Weight gain feed for v slim pony

[Patterdale]

I don’t feed my horses, they don’t need it. So I’m not great on current feeds!

BUT we’ve got this pony who is lovely, but looks like an OTTB. Condition score 2 (just). Been like this since we got him, is perky and happy. He’s had wormer and teeth done, he’s just not a thrifty type.

What he needs is good grass but I can’t give it to him at the moment for various reasons.

He’s having good forage but is there anything else new which might put weight on without winding him up?? As he’s currently being broken in.

I’d usually give barley and linseed in this situation, but thought I’d peep out of 1947 for a moment and see if there are any better options!

 

[Snow Falcon]

I had good results with Allen and Page Calm and condition. But like you, linseed is my go to for condition. Could you do grass nuts and linseed? I avoid sugary foods, so nothing with molasses.

 

[SpotsandBays]

Another vote for grass nuts and linseed

 

[Jambarissa]

Fortunately for you you have missed the bagged feed revolution and we're mainly back on the old stuff.

For feeding up I like the higher energy grass nuts like the red bag from Simple Systems plus a good mug of micronised linseed.

I guess alfalfa might be useful if well tolerated. Or copra?

 

[FieldOrnaments]

alfalfa oil if he is one who can tolerate alfalfa, it is 12.5mJ/kg

out of interest why are people saying grass nuts, as opposed to grass chop? I would have said chop is preferable as it's less processed and better for teeth.

 

[splashgirl45]

Calm and condition sent my warm blood cross loopy , which was not difficult. Equijewel is quite good for weight gain or Allen and page fast fibre worked for my mare and kept her reasonably sane

 

[maya2008]

Fast fibre helped my Shetland - struggling with weight but not allowed grass. We fed a bucket in the morning then one after the ride. Nothing in it that could set a pony off either.

Ad-lib forage is your friend though. If they don’t gain on that, and you are sure they aren’t being bullied off it, I’d be worried something more sinister is underlying it. It’s summer - warm and not much work, so calories in should equal weight on.

 

[Britestar]

FYI, A &P calm and condition is being renamed competition and condition, as the calm bit was misleading.

Nothing else is changing but the name.

 

[Timelyattraction]

A&p soothe&gain, linseed and alfa a Oil really helped my mare last winter. I also added vegetable oil to her feed

 

[anglo]

Allen & Page Care and Gain helped my lad put his weight back on .

 

[Jambarissa]

alfalfa oil if he is one who can tolerate alfalfa.

out of interest why are people saying grass nuts, as opposed to grass chop? I would have said chop is preferable as it's less processed and better for teeth.

Soaked grass nuts are generally more palatable and they dont need as much chewing so you can get more into them.

I agree that in other situations I like my fibre to be as long as possible.

 

[TPO]

If you're feeding for condition look at mJ/kg ie high calorie.

For weight gain high calorie would be the way to go with an eye on protein % and also to check that starch and sugar aren't too high.

I try to keep feeding simple but having a sick horse I've had to try *new* things. Baileys Outshine (£50) and Saracen Releve mix (£25) have worked wonders for me. Both high calorie and protein, palatable (especially Releve) and easy to source [for me].

My standard is generally grass nuts and linseed but needed more for this horse.

I've also had good results [seperately] with Baileys Ease & Excel mix, Copra/coolstance and Key Flow Pink Mash (lower calorie than some but it appears to help them get the most out of feed/helps hindgut).

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Grass chaff mine prefer that over the grass nuts.

Linseed, Equijewel, copra.

Don't underestimate ad lib hay if they will eat enough of it I would always try that first before buying bucket feed.

 

[Horseysheepy]

Allen and Page veteran vitality is very good although it's aimed at the oldies.

 

[dorsetladette]

linseed lozenges!

You only need to feed about 70g on top of your usual feed to make a difference. I've had really good results from this. I think a 20kg bag is about £25-£30 and last forever as you feed so little.

 

[leflynn]

Grass chaff and omega rice, plus if you want to feed cubes saracen releve cibes (works for my tb that is hard to keep weight on)

 

[Dave's Mam]

Don't underestimate ad lib hay if they will eat enough of it I would always try that first before buying bucket feed.

Claire McLeod said exactly this in a post recently, maybe even today. Up the volume & quality of the forage. Haylage even.

 

[Bobthecob15]

I’ve got a OTTB and he needed to put weight on, he’s been having Pure Working, he’s fabulous stuff! It’s got linseed in it too, calories without the fizz. If you use the form they will send you a feeding plan based on work, condition etc. It’s a brilliant feed it has everything in one bag so no need for anything else. https://www.purefeed.com/free-expert-diet-plan/

 

[tda]

I would also stick to grass nuts and linseed initially

 

[sjdress]

When my mare lost weight over winter I put her on Alfa A oil and a conditioning cube along with ridiculous amounts of hay. It really picked her up but it was the spring grass that really helped her I think

 

[COldNag]

Another vote for grass nuts and linseed

Another one here.
I used Agrobs weisenflakes or Weisencobs.

 

[wiglet]

My mare had AlfaA oil, grass nuts and micronised linseed to gain weight after colic surgery.
I was on full livery at the time and this was given 4 times a day (Breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night (9pm) feast).
If possible try to feed smaller feeds several times a day, it definitely helped my mare.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Claire McLeod said exactly this in a post recently, maybe even today. Up the volume & quality of the forage. Haylage even.

When Arabi was young he just wouldn't put weight on and alot short feed made him silly, so I just made sure he had hay all the time, he had a hay feeder in his field that I just filled up every morning and he did put on weight.

 

[Fastasflames]

Id try ad lib haylage if you're not on great grass before trying anything else and add in a broadspectrum vitamin , especially if your grass isn't great. Something like a basic balancer or a powdered vitamin supplement added into some speedibeet or fast fibre.

I would also consider a blood panel just to check for deficiencies and liver function.

 

[lynz88]

linseed and equijewel have both worked very, very well though I think linseed is cheaper than equijewel. Also adding oily herbs helped mine gain and retain weight and if needed, the right* balancer (this is highly dependent on many factors I've found including what else is being fed. Mine has gained weight on the GWF Equilibra and looked fab - I've never received compliments on him before but did on the Equilibra bbbbuuuutttttt now that I've taken him off of alfalfa chaff due to a suspected intolerance and is just on hi fibre [Saracens which I'm not a fan of] his coat has gone into a less than ideal state).

 

[poiuytrewq]

The skinny pony I’ve been looking after has done really well on Mole valley conditioning mash. I add some Speedi beet and Allen and Page fast fibre to bulk it out but it’s the conditioning mash that has put the weight on