weight gain

[emmilou]

Hi all,
i no this is a topic that is always coming up but im desperate for some advice.
i have an old boy (well 20yrs) and have really started to loose weight and condition over the last few weeks. he is in regular work and is being fed ad-lib hay and gets daily turnout.
feed-wise he gets build-up, alfa A oil, Baileys No. 01 Cooked Cereal Meal Horse and sugarbeet. he get this for breakfast and dinner with added vegitabl oil and a vit/mineral supplement.

he was holding his condition very well but at the moment is looking very dull and thin.
can anyone suggest anything?

many thanks
Emma

 

[kick_On]

instead of veg oil, what about soya oil???

sometimes making large feeds can over face horses, you could think about breakfast, lunch and tea???

 

[Scarlett1980]

How much build up is he getting? he might just need a bit more now it is colder and he is older? Also, how big are his meals? He may be able to break it down better if he had 3 or 4 meals instead of 2.

I know i've said it a lot before but if the above isn't working you could try winergy condition. it gives condition form fibre and oil instead of cereals like build up. he may be able to utilise the fibre and oil better than the cereals - could be worth a try, everyone I know who uses it, includingmyself think its brilliant stuff.

 

[Pink_Pampas]

I recently used a sack of equijewel on my oldie, alongside alfa a oil and sugarbeet, and has worked for him.

 

[Apercrumbie]

I use Baileys No 4 which is brilliant for weight gain. Also the oils are good ideas.

 

[TGM]

My first suggestion would be to get his teeth checked, because old horses often have difficulty chewing, so don't eat as much hay as they need to. If his teeth are OK, and this is the first time he has dropped weight during the winter on good food, then might be a wise precaution to get the vet to take some bloods and give him a check over. I would definitely want to try and give him another feed per day as well.

 

[xSandraMx]

Id recommend Top Spec Cool COndition Cubes if you want condition from fibre and oil - it is the best thing that has worked for me. Ive tried the winergy but my horse didn't get on with it, he often left some and it didnt put the weight on. He loves the cool condition cubes though and looks really well on them.

 

[stacey_lou]

My little man was diagnosed with a tumorous cancer lump about 3 years ago and lost loads of weight to the point where you could see his ribs!
I put him on low energy Simple systems feed whitch consists of Sugar beat , grass nuts and Luci bix a bag of each whitch costs around £8 per bag on 2 feeds a day lasts me about 4 months! You weigh it out and soak it like sugar beat and either feed it on its own or i mix in veg and Chaff.I would highly recommend this feed.It has done wonders for my little boy and he has never looked better!.

 

[stacey_lou]

My little man was diagnosed with a tumorous cancer lump about 3 years ago and lost loads of weight to the point where you could see his ribs!
I put him on low energy Simple systems feed whitch consists of Sugar beat , grass nuts and Luci bix a bag of each whitch costs around £8 per bag on 2 feeds a day lasts me about 4 months! You weigh it out and soak it like sugar beat and either feed it on its own or i mix in veg and Chaff.I would highly recommend this feed.It has done wonders for my little boy and he has never looked better!.