Weight Gain

[Horseback Rider]

My TB was starting to look a bit better than a coathanger on a combination of Alfa A / Baileys High Fibre Mix / Nuts/ A&P Calm and condition.

However he has now dropped off more weight and I am starting to feel consious of riding him out even though he is the most spoilt thing on the yard.

He has Ad lib quality hay and is starting to stay out a bit more at night with is friends but I am going to start doing more work with him from now on so would like him to atleast put back on what he lost.

I have seen different reccomendations on here for Linseed / pink powders etc and wanted your advice really on what to give him as the only stipulation is needs to be non heating / non sugary ??

 

[Puzzles]

I can completely sympathise as the main horse that I ride, a TBx, is exactly the same. Is he up to date on his worming? It may be worth having him checked for gastric ulcers, as these can cause significant condition and weight loss, especially in horses with a diet high in cereals. I would recommend feeding a supplement such as Dengie XP Triple Action or a yeast-based digestive enhancer, to help him to make the most out of the nutrients in her feed. You can also add 200-500mls of oil (Linseed is the best in terms of containing the highest Omega 3 content) for significant weight gain without the fizz. HOWEVER for you, as the Alfa-A already contains oil, this would be an unnecessary cost.
It may be worth changing to haylage as well for its higher energy content compared to hay, though be sure to get one that has a high dry content (60-70% ideally - many feed companies such as Dengie will analyse your hay or haylage for free) otherwise it will make her more likely to lose even more weight.
You don't state how much of each of those different feeds your horse is receiving, but bear in mind that the more different things you give your horse, the less his digestive system can absorb from each of them. So in English (!) it would be more effective (and economical) to feed 2.5-3kg of Calm & Condition with 2 scoops (approx. 800g) Alfa-A Oil, and gradually phase out the High Fibre Mix and nuts: there is nothing else that they can add to your horse's diet that the Calm and Condition, digestive supplement, forage and Alfa-A Oil won't.
I hope this helps.

 

[hatters]

Topspec balancer has worked wonders on my once skinny ex-racer, so much so he has lived out most of the winter and only gets a handful of Alpha-a oil with the topspec now. When I was trying to build him up I used the alpha-a oil with speedibeet, and ad-lib haylage.

 

[onemoretime]

I use Top Spec Super Condition Flakes, only feed 1/2 lb in each feed. (2 feeds a day). Horse looks great and has put on a lot of weight this winter. I also use Pink Powder as a supplement.

 

[MegaBeast]

Sounds similar to my TB mare. Have just started adding Micronised Linseed to her feeds in the hope it may help. TS balancer does nothing for her, she gets Calm and Condition, cool cubes, Alfa A, veggie oil and now the micronised linseed plus ad lib haylage. tbh I've pretty much given up, she's ribby but carrying plenty of muscle

 

[coen]

I have had my Holstein gelding since June, he has always been hard to get weight on and like your boy really looked like a coat hanger no matter how much he ate.
He was on calm & condition and alfa A Oil with adlib hay (also tried haylage no difference) I was worrying something could be wrong e.g ulcers.

He started getting constipated and I noticed yard hadn't soaked his feed properly so I changed onto Alfa A Oil, Redigrass, multi vitamin & sprinkle of linseed flakes.
He gets 3 feeds a day and this has really worked in 2 weeks he has gained weight & a couple of people commented on it this week end.