TB loosing bit of weight......any tips?

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lucky7

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My TB lives out 24/7 and has done since spring. She is 6yrs old and won't be ridden till next spring. She has been on good grass and fed once per day, bit of happy hoof and carrots and a joint supplement. She is currently in a light filled turn out without a neck, and is starting to grow a winter coat. Took her rug off yesterday as it was so warm and she was hot. Noticed she has lost a bit of weight, not thin but def not the rounded bellied horse she was a few weeks back!!
So plan is to up the hard feed - baileys no 1, happyhoof, sugar beet x 2 feeds per day, separate from the fatties onto some good grass during the daytime, and maybe switch to a fleece under her rug at night, will monitor for a few weeks and when grass has gone supplement her with ad-lib hay during the daytime and back in with the ponies and hay at night time.

If she really looses lots of condition/weight will stable at livery yard.

Anymore tips?
 
Check the temperature under the rug frequently, over heating can cause weight loss just as surely as being cold can.
 
I agree with above posting, it is still early, so no need to put extra rugs on, as long as she has fibrous food she will generate her own heat, and I think this is more healthy, loads of people left TB's out before the days of good rugs, some still do, and they survive!
She will not look as good as a native type, but as long as she is holding her weight to Christmas, she will be fine from then on as long as she has ad lib hay. Make sure her teeth are done, and she gets the autumn worming.
horses are designed to put weight on in summer and lose some in winter.
if you want to start riding her in spring., put her on some Mare and Youngstock from Christmas onwards, two pet scoops per day will be fine.
I don't think you need chaff and beet and ad lib hay. I like to feed in the afternoon so they have a warming energy source overnight.
I only feed joint supplement as a precaution when my boy is stabled, otherwise I rely on linseed meal to give some support.
I have gone over to mostly straights feeding, but if you are happy with the mixes then stick with it.
 
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I'd feed what you plan to, but would suggest dropping the Happy Hoof. I used that too in the summer as it's very palatable and contains the vit/mins but it IS designed to be low cal and is most appropriate for good doers.

I'd consider swapping the 'bit of Happy Hoof' for a kg or so (per day) of one of the Dengie Alpha A range (http://www.dengie.com/pages/products/alfa-a-and-hi-fi-ranges.php). Lots of people find these products a useful addition to their hard feeds in winter to help with condition. Worth looking at :)

Also, you didn't mention it, but allowing your horse access to ad-lib hay will also boost condition and help keep her warm. If she's normally in with 'fatties' maybe you could separate her off for part of the day so she can have a good, undisturbed munch on hay.
 
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Spyda said:
Also, you didn't mention it, but allowing your horse access to ad-lib hay will also boost condition and help keep her warm. If she's normally in with 'fatties' maybe you could separate her off for part of the day so she can have a good, undisturbed munch on hay.
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I have moved her to better grass today, sectioned her off from the fattys so she has alot to get through. Soon as this has gone she will be moved onto ad-lib hay, going feed shopping tomorrow morning so she will be on 2 feeds per day. Yes i agree with what you say about happy hoof, great for the fatty cobs but not so good for the TB! :)
 
Alfa A turned my horse into a mentalist! It's great for condition but did not suit him at all so please be aware if you decide to go down that route! He's not TB tho - don't know if that would make any difference...!
We have our TB ex-racehorse on calm & condition.
 
My tb mare is on alfafa - and does well on it al lyear round wiht increase in winter of course...she also has veteran mix (being 23yrs) and will get speedibeet when it starts to get really cold which helps her to keep weight on...she has ad lib hay and warm rugs when needed. Her stable is large but not draughty and gets no wind whistling through it which I am sure helps her so I never really have to load the rugs on her at night and she just has a h/w on outside but she isnt even in a m/w yet...
i would do as you said and see - January/february can often be the hard months so until then gradually build it up and see how your horse goes.
 
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