tips on feeding a youngster who looks like a coat rack atm

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palmermanson

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i am recently getting a 3 year old cob gelding who is in such an appaling condition and he is very underweight i would just like advice on feeding and what people think will help me gain weight on the lil man. x
 
I think you should ask one of the rescue centres for advice, they will have a program or routine to proceed.
First off, I think I would stable him overnight, and put out in a smallish paddock every day so he can see his new friends, but not over eat.
Feed good soft hay and a nice mash , any sort of quality high fibre feeds, maybe a mash of conditioning nuts, but offer small feeds several times per day.
After he is in a routine and is eating happily, say ten days ask vet for a very mild worming, like panacur.
Check for lice and for rainscald.
Once stabalised think about blood test for tapeworm and a vet check.
Teeth and feet once he is a bit more confident.
 
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Keep him in, 5 day Panacur, ad lib hay which will work wonders. Most cobs live on fresh air and you need to watch them putting on weight so he may be worm infested.

Blue chip worked wonders on this boy (Hanoverian x) along with ad lib hay. Within 6 weeks, he was at his ideal weight.

Boomerang.jpg


Once the cob is up to weight, watch out for a possible change in character if he starts feeling better!
 
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Unless there is a problem with him, he'll pick up really quickly. Do NOT stuff him full of conditioning mixes!

Make sure he's properly wormed (speak to your vet).

Give him access to good (but not lush) grass and as much good quality hay as he wants. I wouldn't be feeding any concentrated feeds at all other than a little sugarbeet to have a general supplement in.

If you really want to feed a bucket feed, I'd feed sugarbeet and alfala (either soaked pellets or as a chaff) and a little oil only.

It should take a couple of months for him to reach his ideal weight. If he looks significantly better within a week or so, you're feeding him far too much!
 
Im a fan of little and often with something like calm and condition, sloppy and easy to hide things in with a little alfalfa to stop gobbling.

Less chance of sore tum and if you make up a normal bucket size then add the alfalfa your YO can give him a scoop of the premade feed three or foru times aday along with a slice of hay if stabled of just a bucket popped in the field.

When I was feeding up E she got 4 feeds a day between me and K's sharer and got a feed and a haynet at the same time :)
 
A good mash type feed is from the Ready Mash Soft and Soak range. Its good for weight gain, a lady on my yard feeds it to her 35yr old and she looks great. There are 3 to choose from, its the Extra one Im thinking will be good for yours.
 
Worm first,then 3/4 feeds per day calm and conditioner with ready grass or similar Dodson and horrell do just grass and fab and some conditioning cubes,biotin also helps with a good supplement,I have rescued many hack racks with great success.good luck
 
Bomb drench him - worm weekly for 3 weeks with a broad spectrum wormer. This will sort out any hidden worm burden.

Many youngsters go through a looking like hell phase - he is probebly growing.

Don't confine him to a small area, as a youngster he must have plenty of space to exercise - this helps develop strong bone.

If you do feed, don't overdo it as it can lead to developmental problems. A youngster should look good but should not be carrying excess weight. This is a time in their life when the growing upwards takes over from outwards.
 
i have just been using mollichop calmer with some biotin powder he's putting on the weight brilliant! i have just increased it he also has grass all day then good quality hay at night. For me and my cob this works great!
 
Tnavas said:
Bomb drench him - worm weekly for 3 weeks with a broad spectrum wormer. This will sort out any hidden worm burden.
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And probably kill him!!

What an absolutely STUPID suggestion for an underweight youngster!!

1. Use Panacur 5 day - and then a 'better' wormer 6 weeks later when he's had a chance to recover and put on a bit of weight.

2. Get vet/EDT to check his mouth for retained caps, over/under-shot jaw etc - teeth are one of the main reasons for weight loss in a 3-4 year old.

3. Feed plenty of good quality fibre - preferably haylage - and SMALL feeds of a good conditioning feed (I like Bailey's No. 4 - can be fed with a bit of soaked sugar beet pulp to soften if mouth is dodgy!)

4. If he's not visibly improving in 3-4 weeks, get vet to do a blood profile. If he IS visibly improving, ease back on the concentrates.
 
JanetGeorge said:
And probably kill him!!

What an absolutely STUPID suggestion for an underweight youngster!!

1. Use Panacur 5 day - and then a 'better' wormer 6 weeks later when he's had a chance to recover and put on a bit of weight.

2. Get vet/EDT to check his mouth for retained caps, over/under-shot jaw etc - teeth are one of the main reasons for weight loss in a 3-4 year old.

3. Feed plenty of good quality fibre - preferably haylage - and SMALL feeds of a good conditioning feed (I like Bailey's No. 4 - can be fed with a bit of soaked sugar beet pulp to soften if mouth is dodgy!)

4. If he's not visibly improving in 3-4 weeks, get vet to do a blood profile. If he IS visibly improving, ease back on the concentrates.
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What a silly response! - what do you think a 5 day Panacur worming does? Unfortunately you don't get the parasites that have been encysted and hatched following the clearance of the gut by the first dose, a five day cycle isn't sufficient time to catch the newly hatched. Parasites are one of the main condition problems in youngsters as their immune system is not yet developed enough to cope with a large burden of parasites. Roundworm are the biggest culprits, causing coughs and snotty noses as they migrate.

I have been 'Bomb Drenching' for decades on my very experienced equine vets recommendation - it is very unlikely to kill the horse ever - so do stop being so dramatic!

Worming weekly allows the system to recover and while the first lot die and are passed out inthe dung, any encysted parasites then move out into the digestive system. Before they have a chance to multiply they are caught by the second and third dose.

I use this system on every new horse that sets foot on my property even if it is in good condition and been on a regular programme. The wormer used is usually an Ivomec and praziquontal based wormer - the same one is given once weekly for three weeks. You should have seen what came out of my Clydesdale when I brought her home as a weanling - it was like spagetti and meatballs with the quantity of round worms passed.
 
Been there but hat rack with foal....

Worn count and on advice wormed with panacur guard for 5 days, then teeth and general health.

With daisy I turned her out (was worried she might go down in stable), fed her good hay in a hutch, give rowan barbarys a ring, advice was 1 scoop ready mash extra three times a day with twice the water, it also ment so could not scoff it and colic.

I brought a 4 year old at 14 hh I now have a ridden trad at 15.3!

Good luck

P.s in good weather a decent bath with some anti lice shampoo, luckily it was tropical when I had mine
 
he is on fast fibre and alfa a oil but he doesnt like the fast fibre so i have changed that to suger beet and alfa a oil he loves that he has access to grass and is turned out i am worming him this week with pancur i will try post piccy of him xx
 
I'd get dental check
Five day panacur
Feed plenty of hay.
Not too much grass, ideally plenty of space on well grazed grass.
Bucket feed of fibre cubes and mineral an vit powder
If no improvement in a month get bloodsd checked and do worm count.
Do not stuff him full of rich grass or feed.
 
gave my 18 month old colt who was emaciated , long stary coat , never been wormed or handled etc , a dose of equest pramox , result was very quick and quite amazing , he absolutely spat worms out and never looked back
 
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