Feeling Overwhelmed

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niqnet

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Hi all,

My new loan horse arrived last Fri and although I've been around horses all my life and owned one before, I've never kept one at home on my own land. As the title suggests, I'm having a mini meltdown due to tiredness and everyone's conflicting advice on:
Feed
Rugs
Feet
Riding

I know she's only on loan (she is actually owned by my neighbour) and if it doesn't work out she can go back but I just feel overwhelmed at the mo. I don't cope well with change and remember freaking out when we got our 1st dog and then again when we got our 2nd and I know it will pass but all I can see are the negatives. The neighbours run a breeding and breakers yard and this horse is another mouth to feed to them so they are really relaxed about the way I do things but they haven't looked after her the best. She's underweight at the moment and was rugged up a lot by them during the summer in an effort to keep weight on her. She's a big horse (17.2) and is a TB so I know I'm going to have a tough time keeping weight on her myself.

I'll be worming her shortly and then after a little while I'm planning on putting her on Bailey's 4 to help her gain weight. Little question: Do you feed Bailey's 4 on it's own? Also, she's currently in a lightweight rug most of the time and middle weight if it's cold at night but not sure if this is right. Ideally, if she wasn't under weight I'd be letting the air get to her skin as much as possible but if she's use to rugs all the time, I don't want her to get cold. She's living out 24/7 with a field shelter at the mo.

On the plus side, she's been really good when hacking out. Doesn't bat an eyelid with tractors, trailers etc

Any way, if any of you lovely people can give me some encouraging words- I'd be so grateful. Off to have a little cry now.

xxxx
 
Aww, I felt exactly the same when I moved mine from a livery yard to my own (rented) place. I hardly slept a wink for the first week worrying that I was doing things wrong. I worried I was feeding too much, too little, the wrong stuff, etc etc etc but after a couple of weeks I started to trust my judgement and things just sort of fell into place.

Your girl is new to you, so you have to get to know each other yet, but it will be OK.

I was a bit concerned that your mare was rugged during summer, I would have thought that rugging in hot/warm weather would have caused her to lose even more weight.

Someone more knowledgable on rugging and feeding will no doubt come along later and offer advice, I had hardy natives who were neither fed hard feed nor wore rugs, so I'm not the best person to offer an opinion!

In the meantime, {{{hugs}}} you are doing a grand job!
 
MrsElle said:
I was a bit concerned that your mare was rugged during summer, I would have thought that rugging in hot/warm weather would have caused her to lose even more weight.

Someone more knowledgable on rugging and feeding will no doubt come along later and offer advice, I had hardy natives who were neither fed hard feed nor wore rugs, so I'm not the best person to offer an opinion!

In the meantime, {{{hugs}}} you are doing a grand job!
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I thought the same about the rugging in the summer so I'm a bit confused by their logic on that one.

Thanks for your encouragement though! It helps. :D
 
Having a horse at home is a big responsibility so its no wonder you are feeling onverwhelmed - at livery you will have other people around all the time, which can be a pain but can be a reassurance.

Regarding feed - I woudl contact a few reputable feed companies and ask their advice. I have never used the feed you are using so can;t advise re that. I found Allen and Page VERY helpful with my old horse - they even recommended I stop feeding one of their own feeds as it wouldn;t suit him. I feed 'instant linseed' from simple systems for weight and coat condition, and also their total eclipse supplement. I had great sucess with Blue chip - not sure if this is similar to the Baileys you plan to feed? In which case yes you can feed it on its own but you will probably want to feed other stuff with it too - again, contact feed companies.

Rugging - my tb drops weight if he is cold, so is rugged if the temp drops. He is currently in a l/w turnout as it is quite mild, and will have a full neck 100g fill turnout once the temp drops a bit - he has a variety of rugs up to 450g fill, and I will gradually increase the weight as the weather gets colder. In the winter if it is a cold but sunny day I use rugs with no neck so he can get a bot of sun and air and have a scratch. He also lives out 24/7 all year round with a shelter. (and he is 30) He was occasionally rugged in the summer if it rained a lot.

Good luck I am sure you will soon settle down to the idea!
 
Getting a new horse and moving it to your own land must be over Welming but also exciting, so concentrate on the exciting feeling rather than the negative feelings.

As for rugging I'd be turning out (presuming she's not clipped) in a lightweight ATM due to the humid warm weather however as soon as the temp drops I'd put her out in a middle weight - so carry on as you are. If you get a nice, dry, warm day I'd be tempted to take her rug off for the day - to let her breathe but then put it on again at night.

Feeding wise- last year my 16hh TB dropped a lot of weight so I put her on two big feeds a day of chaff and grass pellets (soak them and the end result is similar to speedy/sugar beat but is just grass), she soon filled out again, she was on reasonable grass and hay also.

Sure a few feed experts will pop up later! Good luck and chin up, it's an exciting experience!!
 
I understand how you're feeling so don't feel isolated - the number one bit of advice I can give you is to trust your OWN instincts because you will know what's right for her as you get to know her.

In terms of rugging, take each day as it comes! If it's a cold day, rug her in a middleweight to keep her warm. If it's quite warm either let her go naked or put her in a lightweight! Have a feel of her after a few hours or later that night - if she feels warm then you've done a good job choosing the rug, if she feels a bit cool maybe go up a weight in that weather. This is what I do with my old man. He's getting on now so needs to be kept warm to help him keep weight on :) However if the heatwave they're predicting arrives this weekend, he'll be naked all day!

My old man is also on Bailey's No 4, I mix it with a bit of chaff (preferably something a bit oily) and then wet it a tiny bit and mix it together. Allen & Page Calm & Condition is also a really good feed for horses that need to gain weight!

Don't feel like you need to cry and don't feel ashamed of asking for help when you need it! Most people will offer you good advice and it's a case of trial and error until you figure out what works best for your girl. The fact that you're on here worrying about all of this and trying to do the best for her shows she's a very lucky mare to have such a lovely loaner :)

I'm not the most experienced horsewoman out there but feel free to PM me if you want to chat/vent - it always helps to have someone to talk to i've found!!

xxxxxxx
 
Brandy - mine are all on instant linseed it's fab! So would also suggest you put your girl on this too, in fact simple systems is a pretty good way to go and they are always happy to help people, i'd give them a call and ask for some advice!
 
What does she have in the way of grass/hay/haylage?

Now, if she were mine, I would worm first and adlib quantities of forage. Never used Baileys feed so cant advise there - my lot all have Hi-Fi Unmolassed and Blue Chip Original (a wonder feed in my opinion) in suitable varying quantities and all look superb (I try avoid molasses as don't like to feed them sugary stuff although most feeds seem to have some element of it). You could try Linseed in some form or another or any other higher oil based feed.

Something I did use years ago on a skinny youngster was Equivite Body Builder, now that worked like a charm!

As a thin TB I would keep her rugged unless its a nice warm sunny day then let her out for a breather :)

And don't worry, you'll do fine one you get into the new routine :)

Fairy
 
Do you have good quality grass? If not, or it is limited amount / limited nutritional value then i'd start feeding hay / haylage (and work on the theory you will almost certainly have to feed in the winter months).

Avoid a no-fill lightweight as although it will keep her dry, she won't be able to fluff her coat up to insulate herself - so even on warm days adding a fleece underneath, or getting a 70g or 100g rug would be a good idea. If you get very warm weather (depending on where you ar ein the country) by all means give her a day without a rug, but somethign with a bit of warmth to it would be better than just a sheet.

An extra layer at night might be a good idea too when the temp drops.

As for feed - ring around, but i always find the companies want you to feed huge quantities of food.

Baileys no1 is very good for weight gain, as is allen and paige calm and condition. Plenty of unmollassed sugar beet (speedibeet) or try alphabeet, and perhaps a chaff with low starch but higher oil content (dengie alfa-a oil is readily available, though i prefer mollichaff alf-alfa oil).

The key is to keep her warm (but not hot) and ensure she has plenty of fibre (hay/haylage/beet/chaff), oil is a good source for weight gain - you can buy linseed oil fairly cheaply and add a good couple of glugs to each feed.

It would be preferable to maintain her using fibre / oil to concentrates, however you may find that for short term weight gain coming into winter feeding something like baileys no1 or calm and condition might be an idea before it gets very cold.
 
Thank you so much everyone for your advice and kind words. I feel much better already. I'll mull over the feed situation and contact a few people.

Thanks sophiebailey for the PM offer. x
 
I feed baileys no 4 and i wouldn’t say it was the best for putting weight on fed on its own. Mine has been on it all summer (with hifi) and has done well but has recently dropped a bit of weight so ive added some baileys outshine and changed the chaff to alpha a. I probably ring baileys helpline every other month - just to check I’m doing it all right. They are always really helpful so i would recommend giving them a call. I have also heard really good things about Allan Page products so i would try giving them a call as well.

As for the rugs - don't worry about getting it wrong. That’s the beauty of having them at home - you can check as many times of the day as you need to (unlike me who has a 10 minute drive to the stables!). All you have to do is stick your hand under the rug and feel their ears - if the horse feels warm or cold - change it!

As for summer rugging - worry about that in the spring! Your horse will soon tell you if it is not happy!

Chin up! Having your horses at home is a fantastic opportunity that lots of people would long to for. When i lived with my folks, i had this privilege. I moved away (job and boys!) and am now on a livery yard. I long to have my horses at home again - maybe one day!

ENJOY!!!
 
I really think it's natural to feel a bit anxious about taking on such a big responsibility! And of course it will be no time before you get to know your new mare and learn what suits her best.

Instant linseed is fab! Definitely worth a call to simple systems.

I was recommended baileys no 4 for my tb mare but it sent her a little wild, so proceed with caution!

Anyway, you'll be fine! Good luck and enjoy your new horse, such an exciting time, even if it is a little daunting!
 
There's lots of grass but it's crap quality as hasn't been managed properly by previous owners. So at the mo she's on ad lib hay and free access 24/7 to grass. With a plan to add feed soon.
 
Hi im glad your starting to feel better ,it is a daunting thing thing to look after someone elses horse ,ive had tbs on loan and given to me like hatracks so ive got experience of feeding them. first worm and get teeth done, the wonderful thing of having your new horse at home is you can see the changes in the weather and change rugs accordingly . tbs are used to being rugged all the time - they have very thin sensitive skin so flies will iritate so use a fly rug when its hot , keep a lightweight on hand for the mild days, change to a medium for the night if its chilly,use a neck if its raining you dont want rainscald.and you dont want to lose any of that weight your getting back on. as for feeding even if youve got grass hang a haynet with top quality hay or haylage on the gate 24/7 for picking at -grass doesnt have enough goodness alone for a skinny horse at this time of year! now bucket feeds- if you can split up the feeds into 2 small feeds thats better for them. baileys no4 is wonderful for tbs- use a level round scoop of no4 and the same of alfa a and half a scoop of speedy beet for each feed. basically tbs are fantastic for someone who likes lots to fuss with on their horse! good luck and pm me if you need more help or just another tb gossip!.x
 
Hi Niqnet, I'm afraid I can't offer advice re feeding and rugging a TB as I have a fat hairy cob who just gets fat looking at grass! But I just wanted to say that this horse is very lucky to have found you as an owner - you obviously care about doing the right thing. Please don't worry too much though - these big lumps of horse are much tougher than we give them credit for sometimes - and I hope you feel encouraged by all the positive advice on here. Enjoy being with your mare - if you feel happy and relaxed, she will too!
 
LIZ66 said:
Hi Niqnet, I'm afraid I can't offer advice re feeding and rugging a TB as I have a fat hairy cob who just gets fat looking at grass! But I just wanted to say that this horse is very lucky to have found you as an owner - you obviously care about doing the right thing. Please don't worry too much though - these big lumps of horse are much tougher than we give them credit for sometimes - and I hope you feel encouraged by all the positive advice on here. Enjoy being with your mare - if you feel happy and relaxed, she will too!
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Ha ha, I'm a right stress head. I was/am the same with the dogs and think I'm slowly driving my very new hubby insane. Thank you though, I shall try my best not to worry and enjoy this new adventure as much as I can.
 
Hi
Just a quick reply to say-don't panic- it takes time to sort everything out. Also can you join your local riding club so that you can make some riding buddies and get some moral support ?
Enjoy your horse- sounds like you're doing a great job already
X x
 
Try calling one of the top feed manufacturers like Dengie or Dobson & Horrell - I called D&H about my mare after she had her foal and lost loads of weight and they were amazing - really kind, non-judgemental.

Best of luck though! Oh, and have fun!!
 
Ok, breath.... Relax ...... :)

I have always had my horses at home, and I always find it a worry, as each horse/ pony has their own needs!!!

Within a couple of weeks you will know what works for you both, I have to remind myself if this every time :)

If you really are worried about feed, then all the feed companies are really helpful, just email them, they always call back :)

And then just try and see.

Yes it is lonely at times, and I never have someone on site to look after at a moments notice, however all of my horses ( touch wood) know the people closest to them, even the not horsey ones :) so if I am ever in need of a sub to just let out and feed it is not that strange to them!!!!
 
Ps I know I go against the grain with this!!!!!.,,,,,,

But.... Not all horses crave horsey company.

Not one of minded being on their own, I truely think that if you are able to be around them every day, then they are just fine on their own!!!

Infact my old boy hated others of his kind .

Judge each case on it's own merit xx
 
I would really worry about a stressed loaner and no horsey company. There are plenty of people (and charities who will also be able to give you good advice on the horse you have) looking for loan homes for their broken horses atm. Get one of those in to chill out with your horse in the field. That way it won't be such a mess if you're a little jumpy for a while.
 
Well, I'm pleased to say that after my initial mini melt down, Dreamer is doing well and has really settled in. She's gaining weight too! She seems to be a really lovely and chilled out TB so here's hoping things continue to go well. Thanks for all your support- it really gave me a boost! :D
 
niqnet said:
Well, I'm pleased to say that after my initial mini melt down, Dreamer is doing well and has really settled in. She's gaining weight too! She seems to be a really lovely and chilled out TB so here's hoping things continue to go well. Thanks for all your support- it really gave me a boost! :D
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Brilliant news!! Sometimes you just need to have a little faith in yourself and your abilities :) :)
 
Everyone has been in the same boat, and it's good to know that there are people on this forum ready, willing and able to help.
As Aces_High says - trust yourself, it sounds like you are doing well, and have plenty of horsey knowledge, and common sense.
Enjoy your horse, and relax. :D
 
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