Veteran really struggling with weight

[Kaycee]

I'm another one that recommends soaked grass nuts and micronised linseed.

 

[clairebearfur1]

Thinking about changing my 26yo lusitano x TB's feed. He's never been fat, he's a slim type and always drops weight over the winter no matter what I do. However hes come out of this winter worse than ever. He really has lost all weight round his back end especially. Once he loses his very fluffy coat which is covering his thin-ness he's going to look truly awful come spring. He's on good quality ab lib hay all year round as I dont have much grass, yes more grass would be ideal but the farmer is unwilling to let us rent any of his (I only own 1.5 acres with 2 horses on it). Gets 2 feeds a day of Calm & Condition mash, alfalfa, a local vit & min supplement and veg oil. His teeth aren't fantastic however he still eats perfectly fine and hasn't been dropping his feed at all from watching him regularly. He's never been a major eater but he always finishes his feed and does pick at the hay throughout the day. He lives out 24/7 with open stables to use (which he never does) and is always rugged appropriately.

Can anyone recommend any other feed (that doesnt cost a fortune) I could consider giving him? Is linseed particularly good? He just needs loads more calories! Whats the Big Mac version of horse feed?

Have his bloods run for cushings and teeth checked again. our oldie has to have his teeth checked every 6 months

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I second this!

I 3rd it! Our then 26 yr old cob mare had a prolonged colic episode ,necessitating vet visits on 3 consecutive days. Having always been a good doer, She lost a lot of condition, we built her back up on soaked grassnuts with grass chaff to guard against choke and kept her on that diet until she was pts aged 31.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

When this happened to Kia it was cushings and his teeth were done. He wasn’t dropping food but clearly he wasn’t chewing well and wasn’t getting enough from the hay/haylege.

Kia had no real outward signs of Cushings but his levels were massive. He was on four feeds a day and looked ok but not exactly well