Weight loss

[Berkeley]

My TB mare is on full livery. For the last couple of weeks (due to the lovely weather) she has been out 24/7. However, on Wednesday the yard owner decided to bring her in at night due to the lack of grazing. I hadn’t seen her all this week due to work commitments. Last night I went to see her and was quite shocked by how much weight she had lost in such a short space of time. Obviously being out 24/7 did not suit her. She was still being fed her breakfast and dinner as normal.

In the back of my mind I keep thinking about moving to DIY where I can get back in control.

I am told Bailey’s outshine is fantastic for weight gain – are there any other products I should know about? I think also a visit from the vet might be on the cards.

 

[ThePony]

Hi,
I've been told calm and condition is good, a couple of people here swear by it for getting some weight on and also for those who are naturally poor doers. Good luck with your lady.
Obv. the usual worming/teeth suggestions too!

 

[TGM]

I suspect when she was in she was getting plenty of hay or haylage in the stable, but when turned out the grazing wasn't good enough to supply as many calories as the hay/haylage did.

I wouldn't change her hard feed yet, just check she is getting as much hay/haylage as she will eat and I expect her weight will return to normal.

 

[Silverspring]

I'm a little shocked that you didn't notice your horse's weight dropping. Full livery or not you should be checking you horse at least a few times a week. It's a real bug bear of mine that people seem to thing full livery include the YO montioring weight, behaviour, soundness etc. They are not paid that much! Your YO took steps for you, steps you should have asked the YO to take rather than the other way round.

 

[arwenplusone]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm a little shocked that you didn't notice your horse's weight dropping. Full livery or not you should be checking you horse at least a few times a week. It's a real bug bear of mine that people seem to thing full livery include the YO montioring weight, behaviour, soundness etc. They are not paid that much! Your YO took steps for you, steps you should have asked the YO to take rather than the other way round.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hang on - that's a bit harsh!
The poster could have been away with work or on holiday. A week is not neglect if the horse is on full livery.

I agree that it is not the YO's job but if I had a livery that was losing weight I would do something about it.

Anyway, the owner has seen the horse now and is doing something about it - she doesn't need a lecture.

 

[Berkeley]

Um, Princess Sparkle, my post did not warrant your accusations of negligence.

You have no idea of my situation, you didn't ask any questions which makes your comments completely thoughtless and a waste of time. You plunged in with your nasty words and insulted me without acquiring an informed view.

I don't care what your bug bear is in terms of the your definition of full livery - how do you know what arrangement I have? How do you know how much I pay them? You can't assume anything.

This post was asking about feed/supplements not for trouble which you have started to cause.

Go and upset someone else.

 

[Silverspring]

[ QUOTE ]

You plunged in with your nasty words and insulted me without acquiring an informed view.


[/ QUOTE ]

Nasty words and insults? Seriously? You haven't read some of the post on here if you think my post of nasty and insulting!

All I said was that I was shocked that you were not checking the horse over the 3 weeks it has been out. Not one week, you said it had been out for 3 weeks and had lost weight, I'm assuming the weight loss started in the first week and continued, had you been checking the horse you would have noticed the weight loss.

I don't know your situation but if I was going away for 3 weeks (I'm assuming you were away since you are denying the fact you neglected to visit your horse) I would have been asking soemone to check the horse. Be it the YO or a friend, once the horse showed signs of weight loss it should have been brought in.

i wasn't being nasty with my first post but now I am

just so we're clear on matter.

 

[Berkeley]

Didn't I just tell you to go and upset someone else?

 

[Silverspring]

Am I upsetting you? Bless would you like some cotton wool to go wrap yourself in?

 

[Bossanova]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm a little shocked that you didn't notice your horse's weight dropping. Full livery or not you should be checking you horse at least a few times a week. It's a real bug bear of mine that people seem to thing full livery include the YO montioring weight, behaviour, soundness etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

We run a full livery yard at home and take total responsibility for all care including monitoring condition and adjusting as appropriate. Thats why its full livery- we are being paid to look after the horse totally.
Any full livery YO which doesnt check the horse's weight and either take action to adjust it or contact the owner with concerns if it changes is negligent imo

 

[Berkeley]

You are taking over my post - email me instead if you like as I would really like people's advice on what I originally asked for.

 

[Bossanova]

[ QUOTE ]

I don't know your situation but if I was going away for 3 weeks (I'm assuming you were away since you are denying the fact you neglected to visit your horse) I would have been asking soemone to check the horse. Be it the YO or a friend, once the horse showed signs of weight loss it should have been brought in.


[/ QUOTE ]

But thats just the point isnt it? The OP is paying the YO for full care of the horse so it was supposed to be being checked.....

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
It's a real bug bear of mine that people seem to thing full livery include the YO montioring weight, behaviour, soundness etc

[/ QUOTE ]

That's exactly what full livery is.

You make such odd comments about things you know nothing about........

 

[AmyMay]

OP. Totally agree with TGM's very sensible post.

 

[nuffield]

OP, call out the vet to check horse over then worm horse and give it more feed.Simples.

 

[Berkeley]

Thanks AmyMay. I agree too. I will give it week in any event and see how she is then.

 

[ladyt25]

I also am one to assume that full livery means exactly that and you pay good money to ensure your horse is being well looked after. Not all people are able to see their horse as regularly as they would like due to say work or personal commitments. If I couldn't for any reason get to see my horse that was being kept on full livery then I would want to know that the horse was getting adequate care and that a fairly simple issue of weight loss would be looked into.

At the very least I would have expected a phone call from said yard if they were concerned anything was wrong or of concern.

As for feeding, we fed one we got as a skinny 4 yo on Allen & Page Weight Gain - it worked wonders and smells lovely!

 

[lexiedhb]

I would imagine if your horse is now in at night with as much hay/haylage as she can manage, and with more spring grass coming through she'll put the weight back on in no time.......

I would have a word with the YO though with regards to doing something pro active about her dropping weight in the future before she has dropped ebough to shock you.....

 

[Fransurrey]

I agree. I would want to know why YO didn't contact you to let you know she was dropping weight, or adjust feed accordingly.

When Henry was on full livery, it included everything, even standing with him for the farrier (which I did anyway). I certainly would expect a daily check and removal/changing of rugs if applicable.

 

[Silverspring]

[ QUOTE ]

We run a full livery yard at home and take total responsibility for all care including monitoring condition and adjusting as appropriate. Thats why its full livery- we are being paid to look after the horse totally.

[/ QUOTE ]

So in the summer when your liveries put out 24/7 and the cost of livery is almost halved you still go out every day, pick out feet, check for cuts and bumped, check for soundness, check weight (including those wearing rugs so feeling under rugs or taking them off), check general attitude for each and every single livery...

Ok clearly my YO is negligent then because if liveries are going to be away during the summer when she is being paid next to nothing for 'full' livery she expects us to tell her so she is aware that she will have to monitor the horse closely. She is willing to do this but she doesn't offer it as standard day in and day out.

 

[Berkeley]

Yeah I have heard about Allan & Page weight gain - I will read up on that. Thanks. Do you know anything about Bailey's outshine? its supposed to be calorific and works well. Let me know your thoughts.

 

[Cloverwood]

If it makes you feel any better, my TB could lose weight over night!

I would ditto the haylage/hay overnight. I'm currently trying to slowly build up my new horse - nearly a month on he's looking much better, and just with good hay, reasonable grazing and a small amount of hard feed. Good luck!

 

[Berkeley]

It does make me feel better Cloverwood thanks! TBs a such high maintenance. My youngster is a Welshy and I don't have these problems with him. In fact, its the opposite!

 

[jacks_mum]

I would say if your horse has dropped so much weight whilst in someone elses paid care (full livery) that you are shocked by it, then that someone else is neglecting their duty of care (an integral part of full livery) but that is by the by.

TGM has IMO hit the nail on the head and hopefully if she is in at night with ad lib hay/haylage she will start to pick up quickly. Also Build Up is a good feed for putting weight and top line on. Good luck with her.

 

[lexiedhb]

If you are paying her next to nothing then its not FULL livery is it???

and YES that is EXACTLY what i would expect a groom/YO to do with my horse EVERY single day if i had it on FULL livery!!

 

[TGM]

[ QUOTE ]
Do you know anything about Bailey's outshine? its supposed to be calorific and works well.

[/ QUOTE ] Bailey's Outshine is indeed very calorific with 24 MJDE/kg, which is almost double the calorie count of some conditioning feeds. The advantage is that you don't have to feed large amounts, plus the calories mainly come from oil, rather than starchy cereals which can fizz sensitive horses up. Will also give the horses a lovely shiney coat! Not the cheapest option though!

 

[Berkeley]

TGM - from now on you are my equine oracle! (how much do you charge?!)

 

[jacks_mum]

[ QUOTE ]


So in the summer when your liveries put out 24/7 and the cost of livery is almost halved you still go out every day, pick out feet, check for cuts and bumped, check for soundness, check weight (including those wearing rugs so feeling under rugs or taking them off), check general attitude for each and every single livery...

Ok clearly my YO is negligent then because if liveries are going to be away during the summer when she is being paid next to nothing for 'full' livery she expects us to tell her so she is aware that she will have to monitor the horse closely. She is willing to do this but she doesn't offer it as standard day in and day out.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes I would say your YO is being negligent. She needs to sort out her pricing policy if she feels hard done by in the summer months

When I had my horses on DIY Assisted livery I paid for a service whether the horses where living in or out and the level service didn't decline simply because they were in a field in the morning rather than in a stable.

 

[frazzled]

We used Baileys with our pony who could drop weight very easily. I found it very good for getting the weight up and then would switch to A and P calm and condition to maintain it. This seemed to work for him.

 

[OWLIE185]

If the grazing is poor then weight loss can be expected at this time of year when horses are still changing their coats. It was sensible of the yard owner to bring your horse back in.

It is sensible of you to get your vet in and check your horse out and also take a blood sample just to see if anything is going on.

Hope all goes well and you horse picks up.