FEEDING PSYLLIUM
My horses won't eat dry psyllium husk. They don't like pelleted psyllium either. Any suggestions?
Horse Journal Response
If you add hot water to the powder, it makes a gelatinous goo that most horses seem to eat when it's mixed in with grain or pellets. Flavorings for feeding it alone might include a jar of baby food carrots, carrot juice, apple juice, grape juice or dried herbs/flavorings like apple fiber, red beet powder or dried clover.
TOUCHY HORSE
My Thoroughbred gelding is totally sound but hates to be brushed or groomed at all from shoulder to hip and all around the barrel. Sometimes he hates the initial feel of the girth if it isn't leather. He won't tolerate wool or polyester-lined girths. Do you have any suggestions?
Horse Journal Response
Oversensitivity to touch can occur for a variety of reasons, e.g. neurological disease, horse is generally "irritable" because of pain, anticipated pain or just not feeling well in general, local skin inflammation, e.g. an allergic response. Some horses, possibly because of prior bad experiences, are also nervous about being worked on in an area where they can't see you clearly. In fact, nervous horses in general are also often sensitive to touch.
If none of these apply, the horse may simply be "thin-skinned." You didn't state this is a new reaction. Thoroughbreds especially can be sensitive, and all the areas you describe are actually parts of the body where the skin is, literally, thinner.
Try experimenting with different types of brushes (try natural bristles first, as they may be softer), different amounts of pressure and stroking styles to see if you determine what the horse likes best.
