Feeding underweight 2yr old *also in Healthcare & Feeding

[TPO]

Looking for feeding advice for an underweight 2yr old QH. He arrived last week and was most definitely NOT in the condition he should have been. I have lots of grass; it’s long, old grass so not short, sweet, sugary grass so Dr Green will work his magic but I feel he needs something else to help him out having clearly gone without for a length of time. My vet has seen him, feet are getting done this weekend and EDT has been contacted. I was told by breeder he’d been on a worming programme and has been done with Pramox and Equvalan this year, but then I’ve been told lots of things that aren’t ringing true now, however the whole yard is getting worm counted so he’ll get double checked too.

I’ve no idea how to get photos from my phone onto HHO without using photobucket but can email them if anyone else could post them. I’ve had him a week and he has put on weight with the grass and adlib good quality hay at night. He’d allegedly had bucket feeds but he seems confused by the concept… I keep my horses barefoot so in his defence the food offered isn’t very tempting: hi-fi unmolassed, linseed, alphabeet or Fast Fibre as a carrier for a balancer (Pro-Balance).

Ideally I’d like to avoid high starch/sugar/cereal feeds so looking for suggestions as I didn’t envisage being in this position with him. I’m not looking for a “quick fix” and am aware of the issues feeding underweight horses so just really looking for feed suggestions and experiences of anyone else that’s been in this position.

Thank you in advance for your help.

 

[Oscar]

To be honest I'd carry on as you are, if he has access to ad lib grazing and you are feeding a balancer, I would leave it at that. It takes a long time to build them back up so there are no quick fixes.

 

[TPO]

To be honest I'd carry on as you are, if he has access to ad lib grazing and you are feeding a balancer, I would leave it at that. It takes a long time to build them back up so there are no quick fixes.

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. He's not eating bucket feeds and as such no balancer.

Hopefully any hard feed would be short term just to help him out. Would something like Suregrow or Winergy Growth be good options in this situation?

 

[Spring Feather]

Can you get something like this over there? I'm sure there's a company who makes this and distributes this feed in the UK. This is what I feed our yearlings and two year olds

http://www.gro-n-win.com/media/4921/gro_n_win.pdf

 

[Spring Feather]

Spillers make it for the UK market

http://www.spillers-feeds.com/products/stud-feeds/gro-n-win/

And here's another balancer I hear lots of good things about from folks in the UK

http://www.dodsonandhorrell.com/our-feeds/breeding/thoroughbred/mare-stallion/suregrow.html

That's the route I'd take with him.

 

[popsdosh]

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. He's not eating bucket feeds and as such no balancer.

Hopefully any hard feed would be short term just to help him out. Would something like Suregrow or Winergy Growth be good options in this situation?

Suregrow and grass he will soon pick up as said before dont expect miracles overnight. However better to be lean than overweight at his age!

 

[TPO]

Thanks, bought the Spillers balancer that Spring Feather recommended. Will introduce very gradually and I'm not looking for any "quick fixes". I prefer under to over too and that was the spiel I got from breeder but there's under and then there's UNDER...

Thanks for everyone's advice and replies. I really do appreciate it.

 

[Alec Swan]

Generally, we refer to 'good' grass as Dr. Green, and there's a reason for that. It is! Decent grass, if you have it will be all that a youngster needs. I've made the mistake, and I wont be alone, in that with a struggling youngster, I've shoved feed in from both ends, and wished that I hadn't. Over compensating for a poor start will do more damage than doing nothing.

If you have a youngster, now, which is a bit poor, you may well not see progress until the end of August; no matter.

Proceed with extreme caution, is the advice that I would give, and I've also always found that the best indicator to a youngsters progress or its remedial improvements is in the animal's coat. A youngster which is 'doing', will always look well in its coat.

Good Luck, and I'm sure that you and your youngster will be fine!

Alec.

 

[TPO]

He's still got his winter coat although it's shedding out rapidly now with grazing, hay and grooming.

I am experienced with horses and youngsters but I just wasn't expecting this horse in such poor, poor condition so wasn't prepared. Initial plan was just Dr Green, good hay and a balancer fed in a chaff or beet carrier in small amounts. However after the first week it's become apparent that for the short term, at least, he does need a wee helping hand out if this rut. I won't be over feeding or looking for instant results.

The post was just for advice on what would be a good option of feed for him at this stage since he won't eat any of the options I've tried so far.

Further to Spring Feather's advice, and I know she has QHs in cracking condition, I purchased the balancer she feeds. He's thankfully decided, since last night, that he actually quite likes bucket feeds so has eaten the minuscule amounts he's been offered, with chaff, pm and am. All changes and introductions will be gradual.

Thank you for everyone's recommendations and for taking the time to reply.

If I ever figure out posting photos I'll update this thread with them.

Thanks again

 

[popsdosh]

The real problem is and people forget it the horse only has a finite capacity for total feed intake so good grass is often better feed value than the hard feed you give them so the youngster may be taking in less nutrition overall . Thats why a balancer helps as it is concentrated but why dilute its effect by feeding with chaff or beet. If I feed suregro they get it as it is.

 

[twiggy2]

He's still got his winter coat although it's shedding out rapidly now with grazing, hay and grooming.

I am experienced with horses and youngsters but I just wasn't expecting this horse in such poor, poor condition so wasn't prepared. Initial plan was just Dr Green, good hay and a balancer fed in a chaff or beet carrier in small amounts. However after the first week it's become apparent that for the short term, at least, he does need a wee helping hand out if this rut. I won't be over feeding or looking for instant results.

The post was just for advice on what would be a good option of feed for him at this stage since he won't eat any of the options I've tried so far.

Further to Spring Feather's advice, and I know she has QHs in cracking condition, I purchased the balancer she feeds. He's thankfully decided, since last night, that he actually quite likes bucket feeds so has eaten the minuscule amounts he's been offered, with chaff, pm and am. All changes and introductions will be gradual.

Thank you for everyone's recommendations and for taking the time to reply.

If I ever figure out posting photos I'll update this thread with them.

Thanks again

I am not good with computers but I am sure there is a thread about posting photos

 

[TPO]

The real problem is and people forget it the horse only has a finite capacity for total feed intake so good grass is often better feed value than the hard feed you give them so the youngster may be taking in less nutrition overall . Thats why a balancer helps as it is concentrated but why dilute its effect by feeding with chaff or beet. If I feed suregro they get it as it is.

He's in at night (yard rules) so he has adlib good hay and a dinner/breakfast. He also gets a tablespoon of fast fibre and sprinkling of chaff to encourage him to eat the balancer. The effect isn't diluted as he's still receiving X amount if balancer and again it's only small feeds.

He's not being over faced or fed. I'd no experience of youngstock balancer hence this post. Further to Spring Deathers recommendation we are sorted. I'm more than happy with how he's being kept and his forage.

Thank you for the replies, I appreciate the time taken. No further info required now as sorted with a pelleted balancer. Thanks again

 

[TPO]

I am not good with computers but I am sure there is a thread about posting photos

Thanks Twiggy, I'm on an iPhone and can't work photo bucket in it (phone dunce) so not sure how else to upload pics

 

[Borderreiver]

Have you tested him or wormed him since he arrived? Worms can be a big problem in youngsters even if someone tells you they have used x, y or z wormer in the past. Many youngsters carry huge burdens and need a lot more dosing than adults. Don't wait for some yard programme to kick in I would advise a worm count is the first thing to do with any new arrival. Now we have a good test for tapeworm too, just ring Westgate Labs for help.

 

[TPO]

Worm count already submitted- this would have happened even if he'd arrived in good condition just like any new arrival. His feet have been trimmed and EDT out tomorrow. Everything is being done for him ; I really just needed recommendations on commercial feeds for a 2yr old. I received that and have bought the balancer SF suggested. Thank you for the replies.

Finally figured out photos too. This was the day he arrived 12/6/2014

 

[hobo]

Bless him, I look forward to seeing pictures in a few weeks. Balancer and grass will make him blossom.

 

[Borderreiver]

I am sure he will look like a different horse in a few weeks time and you will feel well rewarded. Good luck!

 

[Alec Swan]

TPO, yes, you're right he is poor, very poor, but with your obvious efforts, I'm quite certain that in a few weeks time, as others have said, he will start to improve. I'm equally sure that you're doing everything right and that it's simply a case of him needing time.

I see that you're in Scotland, and whilst I'm not too sure what the weather's like with you, here, we get the odd warm day, but mostly it's still a bit chilly, and were your boy here, then much as I don't really approve of rugging youngsters, in his case I think that at night I'd probably try to keep him warm, rather than have him use the day's feed intake, to keep himself warm.

I haven't read all of the replies, but have you thought about 'Suregrow'? We had an in foal mare 2 years ago, and she was dropping away at 8 weeks pre the due date, and a Stud farm owning friend on here suggested Suregrow and Soya oil. The effect was remarkable, in that she picked up rapidly, and without any apparent harm to the foal! Just a thought.

Will you post subsequent pics, and let us know how he progresses?

Alec.

 

[TPO]

Unusually for Scotland we are having amazing weather. He's been out in the sun apart from 2 showers and it has been really warm. No rug is needed but, despite his breed, I more than likely will rug him come the bad (typical!) weather. He's a really warm horse in general and everyone that's had a hug has commented on it!

I'll take more photos today; the recent ones are all of him lying down sleeping because he's so cute! I've been documenting his progress on Instagram (jill_s_82) for anyone interested.

I bought the Spillers stud balancer SF recommended so he's getting a small amount if that twice a day. That will gradually be increased over time and adjusted to his requirements/condition.

 

[Spring Feather]

Oh he is in rather poor condition, little soul. That's not how you expect a youngster to arrive from a breeders Anyhow, the balancer and some good grass and exercise around his field should help this little chap.

 

[TPO]

Back again...

Just thought I'd do a little update 😀

Chip is doing fantastically well. As his health has improved his character has come out. I need to take more recent pictures as he's turned into a chunky, hairy pumpkin. He still hasn't matured to look like a "normal" 2yr old QH but he's getting there.

The ridges, bruising and strange shape of his hooves have almost grown completely out although still a work in progress.

He's started shedding teeth and thankfully his new ones don't seem damaged and are growing through correctly. He arrived with teeth worn below the gum line and they had moved creating large gaps.

In the end I fed a total of two bags of the balancer along with Alphabeet, unmolassed chaff and linseed. He's now fed grass nuts & chop, pro balance and linseed. Adlib hay and daily turnout too.

Thanks again for the recommendations

Summer

 

[TPO]

 

[TPO]

Now photobucket has just broken!

There were more but you've been spared!

 

[Doris68]

Well done you! What a difference; he's a lovely looking youngster. Good luck with him, he's a lucky boy!!

 

[TPO]

Thank you

This is the most recent picture I have of him.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

What a difference!

 

[NinjaPony]

He looks wonderful- he's really landed on his feet with you!

 

[Rollin]

Wow, what a difference. You have done him proud.

 

[flirtygerty]

Well done you, what a lucky boy to have you

 

[Spring Feather]

He looks fabulous! What a wonderful job you have done with him, well done