Horse feeling Flat and Lethargic

[peanutsmumma]

Is anyone else's horse feeling a little flat with not much energy at the moment?

My 6yr old New Forest Is just feeling really dull at the moment. Schooling is really hard work and even hacking, he is lacking oomph and motivation.

I have already asked for advice on adding something to his feed, which I'm yet to do, but I just wondered if anyone else's is like it at the moment?

 

[PeterNatt]

I would get the vet to take some bloods and see what that shows.

 

[Zoeypxo]

Mine got like this in Sept/October i tested for cushings came back positive now on prascend shes full of beans again. Although mine is 16 so its a bit more common.
What is his management and feed currently?
Id be tempted to also run bloods if hes not usually so lethargic

 

[peanutsmumma]

Mine got like this in Sept/October i tested for cushings came back positive now on prascend shes full of beans again. Although mine is 16 so its a bit more common.
What is his management and feed currently?
Id be tempted to also run bloods if hes not usually so lethargic

He loves our 24/7 with his field mate (my 7yr old Dartmoor)
I spoke with a Nutritionist in October because I felt like he needed a little bit more in his feed than what he was getting, she suggested changing his feed completely so he in now on Sugarbeet, spillers lite and lean balance, salt and Linseed.
He is only ridden 2/3 times a week at the moment

 

[Quigleyandme]

Have you taken his temperature? He might have a low grade infection.

 

[SEL]

I got the vet to take bloods and found my pony has elevated AST. We're not sure of the underlying cause (either liver or muscles) so she's had a course of L94 and vitamin E and has already perked up

 

[AmyMay]

I think you’ve two choices. Up his calories - oats were previously suggested, or get a blood test.

 

[millitiger]

Blood test first.

Does he usually feel different through the seasons? If so, back off the work until he's perkier.

If not or you're not sure, it usually points to low grade pain somewhere- mine is like the princess and the pea, so even feeling a bit tight over his back causes him to be very lethargic until he's had a massage

 

[Wishfilly]

What is his forage like? Mine sometimes goes a bit flatter when he's not getting much out of the grass. At the moment he's on haylage overnight and feeling pretty fresh, but when there was a bale of haylage he wasn't keen on and he was only really picking at it, he definitely felt flatter!

I do agree though that it may be worth speaking to a vet, especially if he's felt this way for a while?

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I would get the vet to take some bloods and see what that shows.

This blood test, no one can speculated, best get fact.

 

[Snow Falcon]

I'd be running bloods. Also consider lymes. I know it's not tick season but I found one on my cat the other day. As you're in the forest it could be a possibility. My mare was treated for it last year. The most notable symptom was the lethargy with her.

 

[daydreamer]

Mine was not right around Christmas, unusually grumpy, sensitive to touch, not keen on hay (normally a very sweet lad who is a greedy pig). I had the vets out and had bloods taken, she agreed it seemed like it might be ulcers so he was scoped too. Two liver enzymes came back as just slightly above the normal levels. He scoped negative for ulcers. I've been trying to get digestive system supplements in him in case it is a hind gut issue, I've been giving him milk thistle, he had the osteopath out who said he seemed to be stuck in right bend and iIbought some Timothy HorseHage and started giving him a little bit of that morning and evening. He does seem much less grumpy and to be eating more forage. I can't tell what worked as I just decided to throw everything at him to try and make him feel better!

I do know quite a few people who say their horses are eating less forage at the moment. I wonder if it is that they are fed up with it or if it is hard work on the hind gut so there is a bit of soreness there so they eat less??

 

[ycbm]

Many horses are low in vitamin E in the second half of the winter as the grass dies off. For a few years now I have routinely supplemented vitamin E with any horse not getting a good whack of fresh green, growing, grass.
.

 

[peanutsmumma]

Many horses are low in vitamin E in the second half of the winter as the grass dies off. For a few years now I have routinely supplemented vitamin E with any horse not getting a good whack of fresh green, growing, grass.
.

Which Vitamin E supplement do you feed?

 

[ycbm]

Which Vitamin E supplement do you feed?

My horse last winter had a vitamin E myopathy and needed a lot of it and the natural stuff, so I fed Forageplus. For ordinary purposes I would suggest Gold Label vitamin E and selenium (the 2 work together) as a cost effective option. It is synthetic, but it works fine if you are just giving a basic maintenance dose as per the label.

Synthetic vitamin E is only half as effective as natural vitamin E, something to bear in mind when comparing prices. You need twice as much synthetic to do the same job.
.

 

[Sossigpoker]

What do you feed him ?
Does he get a multi vitamin supplement? If not,.it's likely he's missing out on something as they can't get everything they need from just grass and hay , plus there's not much in grass at the moment anyway.
I'd check the temperature first and put him on a supplement,.if he's not already on one.

 

[peanutsmumma]

What do you feed him ?
Does he get a multi vitamin supplement? If not,.it's likely he's missing out on something as they can't get everything they need from just grass and hay , plus there's not much in grass at the moment anyway.
I'd check the temperature first and put him on a supplement,.if he's not already on one.

He gets Spillers lit and lean balance, Speedibeet and Linseed, with a bit of salt.

He shares a field with my Dartmoor and they get 4 haynets a day between them.

I think I will check his temperature in the morning, put him in with the horse next door as they love a play together and see how his behaviour is with that.....and arrange for the vets to take some bloods to rule everything out.
If nothing comes back from the bloods then I will look to add a blood tonic to help lift him up to see if that works

 

[SEL]

Many horses are low in vitamin E in the second half of the winter as the grass dies off. For a few years now I have routinely supplemented vitamin E with any horse not getting a good whack of fresh green, growing, grass.
.

I have a suspicion low vitamin E was the problem with mine. She's perked up hugely since I added the natural stuff.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Thinking of it, mine is a bit flat ATM.
He gets the Dodson and Horrell daily vitamins pellets , wonder if I should add some vit E on top? He does get some feed too but not the recommended amount, hence he has the D&H on top.