Oldie suddenly looking really poor

At the other place last winter I used to lunge and do all the jobs baby in sling but at this place it caused a riot people commenting and sticking the noses in. Due to them being turned out in big groups and the mud it's dangerous even I will admit turning out and bringing in so in the end it worked out cheaper ironically than all the fuel and paying them to turn/ out bring in to do full livery.
All summer I did the poo with her on my back but it's not possible now which is a pain and the sharer managed to lame the horse last winter so to be honest it's been a nightmare year horse wise not to mention an extremely expensive one.
It's not my way to let anyone else do it either but as they are so anti kids it was a nightmare.
I should add I moved into the area knowing no one 6 months ago so was just grateful for a yard with good facilities which is very hard to find here maybe next year I need to reconsider my options if nursery doesn't mean I can do much more of it myself.
Just hoping we aren't into extremely expensive long term vets bills now too
 
Bens_Mum said:
At the other place last winter I used to lunge and do all the jobs baby in sling but at this place it caused a riot people commenting and sticking the noses in. Due to them being turned out in big groups and the mud it's dangerous even I will admit turning out and bringing in so in the end it worked out cheaper ironically than all the fuel and paying them to turn/ out bring in to do full livery.
All summer I did the poo with her on my back but it's not possible now which is a pain and the sharer managed to lame the horse last winter so to be honest it's been a nightmare year horse wise not to mention an extremely expensive one.
It's not my way to let anyone else do it either but as they are so anti kids it was a nightmare.
I should add I moved into the area knowing no one 6 months ago so was just grateful for a yard with good facilities which is very hard to find here maybe next year I need to reconsider my options if nursery doesn't mean I can do much more of it myself.
Just hoping we aren't into extremely expensive long term vets bills now too
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I’ve seen a horse on “full livery” that wasn’t getting sufficient hay and hard feed dramatically drop weight and yard look like it had hay whenever owner made a very rare appearance (she had small child issue). We knew, but it was very hard to prove, and we didn’t know the owner, and the owner didn’t seem to want to see. I am very cynical about enough hay and livery. I would expect a non over weight horse to ideally have adlib, meaning never more than a few hours maximum without. So if I turn up at 9pm, 10pm, 6am horse should typically have small amount of hay left. Worth checking. And I’ve also seen inedible hay being fed to livery horses when owner not there :-(

Teeth / basic vet check / blood test / cushings test seem good idea if really cant find a management issue..
 
Firstly, Horses can drop weight really really quickly..

Ignore the veiled suggestions that you aren't doing the best for your horse because he is on full livery. That is not helpful. Older horses also can seem to age a lot when they stop work as muscle will go fast. My retired mare aged heavily so one lightweight friend did start working her very lightly again and when you start to work your horse, you will see the same. The grass is misleading as it looks lush currently but isn't particularly high in food value currently. I would try a change of hard feed to start with before you start worrying as well. Pretty much every feed manufacturer will have some recommendations so have a look around, the feed information lines are pretty good! My own personal preference is Alfa A oil, beet and ready mash currently because I wanted a feed to help possible ulcers. It is also a great feed for weight gain. If yoir horse is overdue teeth then get those done, but make the small changes first. Use a weight tape to check his weight as well. And drop the guilt. You did the very best you could, you have a small baby and you thought you had covered all bases.

Slightly off base, but a friend who had a very small baby ended up adhering to Gina Fords baby book. It was binned countless times but she persevered as then managed to have her baby in a set routine, which meant baby would sleep in the car while she checked her horse. I gather the authors tone is somewhat patronising! But it did help!
 
I would definitely consider getting the vet out and one of the things they check for to be cushings. It came on so suddenly with my mare, she was doing great then suddenly lost condition and very quickly looked old. You know your horse the best if you are concerned go with your gut instinct.
 
My horses and ponies have been with me most of their lives and I have noticed even the fatties when they get to a certain age will not hold their weight as well. I have a welsh A that has been on a diet most of his life, this year he's 22 and he is having to have extra hay. They also get their fat distributed differently even if they to do have EMS/Cushings. I also think they do not cope so well with the wind chill even if they are well rugged. At one point I have fields 17 miles apart, the one that had shelter from the village its was about 4C warmer on a bad day and they did a lot better.
Please do not get upset, you paid someone you thought was a professional and they did not alert you to this. Everyone has said good advice about the vet, in my experience they usually just need more food and I increase the food for the oldies in August. I would use copra if you can get him to eat it. Its relatively cheap and I used to feed an old TB two stubbs scoops a day, one year when I was caught out and it had no effect on his temperament.
 
I am very sorry to hear about your horse.
I would suggest a full veterinary MOT to include everything including heart, respiration, eyes, soundness in walk and trot, teeth (they may look o.k but may be causing pain)
I would also suggest a blood test.
Also a worm count.
Also a blood test for emerging encysted small red worm.
A specific blood test for Cushings disease.
One other thing which may sound crazy - maybe he is missing you.
I hope that you get to the bottom of the problem and let us know how you get on.
 
I would have a feel of his teeth, they are usually the culprit. You could try him on a veteran feed, something you soak that doesn't require too much chewing! Oil is good for calories too!

Is he really skinny or is it just a lack of muscle? It probably is worth having bloods run just in case but to me it sounds like a combination of winter and no work! Everything looks scraggly with a winter coat too!
 
Ben's Mum, what is ringing alarm bells with me is that the yard owner did not alert you and does not seem to think there is an issue??

Do any of us live anywhere close enough to 'pop I'm for you to check whether he has food for the night?

I was once in a full livery where every horse but mine was fine. Someone told me secretly that my horse was not being fed, and that's why he was a hatrack.

I'll happily help with a spot check if I'm anywhere near you.
 
Goldenstar said:
OP I would ask your vet about giving your horse myloplast when you start riding him again it's a supplement that supports muscle development but the horse needs to be in work .
I was a sceptic until I tried it and boy it worked on my horse .
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Agree with this, Myoplast did wonders for my friends TB when she suddenly lost condition (due to cushings). If they do recommend it, there is a website that sells it much cheaper than the vets (would have to ask her what it's called though- and it was the vet that directed her to the website!)

Hope all goes well with YO, I think I agree with others though, she should have noticed and informed you.
 
The OP is tight for cash. The active ingredient in Equitop Myoplast is spirulina, or it was the last time I looked. It's a VERY expensive supplement, you can get quality spirulina much cheaper.
 
I haven't read the whole thread - just a few pages - but haven't seen a mention of what I think is the most likely cause at this time of year, particularly for older (or younger) horses. I'm talking encysted red worm. I would want to know when he was last wormed - and what with. And if the answer isn't Equest in the last 8 weeks, there's your answer.
 
ycbm said:
The OP is tight for cash. The active ingredient in Equitop Myoplast is spirulina, or it was the last time I looked. It's a VERY expensive supplement, you can get quality spirulina much cheaper.
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You certainly can I have some coming ( from forage plus ) to try it .
On the myoplast it's much cheaper to buy it via eBay from Germany where it's made I would buy one from a uk source so you can read the blurb ( unless you can read German and buy from eBay after that .
The prices vary a lot I shop around every time I need it .
 
JanetGeorge said:
I haven't read the whole thread - just a few pages - but haven't seen a mention of what I think is the most likely cause at this time of year, particularly for older (or younger) horses. I'm talking encysted red worm. I would want to know when he was last wormed - and what with. And if the answer isn't Equest in the last 8 weeks, there's your answer.
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Another very plausible cause. Do the yard worm him for you?
 
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