Ex racer owners...

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kateknights

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I have had my boy for 10 days now, he needs feeding up, he has no topline and you can see all his ribs! I have been advised to feed either Baileys topline, or Allen and Page Calm and condition? What do you? have you? or would you feed to help him put on weight?
Thanks in advance
Kate x
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either good grass or adlib haylage, a nice warm rug on if it gets cold, the main thing with most tbs for weight especially in the winter is keeping them warm. i would be carefull what you feed as you have only just had him and dont know what works for him. if it were me i would play it safe and use either alpha a or alpha a oil, a balancer of some kind, either topspec or solid gold and alpha beet, alpha beet is conditioning and will help. as the balancers are expensive, if your on a tight budget swap it for a cool mix or cube to start if it doesnt blow his brains then a condionting mix or cube.
but i would deffo use alpha and alpha beet, its a good combination. its worked wonders with my ex racer
 
The only thing I have had good results from with my ex racer is Calm & Condition - fab stuff. Mine also very sensitive in tummy department & never had any trouble with this stuff.
Instead of a balancer in pellet form, possibly try NAF Pink Powder - does the same job & far cheaper! Wouldnt go without that stuff to be honest!
 
I agree lots of grass ! If you want to add fat without sending him silly, put oil in his feed. We use soya oil and you can feed him up to a mug of it a day, but start small and billed up to that.
 
I agree - my ex racer is on alpha, alpha beet & some spillers cool mix and that helped build him up. I tried those milk pellets -build up cubes or something but i'm not sure if they worked or if it was just what i was feeding him normally!

Edited to say - you can see Torus and how well he's looking in my signature (dark bay at the right end of my siggie)
 
I completely agree with the above. Its very easy it blow their brains early on and forage is the most important thing. Lots of hay/hage Alpha a/ possibly Alpha Oil to really help him and a feed balancer. I would almost be seeing if this would work slowly than pumping him full of cerals straight off - aslong as you don't mind taking things easy and not rushing him straight off.
 
A horse won't put on weight/topline of note without work, whatever you feed him.
At this time of year it is best to turn him away for a month or two, then get him in when he is a big fat porker and work on the topline.
 
I dont think anyone has mentioned boiled barley yet, i spent years trying to keep weight on my ex racer, using all the top brand conditioners etc and in the end boiked barley with linseed seems to be the only thing that worked, and you can feed alot of it without them becoming silly (or at least mine doesnt!) Good luck with him, keep us posted!
 
How long has the horse been out of racing?

If the horse is still racing fit, then it takes time and its not just about what what you feed, its the whole body changing shape and getting used to a new diet etc.
 
mine skinny ex racer is on fibergy and calm and condition, it has done wonders for her she looks amazing now. my boy on the other hand is on happy hoof as he needs to lose weigh both are exracers
 
I agree about the good grass as it has done wonders for my ex racer. In the winter months when I got her in Feb I gave her quick soak sugarbeet, a veteran mix with a cupful of black sunflower seeds daily. But since she has gone onto good grazing she has improved in leaps and bounds and put on nice condition as result.
So long as he doesn't get cold when it is cold or we have bad spells of wet weather and he is rugged accordingly he shouldn't really lose condition so long as the grazing is good. To be honest I don't believe in feeding supplements unless you really need them or when the grass loses its nutritional value in the late autumn/winter. In summer my philosophy is that if the grass is of good quality and the paddocks are not horse sick or of poor quality then you shouldn't have to feed any horse any extra ( unless they are a veteran or ill imo). Obviously if a horse is in a great deal of work and begins to lose serious condition then it is time for a rethink. Or if the horse is a serious athlete and supplements are given to replace essential minerals that may be lost through hard work, such as endurance work, then I wholly agree with that.
It all depends on the state of your grazing really and the amount of turnout you get as to whether additional supplements are needed so far as I am concerned. I don't believe in over hyping products to be honest and tack/feed shop propaganda doesn't wash with me I'm afraid.
Horses were designed to eat grass and as such I believe most of their nutrition should be gained from it. As previously stated only exceptions to this are if horses are ill/old (and need extra calories and vitamins through supplements), in winter months when grass is poor ( but to be fair most should fare well on good quality hay or haylage) and for horses which are pure athletes ( to replace what minerals etc they are losing).
I agree about the comments about topline as well. Whilst there are products which claim to be quick fixers in helping a horse to attain a good topline, I believe as already mentioned, topline, strength and definition is gained through working in correct outlines to ensure the maximum use of the horse. Whilst it may seem a daunting task at times, I am sure it is very rewarding to see hours of hard work put in by both rider/trainer transform a horse's appearance.
Not trying to be patronising btw Kate. I am just giving my thoughts on the subject as I just believe in a more natural approach where possible. Also as a recent owner of an ex racer who came to me in a state it has been fantastic to see her turned around with just a little bit of tlc. Good luck with your lad
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Cazx
 
Just a quick note to add, my ex racer went nuts when we put him on baileys top line but was fine on calm and condition. Agree with the others, lots of good quality hayledge and alphabeet (or something similar) will work wonders.
 
lots of forage and whatever feed suits him. I found the best for my gelding was adlib forage, alpha a oil baileys no 4, sugarbeet & baileys no 1 in winter. This also worked with my mare, but I have changed the no 4 for baileys no 6 and this really does suit her better
 
I feed mine oats. She can't have any type of feed with Barley in it. I have tried all sorts of feed on her and she seems best on Alfa A original and oats. She is also prone to being fizzy and sharp but is completely fine on oats, I suppose she was brought up on them when she was raced. He would of been fed oats whilst racing, as long as he is getting the work he should be fine
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