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  Discussion on 25 y/o Thoroughbred needs to gain weight
Author Message
Member:
travelle

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008 - 1:55 pm:

Hi
Any advice on putting weight on a 25 y/o Thoroughbred. I got him as a "free" horse last year and have spent a fortune trying to put weight on him. Currently he gets about 8 lbs of grain a day - 2 lbs sweet, 2 lbs pellet and some calf manna. He also gets a supplemental weight builder, joint and hoof supplements and corn oil. He gets about 6 flakes of hay a day. He was gaining weight over the summer but I noticed the winter has worn him down. He seems to be a picky eater and just doesn't love his food like my mare and rescue horse does. I had his teeth floated when I got him and he probably need that again. I just hate seeing a skinny horse.
New Member:
goldshoe

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008 - 3:00 pm:

Hi Sarah,

I got a senior horse in last fall who was quite thin, his entire topline was gone. He was a little bit ribby and his hips were protruding. I changed him over to a product called speedi beet, and a grain called gro n win, this is a buckeye feed. If you were to use either of these feeds it is important to note they are more concentrated than regular products and you need to feed less amounts per meal. Also, if it is possible to spread the meals out into three per day instead of two, that is sometimes better for weight gain and digestion. I also added one cup of rice bran to his breakfast and dinner. Within two weeks his overall body score improved. His topline was stronger, I could feel his ribs, but they were not visible anymore. His hind end took about a month to improve. A light exercise routine added the muscle he had lost and after six months on this diet he looks amazing. No supplements, no corn oil. I didn't want to feed him a ton of grain because with senior horses we have to worry about insulin resistance and the slew of issues that come with that. I only learned of these products after my retired show jumper tested extremely high positive for cushings, and DrOpped a ton of weight. I could barely look at her, she was emaciated. She was at high risk for founder too, so I couldn't use sweet feed or alfalfa to fatten her up. She was extremely sick when she began this diet but she was returned to a healthy weight in less than six months. I recommend speaking to your vet before switching your horse to any different feeding regimen. AS for all the other horses in my barn, they are all plump. They get free choice hay, plain beet pulp, alfalfa cubes, rice bran, and very, very, little grain. Both of these older horses are maintaining their weight. I have actually had to cut the gelding back, he is getting overweight...even by my standards. I hope this helps.
New Member:
goldshoe

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008 - 3:05 pm:

p.s

i hate to use the "u" word but, if he is a picky eater, and losing weight, that could signal an ulcer.
Member:
travelle

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008 - 3:25 pm:

I do use beet pulp and alfalfa cubes but have not heard of rice bran? Where do you get that? I will start doing more exercising with him this year. Also has any one used apple cider vinegar?
New Member:
goldshoe

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008 - 4:08 pm:

I use triple crown rice bran, our local feed store carries it. Speedi beet is (in my opinion) ten times more effective at putting weight on horses. It is a much different product altogether The method in which it is processed allows nutrients to be released prior to hind gut fermentation. Also, it soaks and is ready to feed in less than ten minutes. The low glycemic index is a major perk for the old timers too. If you would like more info see www.britishhorsefeeds.com.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008 - 7:31 pm:

Hello Sarah-Rose,
Welcome to TB's it is not that uncommon to run across one which is very high maintenance and include the lost efficiencies of digestion in older horses and this may be your horse. But we are getting a bit ahead of ourselves, besides the recommendations in the article of geriatric care there is a step by step program for assessing difficult keepers in Diseases of Horses » Colic, Diarrhea, GI Tract » Weight Loss in Horses » Overview of Chronic Weight Loss. It along with the geriatric article should get you on the right path. Note: vinegar will not help put weight on a horse.
DrO
New Member:
shahara

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008 - 9:38 pm:

I tried the link to british horse feeds but there does not seem to be a dealer in the USA. Do you know where one could purchase it?
Member:
goldshoe

Posted on Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008 - 10:53 pm:

I get the speedi beet from white haven farm in upton massachusetts. www.whitehavenfarm.com there are several other dealers listed on the british horse feed website, but it was a bit tricky to navigate them out.
Member:
erika

Posted on Thursday, Mar 20, 2008 - 12:57 pm:

Welcome, Sarah-Rose. Is it possible that he is having trouble with hay? If he did better over the summer, perhaps grass was easier to chew/dugest.

I recently lost a 35 year old. He wasn't able to deal with hay for years. We gave him Senior complete feed mixed with warm water for his entire ration and he looked remarkably well since then. He, too, got something out of the grass that he wasn't getting from hay.

Feeding more often helps, too. We started him on the Senior regimen by feeding four times a day at first. Later we got by on twice, with pasture.
Good luck.
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