Supplement/Feed info for a Thoroughbred to help gain condition

[Cubbini]

Hi all, I'm just looking for some recommendations for supplements for my TB as he's lost a bit of condition, also it's hard to keep topline on him consistently throughout the year.

I'm looking for something that won't change his temperament/nor make him fizzy!

Does anyone have any recommendations?

I've been advised linseed, although not sure on type/quantity to feed daily?

Also I have been recommended Equitop Myoplast (although I have been told by someone else that this is apparently high in sugar and can make horses fizzy so apparently not a good combination with a TB!?)

Also do you have any advice on any basic/fundamental ridden or in-hand exercises that you have tried that have shown the most success in building muscle/topline quickly/easily? (For context we don't really focus on school work unless unridden pole exercises, we mostly do hacking).

Thanks

 

[meleeka]

Micronised linseed. Build up to a mug a day.

I used D&H Soothe and gain on a big, poor doer. It was amazing stuff.

 

[TheMule]

The grass is just coming through, I would get him on the best grazing you can and wait 3-4 weeks to see if that does the job as it should (and save yourself a fortune in the meantime!)

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Micronised linseed can be fed in quite high quantities 50g to every 100g in horse weight, Equijewel is good used on some older retired horses and ridden ones doesn't seem to fizz them up.

Work wise use the hack as a schooling session do leg yield, shoulder in quarters in try and incorporate hill work, make sure the horse is using itself properly and in a good frame when you do these exercises.

In the school use poles and lateral work lots of transitions maybe have a few lessons to give you an idea of what to do.

 

[Squeak]

The grass is just coming through, I would get him on the best grazing you can and wait 3-4 weeks to see if that does the job as it should (and save yourself a fortune in the meantime!)

This 100%. At this time of year it's not a bad thing for them to be a bit leaner before they start stuffing themselves on grass. My tb piles on the weight when the grass comes through.

Re the rest of the year, do you feed adlib hay/ haylage?

 

[indie1282]

I’ve just put my big WB on Equijewel and it’s made a noticeable difference in just over a week. Not cheap but it does work.

 

[Mrs G]

Agree with answers above - micronised linseed, lots of good quality hay/grass are definitely the way to go. My TB's condition and behaviour also improved hugely once I changed to a forage based diet with no cereals, low starch, low sugar, no cheap fillers or additives. I also avoid alfalfa and haylege - both seem to make him giddy! You do right asking for suggestions - what we feed our horses can make a big difference to their health and behaviour.

 

[HeyMich]

Bailey's Ease and Excel cubes or TopSpec UlsaKind cubes - the only difference between the 2 is that the E+E cubes have a basic mineral balancer incorporated, whereas the UlsaKind cubes you have to add a balancer. Both are high in protein so help with muscle building but both are low sugar/calorie so shouldn't fizz them up at all. They have worked wonders for our skinny beasts.

 

[TPO]

I don't have a TB but in a similar position to you. Our grass is still quite far off because of the weather and ground conditions.

Grass nuts are my usual base, but everywhere is out of stock. I've just bought
alfabeet.

I am also feeding micronised linseed and Baileys Ease & Excel mix. He also gets oily herbs, salt and Progressive Earth Pro Balance + along with Dengie Meadow Grass chaff.

He gets ad-lib hay while stabled overnight and they are hayed every 2-3hrs in the field (hay is steamed hence it not being able to go out in a oner).

So far no miracle improvements. Worm counts are due next week but I don't think that's it. The vet is out the following week for teeth so will check him checked then and bloods if still no improvement.

I think in my case it's the beyond awful weather we've had. No grass since mid October when the rain started and hasn't stopped since (or so it feels like).

I've used Allen & Page Sooth & Gain with good success before too. Also key flow Pink Mash has previously given great results despite not being that high in mj/kg. I think because it works on the hindgut they get more out of their other feed.

As for exercises, good starting places are-
Claire Lilley - 200+ school exercises with poles
Jec Aristolle Ballou - 55 Corrective Exercises for Horses

 

[WelshD]

my showing pony who lacked topline had all the hay he would eat plus extra fibre feeds chucked over the door or gate as many times as I walked past or could get someone to chuck in. I would also recommend spirulina to help with topline too but the extra frequency of feeds really helped and nothing in them to blow his brains

 

[JBM]

Keyflow pink mash condition? Good for weight gain and for the gut

 

[ShowJumperBeckii]

Equerry conditioning mash is my go to for anything that needs weight gain now, worked wonders for my mare!
equitop I used on my old tb and with the correct work I really did rate it! But he was very laid back abs the sugar didn’t change him, I have been told pure spirulina (sp) would do the same job as that’s the main ingredient in myoplast but Without the sugar, but if you have a fussy Eater rhey may not eat it as taste isn’t meant to be nice!

 

[Barton Bounty]

I have a perfect weight tb for a happy hacker.

Micronised Linseed is the best for coat condition and keeping weight on.
Coolstance copra as a base and Veteran Light which is full of fibre.
A full of fibre nut
Honeychop lite and healthy.
10 squirts of aloe vera juice a day.

 

[Cragrat]

My 17 hh TB gradually got fussier and fussier, and wouldn't / couldn't eat the volume of fibre based feed (grass nuts/alfalfa/sugar beet etc) to get enough calories. He always had truly adlib haylage. He had linseed and oil added, as well as various digestive supplements and yeasts etc. I split his feeds into 4 a day.

So I swallowed my principles and on my trainers recommendation added Equijewel and Saracen Re-Leve. Annoyingly, he loves it, and at 20 , has come out of winter looking better than he did aged 10. He still has some SB and grass nuts, but loves his Saracen.

 

[sbloom]

For in hand work I would recommend joining Equitopia Center for a month, they have great topline syndrome webinars, and several from in hand specialists. You can make up your own mind then and understand better what you're aiming for and why each bit is important