Advice on weight? (And feed possibly)

E

EquestrianFairy

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 October 2006
Messages
6,502
Visit site
My little lad weighs 368kg (4.5yo Section D).
He is very much on the lighter side and enjoys his food but doesn't seem to be putting any extra weight on. To me, he is too thin. He is not the type to gorge on food and currently is on:

Calm and condition
Micronised linseed
Vit/min supp (from progressive earth)
pony nuts

He has a massive shires XL Haynet over night full to the brim with hay and he will eat all of it over night.

I found he rarely finished his haylege but will demolish the hay so I changed that initially.
Is it worth waiting for the spring grass to come through before changing his feed?

Help! Thanks!
 
Increase his hay until he can't finish it. It is the best way to put weight on, is good for the digestion and good for mental health too
 
Kat said:
Increase his hay until he can't finish it. It is the best way to put weight on, is good for the digestion and good for mental health too
Click to expand...

Ditto this!

Also are you sure he really is too thin - what would you condition score him as?
 
I have a hay bar being put in on the weekend so I will load that up with hay as well. I should have said he finishes it but he's never left hungry.
 
TGM said:
Ditto this!

Also are you sure he really is too thin - what would you condition score him as?
Click to expand...

Out of 5 (BHS one I'm going on) I would say 2. However he has a full winter coat on as well. I can't find a photo that really shows it in a true light.
 
How long have you had him? What quantities are you feeding him and how long has he been on this feed regime without appearing to gain weight? Has he has any illnesses or injuries recently?
 
TGM said:
How long have you had him? What quantities are you feeding him and how long has he been on this feed regime without appearing to gain weight? Has he has any illnesses or injuries recently?
Click to expand...

A little over two months now but zero weight gain, I know it's not long nth with the feed he's getting I find it a lkte strange.

So- he has two feeds but over the day he will have had one full Stubbs scoop of calm and condition, one scoop of nuts, two scoops of the linseed and one of the vit supp.

He has a full XL Haynet- the shires ones that can fit a person in they are that big. I often leave him In sometimes for 2 days to get more hay Into him and he will constantly, happily, eat the entire time.
I questioned ulcers (he doesnt show any outward signs) as I had similar problems with another horse and she had them but she displayed outward signs of it.

Sorry no illnesses or injuries and he's due to be wormed via yard programme next month although he's always been wormed regularly with his old owner.
 
Last edited:
My pony gained no weight at all on Calm and Condition, micronised linseed and sugar beet. Then my feed store changed to Spillers feeds so I bought Spillers conditioning cubes and the weight has gone on nicely. So well, I cut the linseed out and he now is perfect on the Spillers and sugar beet.
 
I think Speedibeet is roughly the same energy wise than C&C. My friend uses C&C and gets good results, so I think each horse is different. If you are coming to the end of feeds I'd try a change (gradually of course) and see how you go.
 
You need to up the hay. Tinkering with hard feed will do very little other than empty your wallet if he doesn't have enough forage.

Weigh your hay daily and gradually increase the weight until he is leaving a decent amount. This made a huge difference to mine. It was far more important than anything we fed from a bucket and she needs about double what most people thought!
 
I too would up the hay. Remember the spring grass is coming through so he'll put on weight with that. Also, have a look at oats, sound odd but they really do work. Along with sugar beet.
 
Baileys no 4 is higher in starch and sugars, try Top Spec comprehensive balancer and cool conditioning cubes, not likely to need the cubes at this time of year. i know the balancer seems expensive but its great and you wont need the extras, just chaff. My boy didnt get on with CC, he put weight on but it was a lot of bulk to eat when wet and they can only handle a certain amount in one feed.

Also agree with ad lib hay, or if hes not eating all of it add simple system lucie pellets mixed within the hay, feed they hay on the floor and sprinkle over.

Good luck
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top