Help!! Youngster refuses to put weight on just keeps getting taller!!!

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rushyj

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My two year old is flatly refusing to put weight on!!! He is currently one of two horses grazing on 8 acres of new spring grass that was only sown two years ago... It is a mix of equestrian grasses about 8 - 10 inches high and lush. He was wormed (tape and normal) 2 weeks ago, he is alway regularly wormed. He is on two feeds a day of youngstock mix, top spec balancer and barley...and has ad lib haylage overnight.....I have tried loads of combinations of feeds including a top line feed....

He just wont get a good covering he is growing up in height and not out. I know he is gonna be a big lad he is 16.2 now but he is using everything up to grow up not out!!!

He is by Catherston Decipher out of a 3/4 bred SJ mare.
 
Many youngsters go through this stage, so really don't worry about it. They can't always go up as well as out.

As long as he looks well, and is getting the correct nutrients he'll be fine.
 
In my very humble opinion I will say the following, please don't take offense.

Your horse sound like he is getting a lot of feed! And iven his height and age I would actually be concerned he is growing in height too fast that could cause problems down the line.

Lots of youngsters look skinny and lanky, and from your signature you would appear to be into showing. Not this may open up a can of worms but in my experience showing people often have slightly different perceptions on what is too thin etc.

What I would suggest is you get some indepdant advice from a vet that has a good knowledge of youngstock production. This post with a picture of your youngster might also get some good advice if you post in breeding.
 
Hi lol I know what you are saying and yes I am into showing but I don't hold with the overweight show horse anymore than you do. I have attached a couple of pics of him. He is three this year.

He is on
1 scoop Youngstock mix
1 Scoop soaked Barley rings
1 Chaff
top spec

This morning and evening and grazing during the day. He has ad lib haylage at night.

barney1.jpg


barney2.jpg
 
youngsters go through a gangly stage all the nutrien he is going to help him grow once he does not need it for that he will put weight on have you tried a alfa alfa product very good for conditioning!
 
You know he may actually be better out 24/7 with just one feed. Especially if you have that much good grazing for them to munch on.

The transformation in a friends horse who's been out now for around 3 weeks (rugged at night) is amazing.
 
From a personal point of view (I grew just under 4 inches in 1.5yrs to be 6ft) there is NOTHING you can feed that will put weight on. Just make sure he is getting a nice healthy diet with lots of vitamins, and wait till he slows down.

I ate, well, like a horse for 2 yrs; I could put most teenage boys to shame for sheer volume... and I still looked like a walking skeleton (OK maybe training 2 horses for endurances at the same time didn't help).
But I sympathises fully with your 2yr old, who probably feels permanently starving...

If he is really healthy perhaps you could get his coat so shiny people can't see the bones...=)

As B_&_J said a photo would be nice.
 
To me he looks absolutely fine, I wouldn't be too worried about his weight at all.
Now the grass is really coming through I'd probably be considering cutting down the hard feed personally.
 
There are pics above... I may well try just turning him away so he is out overnight the only reason I haven't it the field is right on a busy road and I'm prob being paranoid but there are a few light fingered people round here...
 
yeah bless him he is in a great home and loving it... He is doing just the right amount of work for him and being pampered I am so please for him....
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yeah bless him he is in a great home and loving it... He is doing just the right amount of work for him and being pampered I am so please for him....
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Wonderful news.
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There are pics above... I may well try just turning him away so he is out overnight the only reason I haven't it the field is right on a busy road and I'm prob being paranoid but there are a few light fingered people round here...

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I'd feel the same actually. Perhaps bring them in much later - say around 9.00ish??
 
I have a rising 2 year old that is all legs and gangly.. I think that they all at some pojnt go through the lanky stage as they are growing. Mine is 2 in July and stands at 16HH now but she is all legs!

I would turn him out and let him enjoy the spring grass
 
I would just leave him! He looks fine to me, just gangly. His backside is nice and round, its just the ribs in the middle bit...but honestly, just leave him! The height has to stop one day and thats when he will start growing outwards
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I know exactly how you feel!!

I just think of it as the child/pre-teen boys. They are (usually!) so skinny and everything, I was a proper stick at school. Its just the lanky prepubescent phase
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I think your chap looks perfect for his age!

Here's a picture of my filly (RHS):
Claudia.jpg


She sounds similar to your boy weight wise. Although she's two on 8th May. She stands a smidge under 16 hands and eats like.... a horse. LOL
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Nothing makes her fatten up. In the above photo she's looking quite well covered for her. Normally she's positively ribby. She's eats adlib haylage (about 15kg per day), 900g Bailey's Stud Balancer, 1/2 Kg Spillers Happy Hoof, 1/2 Kg Alfa Beet, 1/2 scoop linseed meal and 1 mug BOSS - divided into 2 feeds am and pm. She's out 24/7 ATM. I'll be cutting down to just the Stud Balancer once the grass is through properly and keep her on that until October/November time.

I wouldn't worry about your boy. Honestly, he looks great; and is bound to fill out once he's finished his upward growth. Leave him out (rugged at night if needs be) and divide his feeds into two per day. I'd not worry personally.
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been there, done that, got the t-shirt! i stopped worrying about my 3yros weight about 2 years ago.

he has a shiny coat, good feet but i can see his ribs. he is however, already over 17hh and if i feed him more food he simply goes up faster.

i liken it to broodmares who give everything to their foals and look like RSPCA cases themselves!
 
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