. Perhaps some day I can visit it. For now, it is too painful and too much to communicate.

The Purina Feed Greatness Challenge.

Sure sounds great, doesn't it?

This came up with a post by Bruce Weary on the AERC Facebook page. He mentioned the Purina product Outlast, which is a gut supplement, and all the wonderful things it purports to do. Included was the statistic from studies which show up to 90% of horses have ulcers and just plain tummy trouble. He goes on to describe his journey from being a staunch opponent of the use of Omeprazole in competition, to a converted supporter of the practice encouraging all riders to so medicate their horses.

Now, I've read the studies, and seen all the arguments. I remain skeptical. I know in clinical practice many vets are seeing about a 20% incidence of ulcers in horses presented for scoping. These are horses who are believed to be suffering ulcers. Most of them are not. Additionally, I understand the potential complications of Omeprazole, and am reluctant to alter the gut function of my horses on a maybe. This is not to say I don't see the value of supplements for helping horses with what might be called acid reflux or indigestion in humans. I have fed competition-legal supplements to Hoss when he was competing heavily and having a hard time keeping weight on. How much it helped with his weight as a result of improving his gut function is not evident. Certainly he did better on it while he was competing heavily.

So now Purina has this Outlast supplement. After reading Bruce's post, I thought, well, what the heck? I get coupons and crap. So I got some. Up to now, only Demon has been getting the U-Gard supplement. Being a stallion, he's much more prone to stress and tummy aches, so I've kept him on it consistently for, oh, probably close to two years. DC and Hoss have not gotten any such supplement. I put all three horses on the Outlast, as something of a test.

Purina is providing all sorts of information and asking for data collection, including pictures. The images and data follow.

DEMON

Age: 12
Start Weight: 840
Start BCS: 5
Activity Level: Endurance
Previous Feed: Beet pulp, rice bran, barley, alfalfa hay pellet
Purina Feed: Outlast (otherwise remains as above)
Supplements: Se-E, salt


DC (DemonChild)

Age: 9
Start Weight: 850
Start BCS: 5
Activity Level: Endurance
Previous Feed: Beet pulp, rice bran, alfalfa hay pellet
Purina Feed: Outlast (otherwise remains as above)
Supplements; Se-E, salt

Hoss

Age: 13
Start Weight: 1010
Start BCS: 6
Activity Level: Endurance
Previous Feed: Beet pulp, ground flax seed, barley, alfalfa hay pellet
Purina Feed: Outlast (otherwise remains as above)
Supplements: Se-E, salt

So this is the start of the challenge. I started these 3 on the Outlast on December 9. Their weights were taken with a weight measure on the 16th, and I find them....suspect. More on that in the next post. Purina will send me information and such as the challenge progresses. This should be a very enlightening experience.

2015 Death Valley Encounter, Day 2, 50 Miles

Day 2 was Hoss's first day at this ride. Riding fresh horses on consecutive days is a bit of a challenge, I will say. I was glad, though, to ride Hoss after having ridden DC rather than the other way around. Hoss is a seasoned horse and while bigger and stronger, he also knows what is expected of him.

When I pulled Hoss's saddle pad out of the truck, it was frozen into the weirdest, least horse-back-shaped position I think it could possibly be in. It would have to warm up some before it assumed an appropriate shape. The saddle went on over it and my next hurdle was before me. Hoss has gotten a bit pudgy, and between that and the hard saddle pad, I couldn't get the girth around him. It took me and my husband putting an effort in to get the girth secured.

Because the girth was not tight, once I was ready to go I started simply leading Hoss around camp. Once the saddle pad warmed up, I was able to tighten the girth properly and mount up.

We got out on trail, going at a pretty hot clip. Hoss knows his job well. On this day, he was pretty motivated and wanted to go fast!

Of course, being seasoned doesn't mean Hoss doesn't ever misbehave. He's also strong willed and opinionated. He will take advantage of me when given the chance. We caught up with a pair of riders, and Erasmo wanted to say "hello" to the camera. So I turned it on, and while my attention was distracted laughing and joking, Hoss got one over on me. He got in a good bolt, and it took quite some time before I was able to get him back under control (see the video above).

I was pretty tired from managing DC on Day 1, so I finally said the hell with it and pretty much let Hoss has his way. This turned out to be not such a bad idea. He stayed with the front runners all morning, coming in to camp for the vet check in 9th place. I laughed and said that wouldn't last.

We took back to the trail after our hold time, moving a little slow since he'd already been in camp for a while and didn't see any purpose in leaving (well, he feels that way about out vet checks, too). He still got going at a pretty good clip once I convinced him we really were leaving.

We held our position for quite some time. For what seemed like a very long time, it felt like we were out there completely alone. The trouble started when we hit trail we had done earlier in the day. He thought this meant we were going to do the exact thing we'd done before, and without other horses nearby to keep him from getting discouraged, he wasn't having it. He dropped to a slow walk.

I decided I wasn't going to let him be demoralized, and held onto a positive outlook and just kept telling him how awesome he was. He really did not want to believe me. I persevered. I wasn't about to let him pull me into his dour outlook. Ultimately it worked. Sort of. He'd pick up the pace when we headed toward camp, and slowed when the trail took us away from camp.

Toward the end of the day, we came within a mile of camp, only to have to turn away for several more miles (very similar to the Coso Junction ride of a couple weeks before). As soon as we headed away from camp, Hoss slowed to a walk.

Hoss is a very helpful soul. He kept showing me trails that would take us back to camp. He was completely convinced I was lost, and he needed to show me the way.

A couple of horses passed us, and I hoped he'd perk up and want to keep with them. No, that wasn't about to happen. He didn't want to be with those horses. Those horses were just as stupid as his stupid rider!

Finally we turned back toward camp and he picked up the pace. There were moments when he thought I might be tricking him, but ultimately, he made it back to camp.

We placed 11th. Had he cared, he could have kept his 9th place position. But that's jut not Hoss. Still, he acquitted himself well, and I am very proud of him.

2015 Death Valley Encounter, Day 1, 50 Miles

After a very good performance in the 25 at the Coso Junction ride, I decided DC needed to do a 50 or two. She needed a little humbling. I've done Death Valley several times, so I had some idea what to expect. I decided it would be best to ride her on Days 1 and 4.

Day 1 is a big, long loop with an out vet check. It's a tough ride, but Days 2 and 3 have tougher trail I'm not ready to expose her to just yet.

In the morning I did my normal routine of feeding at 5am and getting my own breakfast. I was very fortunate to have my husband along, meaning I had a nice hot breakfast and  fresh coffee every day.

DC was quite nervous when the time came to saddle up. Now she really knew what's up. It's likely she's always going to be tense while we prepare. She settles down quite nicely once we're on the trail.

DC walked nicely out of camp and across the road, feeling a little conflicted with Hoss at camp calling for her. By the time we crossed the road, she got down to work and was ready to get after it.

We caught up with a group of riders I often ride with, including Laurie and Joan. I thought we might stick with them. It became evident DC is far too fast for that group, so I let her move on. I don't really want her getting into wanting to be with other horses anyway.

We were sailing along pretty well, and doing very nicely. I didn't realize at the time, but we were pretty close to the front runners.

At the top of a hill, I realized I needed to tighten DC's girth, so I hopped off and took care of that task. I didn't realize until later that in the process of getting off I had dislodged my phone, which remained behind.

I got back on, oblivious to the loss of my phone and we kept chugging down the trail. I had switched her recently to a hackamore, and now I learned that was a mistake. The idea was for her to get used to eating and drinking on trail and not have to contend with a bit while learning. Now I had nothing to drive her forward into, and she was over reaching badly. When another rider commented on the sound of her hind shoes clipping the fronts, I quipped, "At least I know the shoes are still on!"

Once we had broken free of other riders, we moved out some more with me trying to keep her together and not having much luck. At one point, her right front foot stopped hard, and she just kept moving on. I thought, she'd either hit a rock or pulled the shoe.

She had pulled the shoe.

It was only about 10 miles into the ride, and she wasn't about to slow down if she could avoid it.

We came to a dry creek crossing with a very steep step down. I decided she didn't know enough yet to try to carry me down it and hopped off to lead her down. As soon as I stepped down, the ground gave way underneath me. My only saving grace was that stupid hackamore. Since there was no bit in her mouth, I felt comfortable using the reins to keep me from falling completely, and she complied nicely by holding position and giving me something to brace against.

I recovered from my near-fall and continued leading DC. We were on single track trail, and she wanted nothing more than to catch up with other horses in the distance. I was eventually forced to get back on and hope that right front foot would hold up. She just would not walk compliantly and she was going to get me hurt.

Once back on, we were off and trotting again. I managed to keep her back some, but elected to dismount to control her on another downhill and she was determined to catch up. At least at this point we were on a road, so she was less likely to kill me. The absolute determination was beginning to get to me. For a moment I considered removing her bridle and letting her go and see if we ended up in the same place at the end of the day.

At this point I realized I'd lost my phone. Now I was thoroughly discouraged. DC had a shoe off. My phone was gone. All we were going to be doing at the vet check was getting a ride back to camp.

Another pair of riders caught up, and one called out to ask if I'd lost a phone. Why, yes, yes I had. Indeed, they had my phone. And, they offered me the use of a hoof boot. It was a size too big, but it seemed to stay on pretty okay.

We continued on our way, me watching our shadow carefully to make sure that boot was still on, her looking for horses to overtake. She would catch up and overtake horses, then keep going to be sure they stayed behind her. Occasionally she'd slow down, figuring she was far enough ahead to risk taking a breather. If another horse caught her, it was on again.

The boot turned out not to work. It would stay on until she over reached and stepped it off. By the time I gave up on it the gaiter was wrecked.

I finally led her into the vet check, having gone faster than I had expected and slower than DC wanted. If she'd had her way, we would have been to the vet check an hour and a half earlier.

I found our crew bag and got us set up. This was DC's first out vet check experience. She had learned enough in her last ride to know she'd better eat. Still, she was pretty amped and wanted to look around. I insisted she be reasonably still and not spin circles. She ate her hay relatively well, but ignored the bran mash.

After we'd been in for half an hour, I took her to Alyssa to vet. I mentioned the lost shoe and that she hadn't taken a lame step. She passed the vet check without taking a bad step. OK, so we were going to continue. If nothing else, even if she was disqualified at the end, she needed to learn a little something.

We finished our hold time and headed out. DC did a nice controlled trot for a time, and then caught sight of other horses. And we were off. She cantered just shy of a gallop for a good length of time across the valley floor. Other horses caught us when she slowed, then she'd get up moving again and pass. I managed somehow to keep her from completely running away with me.

What finally slowed her was the heavy climb out of the valley. We were now with two other horses on a rocky, treacherous section of trail. She was fine with staying behind Ann Marie and Woody at this point.

Never once did DC take a lame step as she powered back toward camp. Her only concession to maybe being a little sore footed was the switch to cantering on the other lead toward the end of the day.

Concerned about that foot, I got off and led her in the last bit. Consequently, we were passed by several horses and dropped out of the top ten. Had she not lost that shoe, she certainly would have been in the top ten. As it was, she still dragged me back into camp at the end of the day.

Did I say something about humbling her? Never mind.

2015 Death Valley Warm Up, Day 2, 25 Miles

On Day 2, I saddled DC up with her new gear to head out. She was quite nervous, not sure what to expect, and knowing Hoss was distressed. Hoss, of course, understood what it meant that she was being saddled and he was not. He was giving her last minute instructions as I saddled her up and walked her away.

DC sporting the ugly saddle, the day we found it.

I knew Hoss would be OK by himself. He's a smart and sensible guy and generally quits acting the fool pretty quickly. I did make sure his lead rope was well secured. By the time we left, he was looking up and nickering, but mostly keeping his head lodged in his hay bag.

Getting ready for the ride, feeling nervous

DC was a little silly at the start. She was spooking at every little thing she could think of to spook at. I realized her girth was not tight enough, but she wouldn't stand still for me to get off until another rider, taking pity on me, stopped her horse in DC's path so I could dismount.

Once the saddle was tightened sufficiently, I got back on and we were on our way. It only took a few miles for DC to settle in and get to work. She was clearly a little mystified by the number of horses around. It's been a long time since she has been at a ride, and our last one we took a wrong turn and it was her, me, Hoss, and Wendy for miles and miles. This was really a rather new experience for her  to be around a bunch of strange horses all going the same place.

We trotted along and stayed with various horses for brief periods, but DC never really hooked up with another horse. She could take or leave any of them. Often, preferably, leave them.

The vet check was a quick check and short hold. We didn't have to stay long, and DC showed no interest in her hay, so we got back on the trail quickly. She was looking back and trying to determine what in the world it was we were up to, so it didn't take long for another rider to catch up with us.

Our horses were pretty well matched (other than the gelding walked faster than DC does), so we remained together for the rest of the ride.

DC quickly discovered trotting downhill was a pretty nifty way to make time. And when we got to the long more-or-less flat portion, she got right down to cantering. Cantering is her new favorite thing. She would pop over into the canter and just go right along. I kept thinking she'd slow down on her own, but that wasn't going to happen. I kept having to slow her myself.

I was having difficulty keeping myself centered in the saddle. The previous day's ride on Hoss had left me pretty much without any "leg" left. Every time DC took the right canter lead, the lead she prefers, I'd start to lose the left stirrup. And every time I tried to get the stirrup back, DC thought I was asking her to go faster. She is, I have to say, quite fast. I could tell she had another gear to give. I kept her back, not wanting her to blow herself up.

We sailed back to camp, and I had to get off to get her to slow down. As we walked along the paved road back into camp, I could hear the telltale sound of a loose shoe. That left hind shoe was near gone. This was not a surprise. After all, she was due for shoes the next day.

After I got DC vetted out (she didn't give a hoot about Hoss; her heart rate came down right away), I took her back to the trailer and tended her. I got everything packed up and we were ready to go two hours after we had finished. I was satisfied with this time before loading up.

At the end of the ride, she thinks she's got this all figured!

I had loaded the horses in the trailer and was putting away the last minute stuff when someone yelled to ask what my out time was. Out time? I was done! I guess I've been doing 50s so long, it never occurred to anyone to think I was doing an LD.

We pulled out at 3pm, and were home by 10. DC cantered off into the pasture, shoe clattering, feeling pretty darn good about herself.