Help! Athena's losing weight

AnnaJ

AnnaJ

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Hi

Last week I took Athena's rug off to check her over and I noticed she's lost quite a bit of weight. She does wind suck/crib quite a lot.

She's fed Apple Chaff, Cool Mix, big glug of Corn Oil, carrots and apples. and I've now increased her feed to twice a day. She's also turned out 24/7 with grazing and haylege. She's also out with 4 other horses.

Can anyone help me try and put weight back on her and also keep the weight on???
 
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Hi

Last week I took Athena's rug off to check her over and I noticed she's lost quite a bit of weight. She does wind suck/crib quite a lot.

She's fed Apple Chaff, Cool Mix, big glug of Corn Oil, carrots and apples. and I've now increased her feed to twice a day. She's also turned out 24/7 with grazing and haylege. She's also out with 4 other horses.

Can anyone help me try and put weight back on her and also keep the weight on???

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Some suggestions;
1. Rug her in a warmer rug (so she doesn't burn off calories through heat loss).
2. Increase the hay/haylage she is given...and make sure she is getting her fair share in the field
3. Have you wormed her for both tapeworm and encysted small redworm? You ought to do this in the autumn to Xmas period.
4. Add 'Speedibeet' into her diet...it is excellent for weight and warmth as it is broken down in what they like to call the 'hind gut', releasing slow energy. It is also high in calcium and helps maintain a healthy gut. Start off with about 1/3 a scoop in each feed...increase gradually til her weight stabilises.
5. How much cool mix are you feeding? Either increase the amount (if not much already) or change to a more conditioning mix or nut.
6. You could try giving her a general vit/min supplement if she doesn't look good generally - Equivite is always easy to get them to eat.
Hope this helps
S
grin.gif
 
Yes, she does have hay 24 hrs a day and she' been wormed for tapeworm and encysted small redworm.

I'll definitely take on board your advice Shilasdair - thanx
 
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Yes, she does have hay 24 hrs a day and she' been wormed for tapeworm and encysted small redworm.

I'll definitely take on board your advice Shilasdair - thanx

[/ QUOTE ]

You're welcome, hope you fatten her up for Christmas
wink.gif

S
 
I have found since swapping from speedi beet to Fibre Beet my horse has started putting weight on.

I also find Baileys No.1, barley (either flaked or rings) work brilliant with Baron.

In addition he gets Alfa Oil, Pink Powder and a cup of Soya Oil per day.

Since starting him on the above about 3 months ago he has just got bigger and bigger and has never looked so well. This is after 18months of trying almost everything to get him to gain weight.
 
replace the cool mix with Allen & Page Weight Gain, like for like, ad lib hay or haylage and I mean AD LIB until she doesnt run out....wait a couple of weeks and all will be ok!! - I have an oldie who struggles to hold weight big time now, the Allen and Page stuff I used this year has been fab!
 
Guys

Thanks soooo much for all your advice - I will definitely take it on board.

My OH is actually off to buy Athena some Pink Powder as we speak!!!!
 
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