How can I improve his top line?

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Ruftysdad

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Rufty is 24 and has Cushings. With medication his levels are normal. However he always looks ribby and has some muscle loss on his rump,but well covered otherwise. You can not see his backbone and no poverty lines. He also has arthritis and has a daily bute. He is ridden gently about four times a week.
He is living out at present on reasonable pasture and is fed once daily with fibre beet, linseed, low calorie chop, fibre nuts plus devil's claw.

I would like him to lose his ribby appearance but worry about triggering laminitus He is happy in himself and forward going when ridden. He has to be held back at times as the vet said limit cantering.

He lives in at night from September and has ad lib haylage and 2 feeds a day with increased fibre beet
 
Topline is gained not by feeding, although the correct diet helps, but it's by working & schooling the horse correctly & the muscles will build. I feel you may well struggle to build topline due to the limitations your horse has with his various issues. Just enjoy him. Good Luck

The Laminitis Trust may be able to help you regarding feeding.
 
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You could up the linseed or give him haylage if his not getting any currently, the grass may not be enough for him at the moment if his looking ribby, thing is his 24 his not gonna have the same top line as a younger horse due to his cushings and arthritis as top line is made from correct consistent work which he is not able to do, to be honest I would just up his forage intake and see how you go it may just be enough to give him that little bit more coverage, he sounds healthy enough and happy.

I would also try and give him a feed at least twice a day several small feeds are better than one big one especially as they get older or are not holding weight.
 
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for mine with cushings the solution has been protein ie copra, alfalfa pellets and micronised linseed plus natural vit E oil. I think Dr Kellon recommends 5000iu per day vit E for cushings horses. Mine gets a bit more than that.
 
I have a 24yo cushings mare, and am going through the same. She is well in herself, but a bit ribby. Have just started adding copra to her feed, been on it a week and a half, and will be getting some linseed too.

I also have a 20yo gelding who is the same. He is retired due to arthritis, so has lost a lot of muscle. Had him tested for cushings which came back negative, but I do suspect it. He is being fed the same as Dolly.

Both live out 24/7.

I have been putting a bit of hay out for them, in case the grass isn't enough, but to be honest, they're not that interested in it. I also have a 9yo gelding who lives out with them, and he is very well covered.
 
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Thanks for all the suggestions. I think that I will try vitamin E. I tried him on Copra and he turned his nose up at it. I will also up his linseed
 
Reading this with interest as my pony is in a similar situation. Had never even heard of supplementing vitamin E for cushings horses before. Which is the best supplement to use and would this still be necissary if they are already being fed a balancer like pro hoof?
 
GWF No Starch Fibregest was a massive part of me getting my cushings TB through his final winter. Certainly worth trying.
 
To develop muscle where ever he will need protein. My poor doer has responded well to what we call his "bodybuilder diet" which adds a selection of whey powder, or spirulina, and some amino acids which are the building blocks of protein. Linseed contains an adequate amount but also lots of oil. Check protein levels in his feeds and forage too - late cut hay or haylage is usually pretty low as the seeds, the main protein element, will have fallen out by then, and the fibre based foods, although good as they don't contains carbs, are also pretty low. And calorific cereals (starch) aren't ideal for PPID horses, so you are really looking at protein deficiency
 
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