Fat in winter but slim and lumpy in summer...any ideas?

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LouB

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My 16.2hh 8yr who has sweet itch has recently started developing lumps under his skin, some go down and some feel like they are going to break thru the skin. This was preceeded by a swollen sheath which thankfully has now almost returned to normal. My first thought was that he had had an allergic reaction but now, over a week later new ones are still appearing.

Addionally, during winter he seems to live on fresh air and still maintains tank like proportions. However, now during the 'summer' he has slimmed down beyond the ideal. Admittedly he is getting more work but is receiving twice the feed as in winter, which just doesn't make sense.
He has 1scp Bailey's Topline, 1scp Alfa Oil and a cup of equilibra twice a day.
Is it possible he might be sensitive to something in the food?
I would like him to gain more weight but don't know what else to feed.

Does anyone have any ideas about the lumps or how I can persuade him to gain a bit more weight? I think the two might be connected.

Many thanks
 
Some horses react in this way when they have too much protein or a reaction to particular types?? In your case the syptoms may be worse in summer because you are feeding him more concentrates (and the two you feed are particularly high in protein). Perhaps try feeding more roughage or fibre without the oil and see if it helps?

This thread may help...
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showflat.php?Number=2672830

 
Thank you, I had not thought of that.

Any ideas what I can feed to maintain his energy levels and condition as he is PN/N eventing and is very lazy?

Also, excuse me for being thick, I didn't realise protein and oil were connected. Will removing oil as well really help?

Thank you
 
It depends on the type of oil, vegetable oil is normally made from soya beans which are really high in protein (Baileys actually includes Soy too, which could be perpetuating the problem further) so cutting down or monitoring (and changing if necessary) the type of oil you are using may prove beneficial. IME Allen and Page do awesome horse feeds and so I would probably try their Power and Performance mix?
 
Was interested in this post as I have a TB prone to lumps which have just returned after 6 months lumpfree.

Could the proteins in grass have an impact?
He is coming back into work after injury and is fed mollichaff herbal and alfa a lite. Not alot, just enough to carry his various supplements.
Nothing has changed in his diet in months but I was wondering if the rain and sun recently could have an effect on the composition of the grass. He goes out for about 4 or 5 hours a day in a small paddock. Not very lush but he is very efficient at keeping it grazed down.
It's the only thing I can think of that has changed.
The other possibility I am working with is something is pollenating in the last 10 days that he is allergic to.
 
This is discussing hay, not grass per se, but it may also help (and it slightly more scientific
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)

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/horses/facts/info_hay.htm
 
to me, that seems to be doubling up!! why do you feed the baileys top line and the equilibra stuff, you only need to feed one or the other imo otherwise your wasting you money and poss over feeding nutritionally!! praps this could be cause for the reactions in the skin and sweet itch as i bel the equilibra is 40% black oats????
 
I fed both because I wasn't sure I was feeding enough Topline for the demands I was putting on him. I tried Equilibra because it is more cost effective and I have always had brilliant results with it before. The equilibra is not causing his sweet itch as he as suffered with it since he was born.
 
thanks - of course now lumps are vanishing just to keep me on my toes and there has been no change in anything in his environment or feeding.

Allergies are a nightmare.
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