Feeding for weight gain

Spiritedly

Spiritedly

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I have recently had to take my mare back from her loaner as she wasn't being fed or looked after properly. Since she's been back...3 weeks... I have had her on Spillers balancer, Alfa A oil, linseed, speedi beet and adlib hay and although her overall health has improved her weight hasn't. I know it will take longer for her to get the weight back than it did for her to lose it but does anyone have any suggestions of a good weight gain feed? She has stringhalt so needs a diet that is high in oil and low in starch.
 
I think I would worry about the worming program if she was not being looked after. I'd contact Westagte labs for a saliva tapeworm test and also a worm count for roundworms, what would also concern me is encysted redworms which should have been treated in Oct-Dec, I am not sure what you can do about it now, ask your vet or Westgate.

The teeth, have they been done properly, or just had a rasp waved around the front of the mouth?

250gms of micronised linseed should be fine for maintenance of an underweight TB, I know people feed more, depends on her, and her exercise regime.
It seems obvious, but I am assuming ad lib good forage. If only hay, particularly medium quality or very stalky hay, I would get some small bagged haylage to give a variety. It is still advisable to give light exercise if you can, and maximum turnout with a light rug if it is other than warm. I might also have a light rug [Amigo] in the stable overnight, as she will lose heat just standing.

I advise using a weight tape every week and take the average over two weeks, they are very accurate for weight gain, take a note of the amount of feed and the weight every week.

I tend to feed the simplest diet I can, based on three ingredients, and only handfuls of anything else.
if a fussy eater you can leave a few small trugs with different chops for her to pick at overnight. Or feed 3 or 4 feeds per day over a longer period.
QiickBeet +chaff
Micronised linseed
Minerals
Some salt.

If the vet is calling, ask about a vitamin B injection, this may boost the system.
I know Saracen feeds have some good specialist feeds, it might be worthwhile talking to their nutritionist. Most of the mashes for weight gain would not suit her.
 
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I should have said I had her worm counted and then wormed her as it showed she needed treating. She is out 24/7 with access to grass and good quality rounds of hay. She is being lunged 3 x weekly on the vets advice using a training aid to try and help her back legs but isn't currently being ridden.
 
Spiritedly said:
I should have said I had her worm counted and then wormed her as it showed she needed treating. She is out 24/7 with access to grass and good quality rounds of hay. She is being lunged 3 x weekly on the vets advice using a training aid to try and help her back legs but isn't currently being ridden.
Click to expand...

The tapeworm is a saliva test, did you do that?
Is she eating the feeds ?
Ask Westgate about worming her again, they are really expert, its all they do, as far as we are concerned!
 
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When her sample was positive for eggs I wormed her with Equimax so she was wormed for Tape as well. I bring her in at feed times so she is separate from the rest of the herd and I can make sure it's her that is eating her feed and apart from occasionally leaving a mouthful she is eating it all. I'm having her teeth checked in two weeks just in case she has a problem though.
My friend works for Westgate and they are great :)
 
The highest calorie feed I have used for previously skinny horse was topspec balancer, with baileys outshine x2 per day, or x3 feeds if you can manage it.

This would be topped up with topspec conditioning flakes, and Alfa-a oil to make the feeds up to 2kg, and as calorific as possible
 
If her teeth are a problem then she will probably be able to eat her bucket feed OK, but might struggle with the hay. So although she has access to hay ad lib, she might not be able to eat enough forage to put on weight. And of course it is difficult to gauge her forage intake when the hay is shared with others. Did the vet glance at the teeth when he came out to see if there were any obvious problems? How many times a day are you able to feed her?
 
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