Advice on weight (or lack of)

OK OP, I was in a similar situation in december after my horse had colic. She was really poor - not quite as poor as yours, but she is broad so can be deceptive. I fed her lots of Calm and Condition (double what she should have been getting), along with 2 mugs of linseed per day, Equimins Advanced Complete, plus other bits.

She had adlib haylage. Within 2 months she was right as rain, looking great. I then changed her to Top Spec Senior balancer with Top Chop Lite as I was worried about her gaining too much condition for the time of year - she looked even better, and moved like a dream. She was on this for one month.

Then she started to look too well and is now on TopSpec Antilam and a tiny bit of TopChop Lite, with magnesium and TopSpec 10:10 joint supplement. SHe is muzzled all of the time she even looks at grass. I feel awful for letting her gain too much, but it seemed to have happened all of a sudden.

What I'm saying is, it is possible to pick up condition quickly - but just be careful not to over do it as that causes problems too. But for weight gain, those three things really helped my mare - Calm and Condition, Linseed and then separately the Top Spec Senior balancer which was great for her joints. She is 23 - i had her blood tested too to rule out anything sinister. Now am considering Cushings testing.
 
Defininitely on about the same mare then as OP mentioned earlier in the post that oats had sent her bonkers after getting into the feed store....*sigh*
You didn't want to be slated OP but getting your story straight first might've helped..
 
Toast said:
Defininitely on about the same mare then as OP mentioned earlier in the post that oats had sent her bonkers after getting into the feed store....*sigh*
You didn't want to be slated OP but getting your story straight first might've helped..
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My my, what a shame we can't all be perfect like you.

Well guys, what a really nice way to help someone... Pats on the back all round.
 
Firstly, don't panic and ignore some of the more nasty comments previously posted!

It is that time of year when horses of your's type and age are very prone to looking bloody awful!

I would recommend these guys for all things great in the "putting weight on" stakes but Dr Green is well and truly on it's way!

http://www.gravenhorse.co.uk/LinGold.htm
 
Queenbee said:
My my, what a shame we can't all be perfect like you.

Well guys, what a really nice way to help someone... Pats on the back all round.
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I think previous posts by this OP have shown that she has very little regard for her poor mare, and very little common sense. Queenbee you have been very helpful to her, but please don't slate other posters for their opinion. Queenbee you are, Queen of the forum I am afraid you are not.
 
Toast said:
You can't honestly tell me you'd ride and JUMP a mare in that condition? It's common sense, is it not?!
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Those comments and that topic was covered yesterday, I think the more important fact is that the op came on here for some bloody support and once again the lynch mob is out in force. Op has already agreed that some of her actions were bad judgement, but instead of letting that drop some people seem to want to hold a magnifying glass over it and focus only on that. Sorry, but that's totally inappropriate and is not going to help op get her horse better is it?

Oh and Mickyjoe. There is nothing wrong with trying to get information from as many sources as possible, I have done exactly the same.
 
Toast said:
I think it's a little more than simply poor judgement tbh
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You are absolutely right, it's a lot more than that, it's a horse that is quite clearly poorly. Suggesting the op doesn't ride it is constructive, focusing only on slagging her off for having ridden it is just not going to help the horse. What op needs is some serious constructive help about how to manage this situation in the whole and possible ideas to discuss with the vet.

I am pretty angry to be honest, I got so much help and support from this forum last year when I was going through something very similar, and I'm embarrassed to be part of such a forum when I see people behaving like this. Step back and look at the bigger picture, you are just driving away someone who clearly needs some support and is struggling to find out what is wrong with her very. Poorly horse.

But hey, if it makes you feel better. Screw the horse in all of this, lets just focus on the owners failures shall we?
 
ester said:
have you read all the other threads that OP has posted on QB? (not ones they started)
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No. I've seen pictures of a very skinny horse, heard about the results that have come back from the vets, and read the diet the horse is on. That's enough for me. This horse is poorly. That is the bottom line.
 
Well I think the OP has had quite good advice over the thread really.

keep vet involved
get teeth sorted asap
get an independent nutritionist to advise
stop riding the horse.
pay someone trustworthy to care for it if she is unable to do so again.

I'm unsure that the horse is actually sick rather than just underweight given that it has been out and on haylage for the winter.

I do find it odd that the OP has concerns that a numnah is rubbing... and that she won't ride her without one though.
 
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Yea very poorly and still has to pop jumps etc if op wants to do one good thing for mare to help her recovery then stop worrying which bit etc and stop riding and listen to what her vet says !
 
wench said:
Some dentists can have a long waiting list. I know mine does.
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But you would not leave a horse extremely thin showing signs of discomfort in the mouth for three and a half month would you .
You would all a vet and get a gag in the horses mouth and find out what was going on.
 
Goldenstar said:
But you would not leave a horse extremely thin showing signs of discomfort in the mouth for three and a half month would you .
You would all a vet and get a gag in the horses mouth and find out what was going on.
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Precisely. I wince at the thought of the poor mare being put in a gag. :eek:
 
Have not read the whole thread because can't be bothered, but OP it's always far more difficult to put weight and condition on than it is to lose it. Particularly a older horse. What you need is check over by a good vet, maybe some blood work just make sure. Then DOCTOR GREEN!!
Hopefully this warmer weather will continue, the grass will grow and that will do your pony the world of good.
 
horseandshoes77 said:
he had his teeth checked? My mare started trying to rear recently but we're convinced its her teeth and have the dentist out asap to sort her out as I found a sharp one just with a quick feel.

Priceless .... this is ops advice on another post !
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I don't understand what you mean.
 
Hi, I can't quote as I'm clearly an imbecile but CIRCE recommended Equi-Jewel earlier. Its sold by Saracen feeds here and already in their show improver pencils which are excellent for topline and weight gain.

Just in case I'm echoing someone else, I haven't read through all the new posts since I've been home tonight...my excuse anyway :D
 
I believe that this horse is kept in Somerset? On the Levels maybe. I would get it checked for liver fluke. As for the OP's other posts, they come across as written by someone with very little horse knowledge, so I'm not really surprised that the horse has ended up in the state she is in.
 
lhotse said:
I believe that this horse is kept in Somerset? On the Levels maybe. I would get it checked for liver fluke. As for the OP's other posts, they come across as written by someone with very little horse knowledge, so I'm not really surprised that the horse has ended up in the state she is in.
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Glad I'm not the only one who thought this...
 
well I think Ihotse's certainly was re the fluke if horse is indeed on the levels although I presumed was across the border from us in Devon.
 
lhotse said:
I believe that this horse is kept in Somerset? On the Levels maybe. I would get it checked for liver fluke. As for the OP's other posts, they come across as written by someone with very little horse knowledge, so I'm not really surprised that the horse has ended up in the state she is in.
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No Devon
 
Could still be liver fluke, the wet weather of the last 12 months has seen a sharp rise in occurrence in cattle, so I would think it's a possibility. I know that you are jumping to the defense on this case because of what happened with your mare, but I do think that it is a totally different scenario here. The fact that the OP knew that the horse's teeth were bad in January, yet still hasn't had them done, and has obviously been working the horse in this condition bears no resemblance to what you and your mare went through. The OP needs a kick up the arse if you ask me...
 
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