This is bugging me !!

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Rolyrider

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Hey everybody :)

I have had my Beanz for 6 months now and when he came to me he was very skinny and negected so i fed him on a scoop of chaff, scoop of build up mix, a scoop of fast fibre and sugarbeet with carrots and he put on and looked lovely and i was really proud but then winter came and hes lost it all but i have him rugged really well so he's not getting cold and he gets ridden but im thinking about putting him on chaff, nuts and pink powder as i have heard that is good or putting him on chaff and topline 3 i think as my friend uses it and her horse looks amazing now.
Any ideas or advice i will find very useful thank you

Paige x
 
How old is he ? Remember if he is young he will grow in spurts and go from well covered to thin and back . My six year old has done just that. We threw food at him for months to no effect then suddenly on it came. But he had grown and filled out while he looked thin .
 
Could you put him on ad lib haylage as has a higher protein content than hay? I would also consider adding oil to his feed, or using alpha a oil instead of chaff.

I noticed you also mentioned fast fibre, but although high in roughage is low in calories and more suited to a good doer. Pink powder is also a good option and has helped my hunter keep his weight this year, whereas in previous seasons I have struggled.

Assuming he is up to date with worming and dental checks, most feed companies have a helpline so can offer professional advice.

Good luck!
 
Naff Pink Powder is very good, it keeps the gut healthy and your horse will get more out of of his food, so it's also cost effective as in some cases you can then feed less or at least spend less money on some of these weight gain feeds, so it would be a good idea to bob him on this, but don't expect to see the changes straight away, it will take around a month for it to kick in.

Also it would be a good idea do a worm count, it's not expensive and could save you a lot of time and money worrying about various feeds to try if he's wormed according his individual needs, not what everyone else does if you are on a livery yard with a worming routine that is the same for everyone's horse.

If your grazing has changed, which obviously over winter it will have you need to offer as much good quality hay as you can, so it's there for him to pick at through the day or at least bob some out during the morning, although it can be hard to do if your on a livery yard with others in the field, perhaps as your YO if you can move fields so you can share with someone is is willing to go half on a large bale?

Make sure your horse is not too warm, yes they need to be warm to help keep weight on but they also need to feel the difference in the temperature through out the seasons, as this is what makes them eat, remember horses eat to keep warm.

You could also try an appetite stimulant, one which is easy available and cheap to buy is apple cider vinegar, also it's great for the joints too, also make sure your horse is getting his salt which will make sure he's drinking plenty, if there drinking plenty it's usually because there eating plenty.

Make sure his teeth are ok.

A glug of oil in the feed, there are a few you can choose from but even supermarket vegitable oil will do if you want a cheaper option.

Lots of small feeds rather than one or two larger feeds.

Allan & Page Calm and Condition is very good, you could mix this with some low sugar Sugarbeat like NHF spedibeat along with a hand full of Dengie Alfa A mixed with plenty of Dengie Hi Fi Lite (yes it's lite) but it's fibre and you use as much as you like as it can be used as a hay replacer.
 
Wow so many replys thank you :)

I will try to remember what everyone has said,
his worming is ok they have all just been done and his teeth are ok to the best of knowledge.

I had him on Allen & Page calm and condition but it didn't work. I have tried to keep him at the right temperature and i think i have, he has regular exercise and he is now on sugar beet which hasn't done anything yet.

i am going to try him on Baileys No4 cubes and Chaff with sugar beet and Oil with some carrots and i will see if he picks up.

Any body used this for weight gain ?

Thank you
Paige x
 
Ad lib haylage and loads of grass nuts (the element in his diet that is missing at this time of year) and by that I mean a couple of good scoops twice a day.With an adequate diet there is no need for supplements whatsoever. I would also be giving some sort of coarse grazing ration as well plus chaff and beet.
 
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