Weight loss, feeding help !

[Deleted member 150717]

Soothe and gain Allen and Page of good to keep weight on and low sugar too I give it to my 3yr and he’s always sleepy lol! Highly recommend soothe and gain.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I hate when people just suggest stabling, I prefer natural for horses. And completely agree about the herd environment, I'm a big advocate of it, we are buying a second horse just so she has company. Shes my world so gets everything, also have a livery coming into her field with her, but the horses next door and her always hang out together and almost act like a herd just over the fence!

I certainly didn't advocate stabling, my own horses are living out currently and are much happier/better for it than when they came in overnight in winter. You have told us that she has been living in that situation for 4 yrs, so I assumed that you didn't know that horses are better in herds. IMO horses 'over the fence' are not the same as having a herd in the same field, when those horses move off, your horse can't go with them, no matter how much she want to move, she can't shelter with them from the weather.

 

[Leandy]

We survived feeding once a day and ad-lib hay/haylage for two years now. Plus she gets 2 feeds a day for 4/5 days of the week. She also has constant grass and good quality grass. So if you have any advice id appreciate that, i cannot get down to feed her anymore for personal reasons that i wont discuss on a forum.

That is my advice and just because you cannot do it personally does not mean it cannot be done (nor that it doesn't need to be done). It is no good saying it was sufficient before so it should be now because clearly it isn't now if the horse is losing weight. Grass in the middle of winter is not good quality, it has very little feed value and not enough calories (clearly or the horse would not be losing weight). Having said that, I see from your update that you can barely see her ribs and typically this happens and then weight goes on again, in which case I would not worry too much. I'm assuming you are on top of teeth and worming? If I have one which is losing a bit of weight for whatever reason, I usually add barley rings (but you will get lots of people telling you that that nasty cereal stuff is not good for them - it is damn good for getting calories down though) plus a slug of oil.

 

[HobleytheTB]

I've found linseed to be good for weight gain as it's high calorie but you don't need a massive bulk of it. Alfa-a oil is also good as it's low sugar/ starch, but high in oil and protein. Alfalfa is also a good acid buffer, so beneficial for ulcer prevention. I've also seen good results with Copra or Alfabeet, if you want to feed a mash type feed.

How old is your mare? If she's older it could be worth testing for Cushings as that can cause issues with weight gain.

 

[windand rain]

I think it is harder to keep the weight on this year because it is a lot colder this year. Having addressed that I use pink mash but will be changing to Allen &Paige calm and condition soon as they do not need the pink anymore as the horse I needed it for was PTS in March and I haven't got round to changing yet

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

My friend's oldie thrived on pink mash when he started to lose weight because his teeth were getting iffy. I'm not sure what is in it but it's non-heating and obviously very palatable. It does need ten minutes to soak though. His teeth have subsequently got a lot more iffy and he can no longer eat forage but he is still doing extremely well on a combination of pink mash and some kind of fibre pellets - the latter are to keep him fuller for longer.

THank you, I think we are going to give her an extra meal about an hour after her dinner of this mash!

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

That is my advice and just because you cannot do it personally does not mean it cannot be done (nor that it doesn't need to be done). It is no good saying it was sufficient before so it should be now because clearly it isn't now if the horse is losing weight. Grass in the middle of winter is not good quality, it has very little feed value and not enough calories (clearly or the horse would not be losing weight). Having said that, I see from your update that you can barely see her ribs and typically this happens and then weight goes on again, in which case I would not worry too much. I'm assuming you are on top of teeth and worming? If I have one which is losing a bit of weight for whatever reason, I usually add barley rings (but you will get lots of people telling you that that nasty cereal stuff is not good for them - it is damn good for getting calories down though) plus a slug of oil.

I mean if I cannot do it personally how is it meant to get done? I asked for advice on the existing situation, rather than being able to change it. I appreciate your opinion but there is ways of going about it and sadly you just come across rude compared to the others. Everyone gets their joys in their own ways though. yes teeth, worming all up to date and saw the vet Monday. I accept opinions but I think there is a way to go about it.

Thats the advice i was after, I will look into barley rings and she is on oil per vet recommendation.

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

I think it is harder to keep the weight on this year because it is a lot colder this year. Having addressed that I use pink mash but will be changing to Allen &Paige calm and condition soon as they do not need the pink anymore as the horse I needed it for was PTS in March and I haven't got round to changing yet

It is much colder this year, last year was so so mild.

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

I've found linseed to be good for weight gain as it's high calorie but you don't need a massive bulk of it. Alfa-a oil is also good as it's low sugar/ starch, but high in oil and protein. Alfalfa is also a good acid buffer, so beneficial for ulcer prevention. I've also seen good results with Copra or Alfabeet, if you want to feed a mash type feed.

How old is your mare? If she's older it could be worth testing for Cushings as that can cause issues with weight gain.

Thank you for all your information, she is only 9 but being iffy on weigh in the winter since she was born. She had lots of general tests on Monday and clear for all things.

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

I certainly didn't advocate stabling, my own horses are living out currently and are much happier/better for it than when they came in overnight in winter. You have told us that she has been living in that situation for 4 yrs, so I assumed that you didn't know that horses are better in herds. IMO horses 'over the fence' are not the same as having a herd in the same field, when those horses move off, your horse can't go with them, no matter how much she want to move, she can't shelter with them from the weather.

I understand, their field is split by the trees so they huddle under the trees together so can shelter from the weather together, they come in at the same time etc. But i understand your concern. I have owned horses for 12 years so defo know they are better in herds, i thought most people knew that. She has been in that situation for other reasons not due to my lack of knowledge at all! x

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

Soothe and gain Allen and Page of good to keep weight on and low sugar too I give it to my 3yr and he’s always sleepy lol! Highly recommend soothe and gain.

Thank you, i will look into this!

 

[Leandy]

I mean if I cannot do it personally how is it meant to get done? I asked for advice on the existing situation, rather than being able to change it. I appreciate your opinion but there is ways of going about it and sadly you just come across rude compared to the others. Everyone gets their joys in their own ways though. yes teeth, worming all up to date and saw the vet Monday. I accept opinions but I think there is a way to go about it.

Thats the advice i was after, I will look into barley rings and she is on oil per vet recommendation

Not sure where I was rude?? I gave you my views which is what you asked for. Sorry you don't like them. I have no idea what your personal circumstances are. I am not psychic. In answer to your question, if you cannot do something personally it may be possible to get someone else to do it. Ask a spouse or friend or pay a freelance groom to pop by are all possibilities.

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

Not sure where I was rude?? I gave you my views which is what you asked for. Sorry you don't like them. I have no idea what your personal circumstances are. I am not psychic. In answer to your question, if you cannot do something personally it may be possible to get someone else to do it. Ask a spouse or friend or pay a freelance groom to pop by are all possibilities.

If they were options I would obviously do them. When someone says they cant it normally means they've exhausted all means. I never said I don't like your views at all. Just merely weren't asked for in that context.

 

[ycbm]

I just found mine was vitamin E deficient. Thread here if it helps.

https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/too-thin-horse-blood-test.799831/

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

I just found mine was vitamin E deficient. Thread here of it helps.

https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/too-thin-horse-blood-test.799831/

Thank you, just got her blood results back and all seems well. Will check out this thread! If you know anymore send them my way please x

 

[ycbm]

Thank you, just got her blood results back and all seems well. Will check out this thread! If you know anymore send them my way please x

If you read the thread you will see that vitamin E in blood does not always give the right picture. Our bloods were fine as well.
.

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

If you read the thread you will see that vitamin E in blood does not always give the right picture. Our bloods were fine as well.
.

Oh okay ill defo read more, that's worrying how on earth do you find out then!

 

[Leandy]

If they were options I would obviously do them. When someone says they cant it normally means they've exhausted all means. I never said I don't like your views at all. Just merely weren't asked for in that context.[/QUOTE

I see we can't advise you anything much as you know it all already. Clearly you don't know that it is really not great to give one enormous feed rather than follow the rules of feeding and feed little and often. Giving one enormous feed is a colic risk and if you are only checking once a day I'd be quite nervous about that myself. Not sure giving a further feed an hour after the previous one is much better either.

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

You make me laugh! I don't know it all otherwise I wouldn't be asking advice? I am not saying to give her more feed, as I said, if you can read, she is fed twice a day for 4/5 days a week. its simply the weekend she gets once a day pretty much. And yet somehow you don't know how you're being rude? I am not giving her an enormous feed, she gets the same she has for years its a scoop and a half of chaff which is the feeding guidlines.

I know very much its a colic risk, my last mare passed of colic so I do everything in my power to stop it. If there are any recommendations of better feed to give more weight, or even like someone said adding some linseed. I check on her once a day but owner of the yard checks on her more.

If you have nothing nice to say say nothing at all. But as asked if you have any recommendations of what to add to her feed or change to be more beneficial please do tell.

 

[Leandy]

You make me laugh! I don't know it all otherwise I wouldn't be asking advice? I am not saying to give her more feed, as I said, if you can read, she is fed twice a day for 4/5 days a week. its simply the weekend she gets once a day pretty much. And yet somehow you don't know how you're being rude? I am not giving her an enormous feed, she gets the same she has for years its a scoop and a half of chaff which is the feeding guidlines.

I know very much its a colic risk, my last mare passed of colic so I do everything in my power to stop it. If there are any recommendations of better feed to give more weight, or even like someone said adding some linseed. I check on her once a day but owner of the yard checks on her more.

If you have nothing nice to say say nothing at all. But as asked if you have any recommendations of what to add to her feed or change to be more beneficial please do tell.

Crikey! I give up!

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

Crikey! I give up!

Thank you

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

If you read the thread you will see that vitamin E in blood does not always give the right picture. Our bloods were fine as well.
.

read your thread, really interesting. Some people can get really rude when asking for feed recommendations which I saw on your thread. I do wonder why?

 

[ycbm]

Oh okay ill defo read more, that's worrying how on earth do you find out then!

Ah well, to put it simply, he has spots, which makes him much more likely to have a need for high levels of vitamin E, so feeding it was an obvious thing to test after the blood, and he responded brilliantly.
.

 

[ycbm]

read your thread, really interesting. Some people can get really rude when asking for feed recommendations which I saw on your thread. I do wonder why?

It happens very often someone asks for advice but says they don't find the advice being given helpful. Some people (not on this thread) seem offended by their advice not being taken, even if it's advice you never asked for in the first place. Just the joys of forum life, but it's worth it for the ability to pick a couple of thousand brains who might just know the answer. Most people are great.

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

It happens very often someone asks for advice but says they don't find the advice being given helpful. Some people (not on this thread) seem offended by their advice not being taken, even if it's advice you never asked for in the first place. Just the joys of forum life, but it's worth it for the ability to pick a couple of thousand brains who might just know the answer. Most people are great.

Makes sense, I suppose you take the people that get offended for the few people that give you great advice. I am not used to forum and I see it all the time!