Just need to vent about my horses.

[hunterjumper999]

I have three horses. Two were rescues and one was a really good deal that cost more than I had but we scraped together and bought him.

Jimmy- the purchase that was supposed to be my dream horse.

He got hurt on his 2nd day at the barn fighting over the fence with a neighbor horse.

Follow that up with a month of antibiotic shots off and on ( penn) and then SMZ's and Bute for about three weeks. . .

he went off his feed mostly and dropped weight being confined in his stall. he was miserable. He went back out with his friends at the vets orders... everyone else is on pasture.

He was so skinny you could see his ribs and from his 'jumper bump' to tail you could count the vertebrae.

Now he's less skinny but still depressingly thin. He's not an easy keeper and no matter what we do we can't get him to 'bulk up' at a rate of speed that makes us think we're not starving him. He gets a bale of hay a day ( well, for three horses they get 2 bales) they are on pasture 24/7 and not short nibbled down grass- quality grasses and hay mix that is about shoulder height now... he gets 3 quarts of grain a day- per the vet that i spoke with- with a coat and hoof suppliment mixed in ( omega 3's and biotin) he's not in work and just hangs out . For a while we were doing flax seed and rice bran but it got too expensive with little results.

I just want to feel like he's not starving.... and i feel like i cant put him in the field where anyone can see him because he's so thin... but he's gained maybe 200 lbs in about three months.

He gets naturopathic foot care by an excellent man and he hasnt said anything about the weight recently ( now, he did say he looked horrible during the antibiotic regime) .

I havent gotten to ride him ( beyond a hop on here and there) at all because i just dont feel that he's in a condition to be expelling calories for my pleasure.

Then there are two rescues. They were thin when we got them four weeks ago. so they got tossed out. and are now building up to 3 qts a day ( previously on just plain oats, not grain ) and are gaining weight. The mares getting mare and foal pellets because she is in foal ( we hope we can save them both but im not sure how its going to go at this point).

I can't afford any extras for myself which is fine...but i wish i knew if there were something else the horses needed to gain faster... but fast is not always the best.

I dont have any pictures but if someone wants to see i'll take some tomorrow.


I'm just so depressed between the one who wont gain . the one who is just a mess and the one who's not broke .

I used to have a warmblood in Ct and i sold him before i moved for 20 k plus. now i have fix it horses ( which is FINE- not complaining about that at all someone has to do it) but i can't catch a break at all with them. I just want to ride darn it!

 

[turney31]

I have just gone through the rescue route, vets, feed.......All with great results, all I could add is a little corn oil on their feed, time and patience. I realize how frustrating and slow it seems, but slow is good. Bless you for all you are doing and I know you already know what treasures they will be! My opinion is that to ride now would be a step backwards. Best of luck to you!
Micah

 

[redhen]

geez! 200lbs in 3 months! He gains weight almost as fast as me!

Just kidding,you sound like a good horse mom!

 

[lorieMN]

I had an old rescue,similiar story to yours..NOTHING i did helped him gain weight..well I ran out of grass hay and all I could find was 3rd cutting dairy alfalfa..HOLY CRAP did that horse turn around...bloom came back,spunk came back and he gained all his weight he needed.he looked great and stayed that way even after going back to pasture and grass hay..I did the same as you,vet,teeth,feed,supplements..it didnt help him until he got on the alfalfa..you didnt mention how the flies are where you are or if hes been wormed..he may have a huge parasite load,and some horses cannot handle it if the bugs are really bad,the bugs just seem to eat the weight right off them..

 

[gaited horse]

worm him and have his teeth floated

 

[hunterjumper999]

his teeth were just done about two months ago. He was kicked in the face right before we got him. . . so that was the first order of business after his initial wounding.

I powerpacked him with strongid when he arrived... will it hurt to power pack again?

 

[Equest94]

I have a mare that got badly injured 14 months ago. She's just starting to go good (still a bit stiff at the canter, but it's getting better). She was my competition horse and the both of us were use to a strict exercise and conditioning schedule. After she got hurt, I was not able to ride or even lunge her for months which was very disappointing and frustrating; so I can only imagine what you must be feeling to not be able to do anything.

As for the low-weight issue, I agree with the others - make sure he's teeth are floated regularly and keep him on a good worming schedule. Also, don't let the grass pasture get too long, cut it every once in a while, if grass gets too long, it gets drier (at the ends) and thus loses it's nutritional value. An alfalfa hay mixture is best for thin horses, competition horses, and mares in foal; it is very rich in nutrients. I would also recommend you give him some beet-pulp. Beet pulp is high in sugar and really can help pack on the pounds (but can also result in excess energy).

Also, make sure all of your horses are getting the minerals they need. Selenium is very important for a horse's health. Perhaps even add electrolytes to their feed of water or offer electrolytes and minerals as a free choice.


I wish you the very best of luck with all of your horses. Please keep us updated on their progress.

 

[mschickychick]

Have you tried bread? I've always found that a couple of slices white bread crumbled in their feed works wonders.

I think corn oil helps their coat mostly but if you use it start with very small amount and work up. It gives them the runs.

Hope this helps.

 

[al6517]

I used corn oil also but I mixed it in his feed with some red cell,

1 cup oil
1/4 cup red cell
mixed well until all the feed is coated, this put on wieght very fast for him with no intestinal problems at all, he was a big 18H thoughowbred (spelling?), I would be more wary of Too much Alfalfa can be way to hot and alot of it carries those throat burr beatles.

AL

 

[Sallyschickens]

How soon before you got him was he kicked in the mouth? Have a second opinion on the float job he received prior to you owning him.