How to improve a low set neck?

[TuscanBunnyGirl]

D+H build up cubes have done wonders for my friends mare but know they're not for everyone.
And lots of hacking (riding or long lining..whatever you and your mare prefer).
and don't forget a good groom can do wonders helping build up muscle and getting the blood circulating better.

 

[nikCscott]

you can add copra coolstance (we have used it for our prone to tying up mare and a lot of barefooters use it)
http://www.stanceequine.co.uk/horsefeedproducts.php?CoolStance-Copra-2

also a fair few barefooters I think get on with plain oats too if I remember correctly (I have the opposite problem with mine so don't pay that much attention!)

Another vote for cool stance i get mine from 4 dobbin online and they came the next day its fab stuff start feeding in small amount as its an acquired taste

 

[amandaco2]

Copra is lethal...?intrigued now....
I use ers pellets and have seen weight going onto my chap nicely.

 

[Carol Singing Dawg]

..... brewers yeast, amino acids, so she gets all the goodness she can from what she consumes.

 

[Lolo]

Bee has a low-set neck (and a short neck at that!) but when she's in work and is working properly and looking well it's not noticeable.

Omega Rice is amazing stuff for Reg, who isn't really a big eater but who, at nearly 17hh and being huge-framed too, needs a serious amount of food to keep him looking well.

 

[Queenbee]

See this is my issue, I can get weight on her if she's on conditioning feed but it plays havoc with her metabolic system so can't feed her them. She currently has adlib hay (when stabled), and two feeds of Speedibeet, High Fibre cubes, Linseed, Biotin, Brewers yeast and Soya oil. Not sure what else I can add?

This was her in November/December time when she was in light work.

Add- Just seen you post Norfolk Pie - yes she's had her back done not long ago by a physio and only pin pointed a few tense spots. I didn't ask about a good way to work her, but I will give her a call.

I have been long-reining, but only once or twice a week

On the feed front, I went to a racehorse rehab place this week, the owner was telling me she had major issues re condition with a number of them and she now uses dengie healthy tummy whenever she has to add some pounds.

I've never used it, but she swears by it.

 

[Shysmum]

Please keep us updated with how you both get on - very interested to know.

 

[Mariposa]

Copra is lethal...?intrigued now....
I use ers pellets and have seen weight going onto my chap nicely.

Apparently its all to do with the aflatoxins that can be found in it?

There was a big discussion on one of the Polo facebook pages on Facebook, I can't link it but there's some info on this forum.

Personally I've never fed it!

 

[ester]

thanks for that Mariposa, looks like if it is an issue it is a quality control problem if anything, I think similar risks exist for other foodstuffs too (hence why many use antifungals in their bagged feed which also aren't great for horses)

 

[amandaco2]

Interesting stuff .....

 

[Amaranta]

Fibre Fibre and more Fibre, whoever said that beet was mostly water is incorrect, an unmollassed sugar beet is a very good feed and high in DE (calories if you like) You need to be looking at fibre feeds with a DE of 13 or more anything less will not put weight on.

I would change her hay to a high fibre haylage, micronised unmollassed beet (easy to digest and high in fibre), alfalfa is also good, alfa oil in particular and get her on either a balancer or a good vit and min spec. I would not add barley, it is far too high in starch for a horse suspected of laminitis. A very good addition is Triple Crown Triple Top Up, it is soya oil with added Vit E (without the Vit E horses do not digest oil properly) and has a starch level of 6% (anything under 10% should be fine), it has a DE of 24 and is fed in small quantities ie a cupful at most. TopSpec do a Conditioning Cube that is both low in starch and contains no cereal grain so that is worth looking at too.

If you don't feed a balancer/supplement that contains one it may be worth giving her a probiotic, Protexin is the best on the market imho and is far far better than Yeasac or Brewers yeast, it is protected and therefore you do not have to feed nearly so much for it to be effective. What many people do not realise is that yeasts are easily destroyed by heat AND the digestive processes of the foregut so by the time it reaches the hindgut (where it is needed) a lot of it has been killed off, Protexin is a little bit like an M&M in that it is encased in a protective covering so more of it gets through (about 50% more).

Read the labels - look for the DE and the starch levels, you want 13 DE or more and 10% starch or less.

I would not work this horse until she is less poor.

 

[Devonshire dumpling]

Fibre Fibre and more Fibre, whoever said that beet was mostly water is incorrect.
Ooooops that was me quoting our highly experienced and respected equine vet, who is renowned in his field.... Whilst examining our skinny tb mare with no top line who we had been stuffing full of sugar beet and 16 plus mix for the last 12 months... Of course he gave her a full examination and blood tests before he told us this lie bout the beet.... Perhaps I will ask for a refund...... Damn cheating vets

 

[TigerTail]

OP you might want to take a look at Heather Moffets FB page - to her horse Reno, who arrive with a collapsed neck which she has all but fixed with slow correct work.

I wouldnt be lunging in a pessoa type thing for a start, the more they brace against it the more they build up the wrong muscles. Lots of long lining up and down hills and in hand work will help too.

Feed wise id stick with what you've got but add growing oats from Thunderbrooks (look at their website) in fact she might do very well on their basemix as it tends to suit poor doers and was designed with EMS in mind.

 

[Julia0803]

Interesting about the sugar beet.

We have just taken on full loan a 14.3 veteran who was v undermuscled as had been out of work, with a low set neck, similar to all of these pictures.. I spoke to lost of the feed companies and all of them were rather dismissive of sugar beet, saying it was mainly water, not much goodness etc...

But anecdotally, almost everyone I have spoken to has recommended it for weight gain! I certainly remember as a child the livery yard I used to keep my pony at would always add scoop of sugar beet to every feed in the winter to prevent weight loss!


We have kept him on it for now, but looking to add something else to his feed (in addition to micronised linseed and forage mix). Probably a balancer and maybe topspec cool and condition. He can be very whizzy when he feels like it so don't really want to give anything high in cereals etc.

 

[annunziata]

What a pretty girl. I am at the moment doing a fitness program with my horse as he has been out of work for 4 months due to surgery. My vet recommended hydro therapy to help??? lot so walking. we are currently lunging for 10-15 minutes loose (head collar) for 2 weeks I will incorpriate some pole work and long rening we have 4-5 weeks of walking trotting lunging then we lunge/ ridden walk for 4 weeks. I know that your horse has not had surgery but if you go on facebook to the group horses with kissing spine there are lots of people and ideas as to getting your horse back into work correctly xxx

 

[AdorableAlice]

I have used Equi Jewel (2 coffee mugs a day) with great success. Just helped to put a top on a big raw horse. No adverse temperament reactions either.

 

[ester]

surely you weight out the beet to feed dry so the fact you add water is irrelevant

 

[mini-eventer]

OP you say she is in during the day with adlib hay?

How many hours is she in for?

Does she have hay in the field?

I would say she needs more forage, I got a TB like this and all it took was adlib hayledge but ALL the time not just when they are in.

If you can not provide in in the field concider bringin in at night for a few months untill she picks up.

I shall see if I can find some photos of mine.

Before

2 months later

 

[equinedentistuk]

Ive used huge carrots and swedes in a wall fixed manger to great effect for improving topline. The action of them pushing down to bite into the swedes makes them use the muscles along the top of the neck. Good luck

 

[equinedentistuk]

Ive personally had good results with feeding topspec conditioning cubes (non cereal based so shouldnt affect her) and their comprehensive balancer. Frickers Tiny Tots cubes are also great - conditioning with yeast, yee-sac and magnesium so is also helpful for horses that need a bit extra but also need calming - my sec d has these and Ive now been able to stop feeding him a seperate calmer

 

[Lolo]

I have used Equi Jewel (2 coffee mugs a day) with great success. Just helped to put a top on a big raw horse. No adverse temperament reactions either.

See, Reg and a few other TBs I know of found EquiJewel to be literal rocket fuel! But the almost identical Omega Rice just packed the pounds on them...

 

[laura_nash]

This ^. I know someone who had great success putting weight onto a starch-sensitive horse using this (http://www.rowenbarbary.co.uk/horse_feed_products/conditioning/36) as a complete feed alongside ad-lib hay.

 

[ktj1891]

See this is my issue, I can get weight on her if she's on conditioning feed but it plays havoc with her metabolic system so can't feed her them. She currently has adlib hay (when stabled), and two feeds of Speedibeet, High Fibre cubes, Linseed, Biotin, Brewers yeast and Soya oil. Not sure what else I can add?

This was her in November/December time when she was in light work.

Add- Just seen you post Norfolk Pie - yes she's had her back done not long ago by a physio and only pin pointed a few tense spots. I didn't ask about a good way to work her, but I will give her a call.

I have been long-reining, but only once or twice a week

I would highly recommend Pure feeds. My very poor TB went on it about 2 months ago and its worked brill so far, I am also feeding 3 mugs micronised linseed. Agree with others and advised by my vet no work until they are more covered otherwise you are just buring off any fat she gains. Good luck!

 

[JHC]

OP you say she is in during the day with adlib hay?

How many hours is she in for?

Does she have hay in the field?

I would say she needs more forage, I got a TB like this and all it took was adlib hayledge but ALL the time not just when they are in.

If you can not provide in in the field concider bringin in at night for a few months untill she picks up.

I shall see if I can find some photos of mine.

Thankyou for the photos, what a drastic transformation. He's stunning.

She has adlib hay during the day, in for about 8 hours. No hay in field as she shares with sheep and a miniature.

She stresses when she's in at night and then won't eat.

 

[mini-eventer]

Unfortunatly you need to up the hay, You could try changing it to hayledge high fibre would be better if she is lami

Some horses just cant manage on just having it in the day and I think yours may be one of them. She doesnt have to be in. My boy put the weight on living out in Feb, but he had hay/hayledge available ALL the time. It may mean sectioning off some of the field to stop your miniture getting to it

Adlib for 8 hours isnt adlib I am afraid

 

[Lolo]

Thankyou for the photos, what a drastic transformation. He's stunning.

She has adlib hay during the day, in for about 8 hours. No hay in field as she shares with sheep and a miniature.

She stresses when she's in at night and then won't eat.

Is there any way she can be out 24/7? Reg is the same- he doesn't cope with being stabled very well, and won't eat, so he's out 24/7 and is a 100% more relaxed and happy. I'd also see if you can put hay out, even if it's in haynets tied so only she can reach them. 8 hours adlib isn't adlib.

My mum always says the way to keep a TB looking good is lots of good quality feed and hay- there's no cheap shortcut and no miracle feed. Although Bee managed to come out the winter on a scoop of chaff and a handful of pony nuts a day looking almost portly! Exception to every rule?!

 

[Tonks]

Totally agree with Mini eventer...................

Having read all of your replies....I would be keen to find out a bit more about the amount of forage she is actually receiving. This is because, for me, getting this correct is very important.

I know you state that she has adlib hay, but do you know that actually poundage (lbs) that she is receiving? A horse in her condition/size may well need up to 25lbs per day. Is she actually getting this?

We may feel we are feeding 'adlib' but in actual fact she may not be receiving the correct amount. For example, with the weather and season there may not be enough nutritional value in the grass (if you have any???) at this time, to support her condition. Therefore, at this time she may well be in calorie deficit especially is she is struggling to keep warm. Good for the fatties - not for the poor doers.

Of she is out for longer than a couple of hours, I would say that given the bloomin awful summer/winter and the quality of the grazing anymore than this and a poor doer will be in calorie deficit. As such, if she is out for long periods - you should put hay in the field of maybe 10lbs which would form part of the total 25lbs she would need everyday if she is in at night to recieve the rest. Perhaps more if she's out for longer.

Horses really need to graze/eat forage for a large number of hours per day. As a livery owner, I do find it problematic that some of my customers want their horses turned out from 7am to 5.30 in the evening without giving hay in the feild, without the slightest consideration that there's nothing out there and they'll get bloomin hungry and lose weight.

I would also check the quality of your forage or even analyse if you have the resources just to check that the composition is correct or perhaps change to a higher calorie forage.

But I do feel that she's simply not getting enough forage.

I have heard over the years lots of people who become mystified when they're horse looses wieght or can't keep it on. Most of the time, the answer is pretty simply - they are simply not giving enough forage, due to a number of differing factors.

Just some thoughts to consider, that you may not have already considered.

 

[Amaranta]

Fibre Fibre and more Fibre, whoever said that beet was mostly water is incorrect.
Ooooops that was me quoting our highly experienced and respected equine vet, who is renowned in his field.... Whilst examining our skinny tb mare with no top line who we had been stuffing full of sugar beet and 16 plus mix for the last 12 months... Of course he gave her a full examination and blood tests before he told us this lie bout the beet.... Perhaps I will ask for a refund...... Damn cheating vets

He may be a very good vet but vets are not nutritionists

 

[Ladyinred]

He may be a very good vet but vets are not nutritionists

*like*

 

[JHC]

Thanks for all the advice.

The farmer has taken out the sheep so I can put hay in the field.

So hopefully with the.fibre increase shell start picking up.

Im currently in bed with the flu so as soon as I can manage to walk further than from the stables to the field we'll start going for inhand walks.