Has anyones horse lost condition??

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Dora5

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So my boy is 16 and normally does well, I can always see a few ribs even when the rest of him is fat but suddenly he looks a bit poor and has dropped weight, anyone else noticed this? He is out 24/7 at the moment with 2 feeds day, think I will add in some speedi beet to add a bit more bulk
 
have you checked his teeth/worm count, if he is loosing weight this early in the year and you haven't increased his exercise may be worth getting vet to do blood test re liver function etc.
 
His teeth are good and worm as regularly as wormers state, don't think its liver problems as he was diagnosed with liver damage over 10yrs ago and was on red cell for years but he has been off it for 2 years or so and he is still bright and has glossy coat. He hasn't lost loads of weight just lost a bit of condition. Didn't know if I was due to lack of nutrients in grass due to v wet summer?
 
No. My young horse is now known as winnie the pooh having gorged himself in the new winter fields....

Have another look at his teeth if he is dropping weight and you are feeding him as normal..
 
I'd guess firstly that its due to the grass quality being reduced at this time of year, especially after a rough summer. I'd try ad lib hay for a week if he's otherwise healthy & happy. I can tell exactly when our grass is adequate or not by whether they bother with the hay. Only eat it when the grass isn't sufficient, otherwise its ignored.
 
no new horses, v small yard with only 2 there, I've been trying all summer to keep him slim dut to previous colic and laminitis and normally start to feed him up around November but this year the weather has tailed off so early!
 
Yes mine has :( I moved yards 3 months ago, hes now settled but did stress at first and the grass is now non existant. He is normally a big fatty and its a bit of a shock to see him now, tbh hes probably as he should be but coming into winter Id like a bit more, so Ive added Soft and Soak solution mash to his feeds and hes in at night with lots of haylage,. He is looking a bit better but I cant wait to move to the winter fields.
 
Yes, in almost identical circumstances. This is a 17.2 retired ex-steeplechaser (10 years old) who came to me as a livery, pretty skinny, last year. We got him looking a lot better but unfortunately due to a bad foot abscess he was on box/yard rest for 6 weeks July/August time. Despite ad lib hay and good feeding while confined he started to lose condition. He is now back out 24/7, with two big feeds a day but no haylage (we can't feed hay here as one horse allergic). Everything is in working order, so I've put it down to the wretched quality of our normally good grass this year. Even my buxom cob isn't as buxom as usual.

Littlelegs has a very good point re trying with hay. It's always my test of how much good is left in the grass as they'll always eat good grass in preference to hay/haylage. I tried all the horses with a little yesterday and they devoured it, so I think winter has come! And hopefully the big boy, who's now on conditioning cubes as well, will start to pick up.
 
Ours have too, but they are fatties so its a good thing!

I think all the awful weather around here the last couple of weeks while they still had shortish coats on made them use some calories up, and also the grass is not growing as well as it did the last two years in October. Our two also have had forty sheep in their field two weeks ago, which is a factor!
 
Yes.

My big lads dropped off off as well. Agree with the poor grass and awful weather comments.

He hates coming in but is coming in hungry enough to demolish 2 very large haynets over nights. Try feeding hay first and if hes still not put it back on try upping his hard feed :)
 
My tb has dropped a little - he was lean when I got him straight out of racing, teeth being done tomorrow and adding sugarbeet to his feed and he is on conditioning cubes now too, the field he is in the grass has gone to bits after all the rain :( hopefully he will pick up soon now we are on track with the feed and moving field soonish!
 
Yes, my retired ex-racer is always one of those TBs where all the weight goes to his belly and leaves his ribs uncovered, but he has definitely dropped a bit more off over the last couple of weeks. I've managed to convince him to jump the river to get to the better grass though so I'm hoping that'll help. Typically the git won't eat sugarbeet so has to be fed on conditioning cubes. And not just any, only the Bailey's stuff, anything cheaper won't get eaten either :rolleyes:
 
My oldest pony lost a bit soon as it started getting colder, but we started him on A&P Old Faithful mix and he's noticably filled out ( he's also feeling seriously well....!) As our ponies are out for the winter holiday its tricky getting the balance right of what to feed to keep the weight on without stuffing them and sending them loopy! He gets Old Faithful and Pure Condition, and so far so good!
 
Dora5 said:
So my boy is 16 and normally does well, I can always see a few ribs even when the rest of him is fat but suddenly he looks a bit poor and has dropped weight, anyone else noticed this? He is out 24/7 at the moment with 2 feeds day, think I will add in some speedi beet to add a bit more bulk
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Trying to fatten up a stallion at the moment who had a bad bout of Choke on soft soaked food! Had his teeth done, he is wormed regular but still coughs and lost loads of weight. He is on 30acres of grazing to himself and 40lb of food a day.
Sugarbeet and horse mix as well as cooked linseed. He is rugged up as well as he does not like the rain. Any ideas anyone as I am thinking of having him shot if he does not pile the weight on. I know it may sound cruel but I dont think I have any other options. I am ashamed to see him so skinny (had three different vets out to him) and you know what its like in the Horse World when someone see's a thin . They just think its due to neglect.
 
bobajob said:
Trying to fatten up a stallion at the moment who had a bad bout of Choke on soft soaked food! Had his teeth done, he is wormed regular but still coughs and lost loads of weight. He is on 30acres of grazing to himself and 40lb of food a day.
Sugarbeet and horse mix as well as cooked linseed. He is rugged up as well as he does not like the rain. Any ideas anyone as I am thinking of having him shot if he does not pile the weight on. I know it may sound cruel but I dont think I have any other options. I am ashamed to see him so skinny (had three different vets out to him) and you know what its like in the Horse World when someone see's a thin . They just think its due to neglect.
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I'm assuming there's no need for him to be entire, so geld him.

40lb is a huge amount - and most of it will pass straight through him.

If he suffers from choke don't feed mix - feed a cube based feed instead. Soak for around 2 hours prior to feeding - and then feed sloppy. What is his grazing like? Is he still stressed? And how much hay do you give him.

Once gelded give him some company.
 
Mine dropped a little last week, I think its due to poor grass quality. I put on a heavier rug and started giving a hard feed. He is now in at night and looking well again.
 
amymay said:
Is he rugged OP??
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Yes he is rugged even though its quite warm here during the day but really cold at night. A friend in England suggested 'Grass Nuts' so I am looking into sourcing some over here or import them from another Country. He is one well looked after horse so it really dismays me why he is like he is. Others have suggested running him with mares but I do not breed and over here horses are treated like an old bicycle. He likes to be stabled but it seems mad to have all this land and keep him cooped up most of the time. The other stallions are all settled and no problems at all.
 
Sorry the rug question was actually to the OP.

How long do you feed his food for, and do you give him good quality ad lib forage?
 
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