Fattening up a skinny TB

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Dolly_Mixture

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Hi,

I have a TB on part loan. He is about 16 years old and is looking really skinny at the moment. His ribs aren't showing, it's more around the shoulder and rump, and has almost no topline. He is fed a scoop of chaff, a scoop of mix and half a scoop of nuts with a splash of oil twice a day. Also has 4 sections of hay when stabled at night, and adlib hay when turned out during the day.

He's usually only ridden the 2 days per week that I share.

Is there anything I can do to help him put on a bit of weight? Feed wise, it can't be anything that's going to heat him up as he's on his toes a lot of the time as it is! I also don't want his owner to think that I'm trying to take over, or imply that he's not being looked after well enough!

Worming and teeth all up to date.
 
I found Build and Glow good for my TB who is a poor does, it is also non-heating, although as I have just had to retire him, will have to re-think that!
 
Personally I would be feeding a high fibre diet - rather than mix.

So large round scoop of Hi Fibre Cubes & Alpha A twice a day - as much hay as he can eat in the stable and out - and ensure he's on good grazing, and also warm enough.
 
I've always had TBs and in my experience if they need feeding up Alflafa works a treat without too much excess energy.
Is the topline, rump and shoulders muscle wastage or the consequence of a cold winter?
 
also up the oil, I can't remember the amounts our vet gave us when we were feeding up an emaciated horse but they can process a considerable amount of oil a day, non heating and good for building weight, it was something like a pint a day, but research that before taking my work for it. Most of the high fibre feeds made for poor doers ( in fact most feeds for poor doers) consist of more oil than the 'splash' most of us would normally use
 
Eowyn said:
I've always had TBs and in my experience if they need feeding up Alflafa works a treat without too much excess energy.
Is the topline, rump and shoulders muscle wastage or the consequence of a cold winter?
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Its probably more down to muscle wastage. He's been well rugged throughout winter, stabled at night and during the worst of the weather.

This may be a stupid question but is there a way of knowing which has caused it?

Thanks for all the other suggestions guys!
 
If you can feed 3 times a day. Unlimited hay and in addition to normal feed give a large bucket of hifi, the senior is good, as an alternative to hay. More oil. linseed and sugar beet or alfa beet. Add one at a time and continue for at least a week before adding anything else as if he goes nuts you'll know the cause.
 
If his ribs aren't showing, I would steer more towards muscle wastage too, probably just from generally doing less during the winter - confined to a stable at night and bad weather- and usually ridden less in winter too.

You said that you were riding him twice a week - just work on his topline (even when out hacking, get him on the bit and keep the contact) and his muscles will develop nicely along his topline and quarters. Along with the help of the spring grass coming up, he'll start to look great.

Good luck with him and enjoy
 
Eowyn said:
If his ribs aren't showing, I would steer more towards muscle wastage too, probably just from generally doing less during the winter - confined to a stable at night and bad weather- and usually ridden less in winter too.

You said that you were riding him twice a week - just work on his topline (even when out hacking, get him on the bit and keep the contact) and his muscles will develop nicely along his topline and quarters. Along with the help of the spring grass coming up, he'll start to look great.

Good luck with him and enjoy
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Thank you.. They have just started being turned out all day and night on the recent warmer days we've had. And like you say, hopefully the spring grass will help him on his way.

Are there any supplements (other than oil) that I can buy to add to what he's being fed already? As I'm only there 2 days per week it's difficult for me to monitor what he's being fed! I wouldn't mind buying a bag of feed, but it will more than likely be used for all his owners other horses too, so wouldn't last long. I also don't really want to start dictating what she should feed her horses. I just thought if there was some kind of supplement I could casualy drop in that I've bought it for him!!
 
If he is wormed regulary then a good probiotic would be beneficial. Help to keep up the amount of flora in his guts so that any feed he is getting is being digested thoroughly
 
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