Owning a horse is so much harder then I thought

[missieh]

Lots more hay, especially if she stays out. Horses burn energy just keeping warm so she'll need more out than in. I'd get her rugged up and fed twice as much hay + chaff/bran/pulp in the evenings and she should start putting some weight on. If you're working her then she'll need more energy food, but start with this (or you'll end up with just a fizzy, thin horse). The key though is roughage - to replace the grass that she would have been munching on for 18 hours of the day during the summer. Plus I would give her a wormer.

 

[RubysGold]

Persephone: I’m 6foot, I definitely couldn’t have a 14hh pony, my feet would touch the floor
Hellsbells: Our YO doesn’t really care, he just has a few stables which he lets us rent. He probably doesn’t even know how often to worm. She has been wormed once in the 15 months I’ve had her. I think it was about March maybe?
Will get a weigh tape if there is one in the shop, if not I’ll order one off internet.

 

[Persephone]

Sorry to disagree missieh but I don't believe Bran is going to be of any help at all in this situation.

It's just added expense for nothing as well as it preventing absorption of Calcium.

IMO it has no real place in feeding today.

If anyone has any evidence to the contrary I would be interested to see it.

 

[Mavis Cluttergusset]

[ QUOTE ]
Lots more hay, especially if she stays out. Horses burn energy just keeping warm so she'll need more out than in. I'd get her rugged up and fed twice as much hay + chaff/bran/pulp in the evenings and she should start putting some weight on.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agree on feeding loads of hay but I wouldn't bother with bran - it has little nutritional value, it isn't easily digestible, it demands a higher calcium input, it impacts on mineral absorption and it can have a laxative effect. If she were my horse I wouldn't be worrying unduly about mixes or chaffs - Id be seriously upping her hay, and that's it.

 

[Persephone]

Lol, that is so funny, you two look very suited together definately, like I say though just had it in mind that she was a cobby pony!

I've probably assumed you are my height which is 5' PMSL.

Never make assumptions eh?

If you can't get a weigh tape, if you could wrap a piece of twine around her and then measure it one of us could compare it against our weightapes? Just to help you get going a bit quicker if necessary? Or is that a nuts idea?

x

 

[shadowboy]

what is she like in on her own? if she doesnt like it and stresses then it wont do her any good. She will loose weight by being stressed out. I would rather have her out with the others at night but up the chaff by doing a feed in morning and feed at night. I also wouldnt panic - what one person thinks is underweight might actually be normal.

 

[RubysGold]

persephone: I am guilty of assuming what height people are and what horses are lol, its hard not to

Thats a good idea, if I can find some long twine then I will do that.
shadowmonkey: shes not a stressy type, but her and one of the other horses are always together in the field, and stable next door to each other, don't think they'd like being seperated every night.
Nickie

 

[MrMeldrew]

If your horse hasn't been wormed in 15 months then I'm willing to bet that is her problem.
I would advise something gentle at first like Panacur Equine Guard 5 day wormer in case of a large burden. Its a liquid that goes in their feed. Then a couple of weeks later something like Eqvalan Duo/Pramox.
I echo the advice of Dengie HiFi chaff and speedibeet with her mix but above all as much hay/haylage as she can eat and perhaps something like Pink Powder to help settle her gut while she is being wormed.
Keep the feed simple and high fibre/get rid of the worms and I'm sure she'll be right as rain in no time

 

[Hels_Bells]

Ruby's gold - great stuff about the weight tape. If she is underweight i would def consider that worms might be to blame - ideally you should worm every 3 months so that could be behind it. Loads of luck with her, she'll be just fine as she has a mum who cares enough to come on here and ask other people's opinions when she's unsure )

Bran - I would be SO inclined to say it's useless. But we used to feed it to my old boy years and years ago when we first got him. He's so easy peasy to look after we have never needed to change his feed so he STILL has it twice every day and he's now 30 bless him. It could be the secret to his longevity... or maybe that would be the sugarbeet or 16+ !!! ) Also, I was talking to an old friend who has a large thoroughbred stud farm the other night. They give their mares a hot bran mash every night in the winter - I was astonished to find i wasn't the only person in the world still feeding it. Still, I wouldn't recommend it as there are so many amazing feeds around these days!

 

[MrsMozart]

Ah, the joys of horses

.

Can you take some pictures that show her shape? I know she has a winter coat, but we may be able to see, especially at the end of the rib cage.

 

[Persephone]

Hells_Bells, that is so funny you should say that. My elderly mare was most disgruntled if I ever left her Bran out. I think it must taste really nice!

Totally useless though IMO except to get an off colour horse eating again!

 

[loopeepee]

This thread has made me smile - although you are worried about the (possible) underweightness of your horse, everyone has given such lovely advice

 

[Mavis Cluttergusset]

It does taste nice! When I was very little we used to feed it in a mash to my elderly pony, with salt in - I used to fight her for it

 

[Persephone]

MrMeldrew I have heard, but am willing to be corrected, that Panacur Equine Guard is actually pretty harsh, especially if there are a lot of encysted redworm!

Might be worth doing a little research RubysGold, or speaking to your Vet. I was at a seminar very recently and it was most definitely on the "nasties" list

The recommended thing seem to be Equest Pramox now or equivalent.

 

[Persephone]

Smells nice that's for sure! Never tried it myself! Sandy liked it with a bit of Propell in!

Hated the Limestone though. We gave up in the end and dosed her with Event every now and again.

 

[Mavis Cluttergusset]

Equest Pramox is great - only 4 doses a year

 

[Persephone]

Yep, and the latest evidence shows no resistance! Oh and advice to overdose by 10% weight to prevent it occurring.

Apparently a single dose of Strongid P in July is a useful addition to it as a programme.

God I sound like a Fort Dodge Rep PMSL. Honestly I'm not, it's just nice to have such a complicated subject simplified a little!

 

[Shilasdair]

Worming is simple.
You have to worm in spring and autumn for encysted small redworm, bots and tapeworm.
The rest of the year, you pick one wormer, and give it at the recommended intervals (or worm count by faecal eggs).

Here's a useful condition scoring chart, with descriptions.
http://www.newc.co.uk/advice/documents/B...0fca6297d7b196a
Also - why not call the BHS and ask for a welfare rep to visit you, RubysGold - they are there to give advice.
S

 

[brighteyes]

<font color="blue"> I must say I didn't realise she is so big. I thought she was about 14hh lol. </font>

I thought she was a 14.2 Sec D type

 

[RubysGold]

brighteyes, you must be thinking about the horse I have recently started riding for another livery, he is a 14.2hh welsh d

 

[brighteyes]

Take no notice of me! Actually, there has been a wealth of sensible suggestions on this thread, so my advice need not apply

I'm with all those who suggest a worming is in order. Equest gel I think is the one which is a tad 'vigorous' and you need to consider which product (maybe with your vet) is the best one to use in the light of the large period of time since the last worming.

If the grazing situation at the livery yard is not regulated, then I'm inclined to think worms will be an issue if not the reason behind your condition concerns and one I'd be addressing first, and regularly from now on.

 

[touchstone]

I agree that you should be able to feel the ribs.

To be honest condition scoring all over would be your best bet, I have a mare who drops weight over her ribcage but who still carries weight everywhere else, particularly her neck and quarters.

To get her weight right she is thin and poorly covered over her ribs,and they are visible, but her weight is right everywhere else and if I fed her to have a good covering her ribs she would definitely be obese!

Unfortunately we are so used to overweight horses in this country that we often forget what a well conditioned fit horse looks like.

 

[tabithakat64]

I would get someone more experienced to look at your horses condition and tell you what they think and also show you how to weightape and condition score that way you can monitor Roo's weight yourself.

Then I would start Roo on a worming programme, speak to your vet for advice if you are unsure what product to use. We have used the equest/pramox year pack which gives clear instructions, so this may be a good idea.

If she is underweight up her fibre intake by feeding more hay and fibrebased products such as a chaff and speedibeet. If you are unsure what to feed ask for feed recommendations on here or contact a nutrionist at one of the feed companies (Dengie, Bailey's and Allen and Page are always very helpful).

If you think Roo would be stressed being away from her friend if you brought her in overnight and she's feeling the cold you could turn her out in a rug for the couple of weeks until the other horse comes in.

 

[Echo Bravo]

I give my horse Winergy low energy feed which puts the weight on with out them getting fizzy and 3-4 squares at night, sometime they eat the lot, sometimes not play it by ear and they have loose hay on the ground during the day, roughly a square each, it depends on the weather. When it cold they eat more.