My horse loosing weight, how do I put it back on? ******UPDATE********

[CarriBrown]

FL- You may want to take weekly pictures of your mare just to keep track of her during this time. I did this with a little mare I got a few years ago and she didn't look like she was gaining weight. But, when I went back and looked, it was obvious that she was. Those weight tapes usually aren't accurate.
I would still have her mouth checked. Even if they were floated, she may have some other dental problem that is keeping her from eating.

 

[Standard Hen]

22 that is true and not true. I just had a Thoroughbred brought onto my property July 1st,,,underweight about 200 lbs. The owner had him at a barn that would not feed him enough hay. She had her full board price set and she was not charging enough so I think she was actually losing money so really skimped on the hay as that was one of her biggest expenses.
The barn owner kept on wanting to up his grain but this was a horse that was not working and did not need to be on big amounts of grain. Of course it sure is cheaper than feeding hay with the prices so high and there was no pasture.
To make a long story short here he came, same amount of grain but lots more hay and I must say he is filled out nicely. But, it just happened that it worked for him, TB's can be hard keepers at times and I have heard great results about Rice Bran.
You need to go back and really read what flchook wrote, I think some things just need to be adjusted first and then go from there.

 

[verthandi]

Quote:
Fast Track is made by Conklin. It comes in a small bright yellow bag about the size of a small flour bag. Powder, about a tablespoon a day per horse. They do make a product for just horses now, but I have had good luck with their original one. (usually sold where they sell Select products)

You will probably not believe me when I tell you my horses get no grain. They get a 1 1/2 lbs of hay pellet twice a day, and a vitamin suppliment. I have used Blue Seal for 40+ years. I used to work at a grain store and did try Poulin for a short time. (when I was still feeding grain). I like the consistancy of product with Blue Seal. Poulin seemed to vary more from season to season.

I think both are good feeds, I find the problems usually start when people start switching brands and are having a hard time finding a plan that works for their own horses.

Two of the kids, red dun a hard keeper. 4 flakes of hay x3 a day.

 

[newchickowner]

In winter months when they start to drink less, we add salt to their feed. About a tablespoon right on top, you can buy it in 50lb bags. Makes them thirsty for a drink when they are done eating, and makes sure they get enough water in them to help push all that hay through during the day, you don't want an impaction.

Other than that, everyone else gave pretty much the same advise I'd give. I grew up in Hernando Co. FL before moving to Texas, grass there is a joke, always had to feed lots of hay!!!

oh, and TB's tend to have ulcers, some of them stress easily. Watch to see how much food she is actually eating. If she's not eating the amount you gave her and the other horse is finishing it for her it could be a sign of an ulcer. We had a young TB a 4-H kid got straight off the track and he was getting normal amounts (for a TB

) of hay and grain, but the food would last all day and some would still be there at dinner time. The poor child only had the TB for a week, and I found him dead one morning when I went out to feed. The vet did a necropsy and found that half his stomach was ulcerated and perforated though. He was of healthy weight and was in a paddock by himself because he was new. We noticed that he didn't finish his food, but didn't have long enough to discuss it with the vet before the ulcer killed him.

You're mare is much older, but it's still possible that she may have developed an ulcer recently. Just food for thought.

 

[Standard Hen]

verthandi I have known pople who have gone grainless but the horses or ponies were usually very easy keepers and of course out of work. They also had pasture from spring until fall or as long as you can squeak it out here in New England. The picture of your two is beautiful and they look great!!! Nice and round!
When you are talking hay pellet do you mean like hay stretcher? I have heard great things about that adding weight too. Again, forage in another form.
I hardly ever will recommend beet pulp or corn oil because I had a few hard keepers here and it just did not work, nada.
Then you talk to people who swear by it. Again,,,all horses react differently to different things.
Salt is essential and I try to keep a block around always. Good input on the ulcers! Yes,,you will see it often in TB's and I forgot all about that.

 

[verthandi]

When you are talking hay pellet do you mean like hay stretcher? I have heard great things about that adding weight too. Again, forage in another form.

Little work for my crew, I seem to be the beast of burden.

Three were not easy keepers, but now that the feeding program is in place I feel they would be even with a heavier work schedule.

Yes, I use Hay Stretcher, started about 10 years ago when we had a bad hay season. I wasn't happy with the quality of hay. It was good dry hay, just lacking in protein %. The hay stretcher has helped their feet, causes them to grow short, dense coats, and just better over all health. (no more wooly mammoth looking critters)

I also do not use rice bran, beet pulp or oils. Well I used to use some oil to help shed out in the spring if I was showing. Adding these takes some research as I am sure you already know. Rice bran, beet pulp and bran all need to be looked at for calcium to other mineral imbalances.

I had forgotten about the ulcer problem too in many track horses. Good information Newchickenowner! Pure aloe gel can sometimes help with those if they are mild.

 

[Standard Hen]

I am the only "BEAST OF BURDEN" at this place.

 

[Chatychick]

Yep I just saw your post and the first thing I thought of was ulcers...as they have gone thru lots of things in the past. I have a older barrel/cutting horse and that was the first thing I did was treat for ulcers and have his teeth power floated. It gets the teeth better and farther than the hand type of floating. He had some really bad and I mean Bad hooks in the very back where the hand floating didnt get to. I hope yours gets better and starts putting on some weight. Mine did and he just looks wonderful now...

 

[Rafter 7 Paint Horses]

Everyone has given you great advice.

Personally I wouldn't use beet pulp, it doesn't add weight, it just blows them up so they look like they have gained weight. It is a trick used by show people to "beef up" all animals before a show or an auction. They start to feed it 1 to 2 weeks before the event.

Other than that, I believe you can find something in all the advice given that will help you.

One more thing, although your pasture may be green and lush, it is still Fall, and the nutrient content is not as high in grass this time of the year unless you have a winter grass starting to grow now, like Rye grass. You will need to give them a lot more hay.

Our pasture is still nice and green and still growing, the horses love to graze, but I still see them at their hay rings for a few hours a day too. Believe me, if the grass had what they needed, they wouldn't be at the hay ring.

Jean

 

[patandchickens]

No offense meant, Jean, but beet pulp *does* add normal weight - it is digestible for calories and nutrition just like hay or grass. Of course if you feed too much the horse will get a belly just like feeding too much hay, and only exercise plus adequate protein levels will produce muscle. Maybe that is what you have seen?

OTOH if horses have lotsa good grass or hay available and decent teeth, they shouldnt need beet pulp.

It seems to me that some tbs who have raced or done other high-energy-intensive things for a long time, which includes many polo horses, ARE hard keepers and require to be tapered down *gradually* over a while, sometimes even years, from Lots to Some to No grain. So if these horses of yours were getting grain or pellets before you got them when they were fatter, it might help to start again with a modest amount for now. I would try a relatively hi-fat hi-fiber pellet with at least 14% protein, unless they have choke problems w/pelleted feed. You ARE sure that one horse isn't hogging all the feed and good grass?

I also agree about the ulcer thing. Problem is, ulcers can be quite expensive to formally diagnose and to treat. Sometimes I think you just have to do what you can about the other factors in the horses' lives.

(edited to add: btw, a lot of vets and even some equine dentists do a pretty lousy job floating teeth, so just because your regular vet says they are now ok is no guarantee of anything. If there is someone else generally felt to be really good w/teeth in your area, a 2nd opinion would be a good investment and might really help the horse!)

Good luck,

Pat