Feeding advice needed for skinny skinny horse

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tinker512

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have already posted on AHHO etc, but would just like some other peoples advice etc on what to feed a mare in this condition

[image]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b81/tinker_stinker/HPIM0254.jpg[/image]

[image]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b81/tinker_stinker/HPIM0250.jpg[/image]

[image]http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b81/tinker_stinker/?action=view&current=HPIM0256.jpg[/image]

Thanks
 
HPIM0254.jpg

HPIM0250.jpg

HPIM0256.jpg
 
Thanks, have no idea why it wouldn't put them up, have just made a post i SB about ti not letting me, did exactly same in there where they came up, bloomin pixies!
 
I obviously don't know background or history, so am assuming teeth have been checked and worm count done and vet check to rule out any underlying illness causing the poor condition.

Horse needs adlib forage - whether that be good grazing, hay or haylage. If you prefer 'complete' feeds then a good conditioning cube like D&H Build Up or Spillers Conditioning Cube, fed at the rate recommended by their feed line. Alternatively Dengie AlfaBeet with added oil plus micronized barley if you like feeding straights. Obviously several small feeds a day are preferable to one large one.
 
Can you get her on to some decent grazing?

Failing that - give her access to adlib hay mixed with haylage. And perhaps start off simply with something like two good feeds of pony nuts a day.

Is this your horse?
 
I am a recent convert to the Top Spec Comprehensive camp -wish I'd discovered it a few years back.
Use with a quality conditioning feed that won't cause them to get too lively - which will be trial and error, because what suits one doesn't seem to suit the next. (Saracen is often good, there's Calm and Condition, Baileys and Spillers to name a few!)
Add soya oil if you want, sugar beet is great for many, plenty of high quality roughage, and time, love, time and careful monitoring.
You have to watch there's not underlying medical conditions, and be careful they don't "come up" too quick - partly for your own safety, partly for theirs, but also for the health consequences.
Depending on the background, a probiotic might be useful, but try and avoid getting dependent on them if possible. (A horse that's been starved for a long time won't have many decent bacteria left in its gut so levels might need a top-up. A healthy animal should be managing its own stocks.)
I used "Red Cell" on one who just wasn't coming on as quick as I wanted a few years ago and she suddenly "felt better" to such an extent we had a massive personality change! Oops! She learned to live with her new-found health and vitality, but it was an interesting week or three.
As the photos were taken a while back I'm guessing teeth, worms and basic health have been addressed, and the issue of building up slowly so as not to overload a starved gut is a given.
 
Photo dates are wrong, was taken 2 days ago

Not my horse, mare I used to look after, seeing her has horrified me.Am addressing worming and teeth at minute thought I would just ask about feeding.Hopefully I can offer some money for her, have alot of history with this horse and hate seeing her like that, poor baby
 
In addition to the advice given, if your management allows you to split her rations into 3 (or even 4) feeds a day, that would be ideal whilst she's underweight.

Certainly agree with the comments about good grazing - that can be the best cure. I'd keep her out on grass for as many hours a day as possible, as long as she's not left alone & stressing.

In addition to the checks you're already doing, if you don't know the cause of the problem (i.e. obvious neglect), I'd suggest a blood test & worm count (taking immediatley before worming).

Hope you get the poor horse back into good shape soon - we've hopefully got a few months of good weather ahead of us, that should work in your favour.
 
Sally, she is actually out 24/7 anyway, just the grass is very very poor and she has been getting nothing else.Hopefully if I can get her then I can move her, just need to sort out whether I can actually afford it.
 
Simple Systems red bag grass nuts and lucie cobs. Really rate their feeds and good for putting weight on without feeding cereal based products. I wish idve known about them sooner.
If your grazing is poor and she is in on her own, you can always soak her a huge bucket full and leave it in the field with her all day so she can pick at it as much as and when she wants.
Works out a lot cheaper than most of the conditioning mixes as you hardly use much due to soaking them.
 
My boy was very skinny when I got him, I cant recommend TopSpec highly enough.
I feed the cool condition cubes and feed balancer.

I also put him on NAF Pink Powder for the first month.
 
If you are not able to get the horse, then I would be inclined to get the authorities involved. She is in a very obvious state of neglect, and the fact that she is getting no nutritional support is inexcusable.

I was quite shocked to see the photo actually. I really don't know how anyone can watch a horse slowly starving to death......
 
Plenty of good grass and if/when stabled as much hay as she can eat. My boy was skinny when we got him and we put him on ride and relax and alfa a oil, he was in gentle work though. It took a few months to see a real good improvement as he seems to be putting a lot of effort into growing! xxx
 
Make sure you keep us posted won't you?
And be prepared, just in case, to find out that lack of food and attention isn't the worst of the poor animal's problems.
But fingers crossed it will all work out from now on. Good luck!
 
Take vet advice on worming her - don't overload her system.

Then speak to Dubs, her horse was in far worse condition than this but is now the picture of health. Hard-feeding would have to be carefully chosen and introduced VERY slowly but good grass would be paramount.
 
Have spoke to family about authorities, as much as I would like to for the horses sake, it is our next door neighbour, and for my nan and grandad sakes they need good relations if anything was to happen and we couldn't get their.Owner has simply lost interest

Ahh Tia, I remember seeing pictures of Dubs horse

Thanks for all advice, am looking into it all now
 
My first TB looked very much like your mare - I paid £200 - meat money and best £200 I ever spent. Hopefully you can do something similar (I bought Breeze back in 1991).

She was overworked for her age and not fed enough - came from a trekking centre. I had ridden her for a couple of years and she was a great ride, I wanted to give her an easier life and she was very suitable for me.

Breeze was old - about 23 at the time and on the advice of my vet she was carefully wormed, had her teeth rasped, did her jabs and put on as much good quality hay and grass (was October) as she wanted to eat for the first two weeks. Poor old girl ate nearly 3/4 bale a day at first.

We then started to give small feeds of conditioning cubes, benevit and chaff three times a day which we increased over the next two weeks to give her system plenty of time to adjust.

Within two months she had put on so much weight I was able to start riding her after Christmas and the following April won the veterens, best condition and riding club horse at a local show. People didn't recognise her.

She lived to 29 and was one of the most fun and lively rides I have had.

These days I would use Simple Systems feeds - blue bag grass nuts, green gold (pure alfa alfa) and/or lucie bics will gently put the weight on. I would also maybe add some instant linseed and benevit.

I hope you can buy her and all works out well.
 
Id be very careful about putting him on "good grazing" like some are saying. Any horse can get laminitis, even underweight ones! I would give him as much hay / haylage as he likes. And put him on a conditioning cube along with something like Alfalfa of Alfa A Oil. Also an all round high-spec vit & min supplement. And Id make sure to keep the horse warm.

One of mine was also very skinny on arrival. I wormed straight away and had to do worm counts every month for a while after as he obviously had them really bad as one worming didnt sort it. I kept him as warm as possible (it was winter though) and gave loads of hay. Was on Baileys Top Line Cubes which really helped.
 
SS is an organic, non molassed forage based diet, I have not fed mix now for years. Since changing Cairo to it, he has had more stamina and energy than when he was on molassed chaff and mix, and my vet comments on how well he looks.

Chancer has had it since I got him at 16 months and has grown very well and at a steady pace.

Slightly more expensive than other feeds, works out about £2 a week more, but money well spent as I prefer this more natural way of feeding.

What I like is that I can give huge feeds in winter and they munch their way through it so they are eating for longer. My two they get the low cal products which they really enjoy, but there are more fattening products too.

Give them a call, they are really helpful.
 
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