TB with tendon injury - condition

I took on a racehorse at the end of February who had broken down. I had him on box rest on for just over two months, so until about 4/5 weeks ago and he is now turned out. Whilst he was in I fed him a mixture of hay and haylage as I didn't want him to have too much haylage, but wanted him to have something in his haynet at all times to keep him occupied.

So, now I've turned him out and he is on fairly good grazing, but he's still looking quite poor compared with all my others and his coat's not looking great either. My 22 year old TB is looking fat as butter in comparison. Do you think his injury has taken a lot out of him and that's why he's looking poor? Should I just give it a bit longer and see if he picks up a bit? Or shall I start giving him some conditioning feed?
 
Yes, I think a lot of it is muscle loss but it's the fact that his coat doesn't look very good. I have a 4 year old that is turned out with him and she looked quite poor when I had her 3 months ago and she looks amazing now. I suppose I was just thinking that he'd pick up in the same way.

This was him when I first had him, sorry, don't have a pic of him now. I will have to take one later!

MisterKnight3.jpg
 
How about introducing a feed balancer then - rather than a load of hard grub, and then review it again in a few weeks....
 
Yes they were all wormed about a month ago. Feed balancer - good idea - I will go and get a bag of top spec. Then I can do a before and after for you all!

Do you think it is his injury that has knocked the stuffing out of him a bit?
 
Make sure you've used Equest Pramox or similar in case he has tapeworm. I've seen thinner tb's though, he isn't that bad and he will have a lot of muscle loss. Mine looked bl**dy awful when I first had her, she hadn't been ridden for a year. I'd feed all haylage as opposed to a mix, if they still need forage, and add in a conditioning feed. I found sugar beet was brilliant for putting weight on (unmollassed to prevent daft behaviour) plus oil, which adds lots of calories and excellent shine, without bulk or heat. Good luck!
 
Thanks everyone... although just to clarify - pic is of him when I first had him - i.e. he had won a chase a week before this - not of him now! I think I will try a feed balancer as suggested as I don't really want him putting on too much weight, just to look a little healthier if that makes sense. I don't want him carrying any more than he has to on his bad leg. Thanks Dianchi, I think you are probably right. I will try top spec for a few weeks and see if he picks up.
 
He is lovely, whats his race name/how is he bred?

Most of the TB's drop off loads after being on box rest. once the muscle has fallen off them, it does take ages and ages to get it back. There is nothing for it except food, food and more food. I'd recommend a combination of top spec feed balancer, saracen equijewel ( which is all only oil/fat) and winergy equilibrium growth which is a very high calorie but also high fibre diet ( it is special types of chaff and different sorts of oil, great for weight gain and no fizz) and probably a scoop or two of baileys no.4 on top of all of that.
 
Don't think he looks that bad really, just looks like a racehorse. i am sure he'll pick up in time. Some are always going to be lighter tan other though. Are his teeth ok though, I would maybe get them checked if you haven't already to make sure he's able to eat properly.
 
He's a bit ribby but nothing to worry about.

I have an ex racer who had a tendon injury and in exactly the same condition.

Three magical ingredients to forward the road to recovery:

1. Baily's No 17 conditioning mix
2. Apple Cider vinegar
3. Lunging

I did all three things and my gorgeous girl is looking - well - gorgeous!
 
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