How to deal with a condition score 1 horse?

Most definately contact your vet, with a horse like that your first reaction is to chuck buckets of feed at it, but that is the worst to do..
 
Very little and very often.
Im talking only a hand full of alfa A.
If the pony is used to farrage, then alfa A will be easy on its gut.
POnies who have being starved (literally) will NOT eat quantities of feed. THey have to be tempted. And it can be a long job!
 
I would also recommend talking to a few different nutritionists - I did both when I got my Rescue horse as you do have to be so careful. Top Spec and Baileys were really helpful for me - and then I took the information from both and made my own decision as to what and how to feed. I particularly liked Top Spec as they were happy to recommend other brands as well at the time (although this was over 3 years ago so that may have changed!). But yes you should also get your vet involved, even if it is just so they are aware of the situation - obviously it depends on the background of the horse, as I am assuming that it is a new horse rather than one you have had for a while and has lost weight - if it is the latter then most definately get the vet straight out of course! I had bloods done with mine and worm counted straight away (and she was full of worms, so that was one of our most major problems to combat as well as just 'feeding her up').
 
fibre.. as in just has and not to rich grass for a period of time until the horse picks up then introduce tiny feeds as many times as day as you can.
 
Speak to the ilph or redwings they have loads of experince and are willing to advise and are not linked to any particular brand or regime just good old fasioned been there done that, they often use milk pellets as these are easy to digest,

Good Luck
 
You definitely need to involve the vet for two reasons:

1. To determine exactly what has caused the poor body condition - if, for example, the weight loss is due to a liver problem, the horse will need a different diet from one that just has been deprived of food.

2. In case anyone sees the horse and reports you thinking you are the cause of its poor condition, then if you have already got the vet involved you are in a much stronger position.
 
We've just had one in sent to us like this, who has been rescued. Her condition is through neglect.

We started her off on ad lib hay with three tiny feeds a day off alfa A and speedi beet and gradually increased the quantities. We've had her for about 5 weeks now and the difference in her is amazing........ she's now on a simple systems based diet of speedi beet, high energy grass nuts and alf alfa with their balancer which is made up of instant linseed, brewers yeast and seaweed.

I think that with a horse in such poor condition a fibre based diet of 'natural' food stuffs is much easier for them to digest than a cearal based ration
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Don't forget about worming.......... our vet recomended panacur 5 day then ivermectin three weeks later.
 
Flissy, Dr. Green is grass. For a horse in such a poor condition what Poppymoo said is just about right (along with the vet's advice). But DON'T provide too much or too lush Dr. Green either.
 
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