Am i stupid for worrying?

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jodiew

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Hi all, i have just been reading some of the posts about peoples horses, that are under weight having liver problems and it makes me worry!

I have a 14yr 17h Thoughbred X, he was in a poor state when i bought him three months ago, bbut is now getting better, when i moved him he had 10 full days at grass, now he is ont haylege and one hard feed. When he first came he did have a runny bum, so we wormed him and had all the usual test done.

We think it was the haylage as it has the stuf we have got no is very dry and his poo is totally normal now, but my YO still thinks he needs abit more weight on so is getting the vet to come and take a blood test.

You cant see his ribs,, but if you go feel quite hard then you can feel them, he has no toplie and his withers are quite prominent (sp) and hum bum needs some muscle.

Does this sound like i have cause to worry or am i just been a silly bugger?

Jodie xx
 
All sounding pretty normal for a thoroghbred who might have had a tough start in life. Is he working? You will not acheive topline without lunging or proper ridden work. I would be adding oil to the diet to help condition and splitting the food over 2 feeds each day.
 
agree with the_watcher, will need work to achieve muscle and top line. Your obviously doing a good job so keep up the good work
 
Yes he is working, i ride him tue, wed, sometimes thur, Fri Sat and usually gets Monday and sunday off.

I said about putting oil in his feed what kind of oil? we didnt want to put it in while he still had a runny bum. I have been trying to do alot of pole work with him and doing raised poles, i have got a pessoa, but arnt really 100% how to use it properly.
 
Thanks RFL, am really dying to get some pictures up of him, just gotta figure out how to work the bloody computer! lol
 
soya is supposed to be good, or linseed.I use alfa-A oil in feed so don't add it separately.

The Pessoa would be really good, where are you? - there must be a forum member somehere near you who could maybe give you some tips (looks complicated but isn't really)
 
I am based in Yorkshire, i have been looking in to the Alfa-A Oil, think we may be changing him on to this.

My YO would possibly be able to show me but it getting her to get the time.
 
I don't think you have anything to wory about, you seem to be doing fine. You can't see his ribs so that's a good sign, specially at this time of year. He may need a little more weight but just feeding him more isn't the way to do it. You need to give him good quality work/exercise & he will gradually build topline & he will tone up & develope muscle in the right places. As this starts to happen you may need to increase his feed a little, possibly use a small amount of feed balancer (Blue Chip or similar) in his feed. By doing this your horse will change shape, hold himself well & look like a different horse. Good Luck
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agree with everyone else.

The horse I took on last year was a little underweight (you could see his ribs) and lacking condition. before I had him he was being ridden (but not a vast amount) so we didn't have to start completely from zero fitness.

He has been having plenty of haylage, hay and hard feed and initially we did alot of walking. We built that up into trotting and cantering and he is now jumping. We also did worming and had vet to check for any health reasons why he might be underweight and that was all fine.

The changes are already obvious - can no longer see the ribs - his rump has filled out - he's 1000 times more lively than when he arrived and seems to be loving life (in fact - he seems a different horse!). He has also started working more correctly (it just sort of came - I haven't had to force him) as he began to feel stronger.

Sorry for the rambling response - but I think you should just keep on with what you are doing - definately keep building up the muscle but working him. The changes do take time.

Good luck with him - sounds like you are doing the right things.
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Thanks for all the advice, i am still getting the vet out at the end of the month to check all is fine (he is coming then to do all the tetnus (sp) )

I think its just i listen to so many people and get it in to my head that somthing is wrong!

My confidence in the last few weeks has grown so much on him, so hopfully we will be able to really make a difference in 2007!
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