Helping a pony put on weight

[Lexi90]

This is my 25 year old shetlands first winter with me. He's been maintaining his weight well since the spring, maybe a little on the slimmer side. As the weather suddenly got colder, he's been losing weight. I want to help him put some of it back on, and then keep his weight steady over the winter.

He has cushings which I've just started treatment for, so I've got to make sure his feed is lami friendly. He currently eats veteran light, and I put 2 tablespoons of linseed oil in it. (How much oil can I give him in a day? The bottle says up to 3 tablespoons, but that doesn't seem a lot!)

Does anyone have any recommendations? There's so many options, I'm not sure what to go for.

 

[meleeka]

Micronised linseed can be given in quite large amounts if they will eat it and is my go to for weight gain safely. You could also feed something like Alfabeet.

I’m assuming he’s had his teeth checked recently?

 

[Lexi90]

Micronised linseed can be given in quite large amounts if they will eat it and is my go to for weight gain safely. You could also feed something like Alfabeet.

I’m assuming he’s had his teeth checked recently?

How much would you call a large amount? He really loves the oil, has been eating his feed even more enthusiastically since I started adding it.

I'll look up Alfabeet. Do you know if that's laminitis friendly?

He's had his teeth checked a couple of months ago, along with an extraction, and is eating grass and hay well.

 

[visa_bot]

Another vote for micronised linseed. I had a diet formulated for my laminitic by an independent horse nutritionist, happy hoof molasses free, unmolassed sugar beet (e.g. speedibeet) and can top up with linseed if necessary. Will also need a good general vitamin supplement and salt. Can also top up with a bit more hay (soaked in my case) if weight gain needed.

 

[meleeka]

How much would you call a large amount? He really loves the oil, has been eating his feed even more enthusiastically since I started adding it.

I'll look up Alfabeet. Do you know if that's laminitis friendly?

He's had his teeth checked a couple of months ago, along with an extraction, and is eating grass and hay well.

Some info on how much here https://www.farmandpetplace.co.uk/product-focus-micronised-linseed/

Alfa beet is fine for laminitis https://www.dengie.com/horse-feeds/pelleted-fibres/alfa-beet/