Healthy Weight Gain Diet

ktj1891

ktj1891

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So I have an underweight/under conditioning tb. Hes 16hh 7 years old and was 490Kg back in June, probably less in weight now.

His current diet is Simple Systems, fed 3 times a day and also a massive dry haylage net a day.

He has:
3 round scoops greengold (chaff)
3 round scoops purabeet/lucienuts
1 round scoop topnosh

Hes been on this I would say about past 4 months and hes looking quite poor and dull in coat.

Hes been tested for ulcers back in June and he had zilch. Hes also currently being blood and tapeworm tested.

However, if all comes back clear I am concerned as to what I should feed him.
I want to feed him a complete healthy feed as I am paranoid about him getting ulcers or generally poor digestive health so I want all feeds to be pure/healthy and what they are designed to eat but have no clue where to start. I know weight gain is all about upping the protein levels and low sugers/mollasses.

I have heard good things about blue chip, saracen horse feeds, complete365 and linseed etc... I did buy him one bag of charnwood linseed before but not sure I was feeding enough?

Any tips or reviews on certain feeds, or better what ingredients I should be look for, for weight gain, shiny coat and overall well being and balance within gut/digestion and hooves.
 
I'm looking into this at the whole other end of the scale-a 26yo underweight cob!

I've seen Build and Glow from Dodson and Horrell (part of their tb range I think), also their Build up Conditioning Cubes to feed alongside his Alfa A Oil. Not used them yet so I can't be sure of results.

Feed with oils in it will also help coat as well as weight gain. I've also been using Pink Powder, I noticed a perkier pony feeling better about himself in a couple of days and after a few weeks, his outlook has changed and he has been putting weight on.

I'll keep an eye on this thread, might get more inspiration myself!
 
Ditch the haynet - get a haybar or feed from the ground - horses manage to eat more this way - if turnout out on poor grass feed hay in field. Look at calm and condition from Allen and Page - I would look at feeding a good balancer with this. Blue Chip Balancer is good so is Pure Feeds balancer. DOnt feed too much in poundage if he is not doing the work to justify - stick to fibre (hay) and as much as he can eat x
 
The key to weight gan is calories in > than calories out.

The biggest thing that hold back weight gain tends to be people underfeeding calories. Balanaced vits and mins also play a large part.

Best thing (after trying most things) for my BF TB is Alfalfa chaff, oats, multi vit and mineral which balances the rest of his diet (this is key not all complete vits/mins are actually complete) some salt and brewers yeast. This sorted him out really quickly I drop /increase the oats as needed.

I wont feed processed feeds any more as they do not seem to be good for the horse and its much cheaper to feed straights/unprocessed.
 
My girl was on simple systems stuff and she looked like a bag of bones. It just didnt work for her.

Ive heard good and bad things about pure feeds but Ive heard all good things about thunderbrook feed which is I think purely organic with no added rubbish.

Id feed as much hay as poss and come off the haylage if you can. Its quite often too rich for some horses so it goes right through them. Chuck loads of hay on the floor and if theres none left in the morn then put more down. Also let horse graze outside as much as poss.

Finally I feed fast fibre, linseed and mag ox and my girl has never looked better and weve tried many feeds in the years I have her. Shes very fussy and tends to like something for five mins and then go off it. Shes been on this a year now and still loves it. It really cheap and a bag goes a long way. You can also leave a big bucket out so horse can munch through it over night as its a hay replacer. With the linseed I tend to do about three cupfuls this time of year. My girl is barefoot so this combination is great as there is no sugar or mollasses, the linseed is great for feet skin and coat and also the mag ox is great for feet also.
 
Just wanted to add that the fast fibre on its own isnt high in protein but adding the linseed is what will put on the weight. The linseed is also full of fibre so your horse is getting lots of fibre which is what horses thrive on.
 
Anything high in easily digestible oils (this is why linseed is good for weight gain) will help with adding weight. All-you-can-eat best quality hay/haylage, alfalfa and a sensible feed (i.e NOT massively high in protein) in sensible quantities will do the trick.
 
I tried various difo feeds to get weight on my 5 year old WB. Eventually moved him on to pure condition - 3 Stubbs scoop a day + 3 cups of linseed and 3 cups of equi jewel and he looks super and OMG shiney..!!!

Although the pure feed was helping I think the micronised Linseed gave him the extra boost and a £27 bag lasts me a good few months so its not expensive. But pure feeds gets the thumbs up from me it's simple and easy but a back at the required amount (3 Stubbs scoops) means a bag will only last 5 - 6 days so its not cheap to feed.
 
Yeah I have heard very good things about Pure feed, I have been advised to feed 2.5kg which will last 6 days, then I guess go down to 2kg once hes at his weight. I may look into getting some linseed but they did advise me that it contains everything he needs if I want to give him more then add pure condition pellets to it. So hes going to have that and milk thistle as advised by the vet.
 
I originally had him on 2kg which was the lower end of there recommended anount and nothing else but he did not look that great I rang them and they said it was too little and said he needed 3kg so I upped it but it was not untill I added the linseed etc till he really bloomed esp the shine in his coat he looked a little dull before than.
 
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