Weight on horses?

[ruby92]

Hi does anyone have any suggestions of how to put weight on quickly?
I've a thoroughbred who usually is a good doer however due to lack of grass this summer he's dropped a fair amount of weight, he is very intolerant of sugar and the slightest amount sends him scatty, so need to avoid this is possible any suggestions please?
Tia

 

[twiggy2]

Just give hay to replace the grass and let the weight creep back up slowly

 

[Squeak]

Just give hay to replace the grass and let the weight creep back up slowly

Ditto this, especially with the sugar intolerance.

 

[IrishMilo]

Hay isn't always enough. Linseed meal is great stuff for general health and weight gain.

 

[twiggy2]

Hay isn't always enough. Linseed meal is great stuff for general health and weight gain.

No I agree its not always enough but OP says the horse has lost weight due to lack of grass and is usually a good doer so if grass didn't set things right I would wonder of something else was going on

 

[blitznbobs]

Linseed , or veggie oil works well too

 

[tda]

Also check teeth

 

[Leah3horses]

Linseed meal, only a handful needed twice a day, non heating slow release energy. If really needs more then copra, in small amounts is another healthy , slow release, low sugar conditioning feed. Can add soaked chia seeds for full amino acid profile as copra is low in 2 of the 9. I'm a vet nurse and only use these things for the poorest rescues I take on. Slow and steady, avoid anything containing any cereal ( it's in a lot of bagged feeds).

 

[SEL]

I like copra but I added a handful of linseed when my draft was struggling one winter. Turned out linseed made him itch but it definitely helped put the weight on.

I've never had a problem with copra though.

 

[Lexi 123]

Speedie beet and linseed.

 

[AmyMay]

If his weight loss is accurately due to lack of grass, then I’d agree with hay.

 

[Irish-Only]

Soaked grass nuts and grass chop?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Feed hay everyday and feed Equijewel it puts weight on fairly quickly.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Hay.. linseed

 

[ThreeFurs]

I had the same issue about 3 months ago June - the start of the Antipodean winter, with my Classic [rising 27 wb/tb gelding]. Clas started to drop weight, as the grass fell off into its wintering state. He was ribby, far too 'light on' all over, and had big dips in front of his hip bones.

I went to FeedXL, the online horse nutrition tool that I've been using for years, fed his diet in and it came up short in roughage, protein and calories so I upped all these, basically doubled everything to avoid introducing a new feed, and made sure on the 'tool' that the new diet balanced in all areas, as well as providing extra calories.

Then I visually body scored him and weight taped him every week. He's gained 40 kg and gone up a level on the 1-9 BSC but its taken six weeks. First picture 2 August 2023, second pic 9 September 2023.

He's on the max amount feedable of cracked lupins, speedibeet, lucerne chaff, Calm Performer pellets [ker/barastoc] and a vitamin/mineral supplement, plus 4 slices of hay per day and 24/7 turnout.

Not sure the value of the above info to you as we have different feeds down here. However they are all uploaded, along with the roughages, in the feedxl database so you just need to enter amounts by weight to get a summary. I think its internationally available.

I just get a month's membership and cancel when my horse's diet is balanced and working. https://feedxl.com/tools-for-precision-nutrition/

My livery owner is still going on like 'oh he's happy but still thin-ish' and that's probably true but it takes time to put weight on safely. Good luck!

 

[millikins]

No better suggestions than above, but what a shame you allowed your horse to lose weight all summer because he didn't have enough to eat.

 

[dorsetladette]

Add some linseed lozenges to his current feed. A 20kg bag is around £25-£30 and will last a long time as you only need to add around 50-100g to each feed. So quite cost effective too.

Then lots of good quality forage.

I'd assume he's up to date with teeth and worming?

The other thing to think about this time of year is not letting him get to cool (I won't say cold) at night as that will eat up extra calories. The temperature can be around 10 degrees different from day to night this time of year. It may be worth popping a 50/100g on him at night to help him out a bit.

 

[Boulty]

I’d say ad-lib good quality hay or haylage as a starting point and if more is needed as has already been mentioned both linseed and copra are non heating, low sugar options (just be aware copra is calcium deficient so may need to think about that if you feed large quantities / feed it alongside something high in calcium)

 

[ThreeFurs]

No better suggestions than above, but what a shame you allowed your horse to lose weight all summer because he didn't have enough to eat.

Well in all honesty Millilkins, and I understand your comment, Clas was a kind of poster boy for the well doing retired elderly wb/tbx retired chap category ie he did well over our summer, [he ceased work in 2020] but as these amazing guys get older, its harder to keep them fat. He's well rugged, He's monitored daily. I think for a retired wb gelding he is very well cared for.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

No better suggestions than above, but what a shame you allowed your horse to lose weight all summer because he didn't have enough to eat.

You would be surprised how many people thing that just because horses are out on grass that that's all they need.

I would say the majority will be fine but I don't have a huge field for my 2 and it's never rested really I only have a small paddock I rest, but I hay mine all year round because its just not enough grass for them and I know Arabi would drop weight even in summer.

 

[millikins]

Well in all honesty Millilkins, and I understand your comment, Clas was a kind of poster boy for the well doing retired elderly wb/tbx retired chap category ie he did well over our summer, [he ceased work in 2020] but as these amazing guys get older, its harder to keep them fat. He's well rugged, He's monitored daily. I think for a retired wb gelding he is very well cared for.

But it's not your horse I posted about? Everyone knows keeping weight on elderly horses, especially TBs isn't easy, the OP makes no mention that her horse is elderly or has any health issues, he's lost weight because he "didn't have enough grass" i.e. was hungry.

 

[ThreeFurs]

But it's not your horse I posted about? Everyone knows keeping weight on elderly horses, especially TBs isn't easy, the OP makes no mention that her horse is elderly or has any health issues, he's lost weight because he "didn't have enough grass" i.e. was hungry.

I was responding to the 'keeping weight on' part of the query; and indeed its not easy. Clas retired at 23, 4 years ago, and until this 2023 winter, and I guess now, getting really into the senior years, he's needed a fresh approach, and a weight gain diet. This was him 3 years ago, I had no problem keeping weight on. He was on the same grass and diet as up until June this year. So Im not sure what your issue is? You seem to have missed my point, which was that one needs to be fairly scientifc in engaing in a weight gain project.

 

[Esmae]

We have been supplementing ours with hay for most of the summer due to lack of grass. I suggest ad lib hay until the weather gets colder then add soaked grass nuts, some linseed meal, a handful of oats for interest and a balancer, plus some plain chaff. I feed my oldies this and they do well on it.

 

[ruby92]

I do hope you're not insinuating that I do not care for my horse? My horse wants for nothing. Unfortunately due to lack of grass and fields at the livery he has dropped weight.. a huge amount .. no .. is everyone on the yard in the same boat .. yes .. previous to this livery he was out through summer 24/7 with one feed ( nothing changed at the new livery) having never had an issue with his weight I came on here asking for advice. He is always well rugged and fed ab lib haylage .. teeth and worming up to date.. picture of my boy to show that he is well cared for.

 

[ruby92]

I had the same issue about 3 months ago June - the start of the Antipodean winter, with my Classic [rising 27 wb/tb gelding]. Clas started to drop weight, as the grass fell off into its wintering state. He was ribby, far too 'light on' all over, and had big dips in front of his hip bones.

I went to FeedXL, the online horse nutrition tool that I've been using for years, fed his diet in and it came up short in roughage, protein and calories so I upped all these, basically doubled everything to avoid introducing a new feed, and made sure on the 'tool' that the new diet balanced in all areas, as well as providing extra calories.

Then I visually body scored him and weight taped him every week. He's gained 40 kg and gone up a level on the 1-9 BSC but its taken six weeks. First picture 2 August 2023, second pic 9 September 2023.

He's on the max amount feedable of cracked lupins, speedibeet, lucerne chaff, Calm Performer pellets [ker/barastoc] and a vitamin/mineral supplement, plus 4 slices of hay per day and 24/7 turnout.

Not sure the value of the above info to you as we have different feeds down here. However they are all uploaded, along with the roughages, in the feedxl database so you just need to enterView attachment 123122View attachment 123123 amounts by weight to get a summary. I think its internationally available.

I just get a month's membership and cancel when my horse's diet is balanced and working. https://feedxl.com/tools-for-precision-nutrition/

My livery owner is still going on like 'oh he's happy but still thin-ish' and that's probably true but it takes time to put weight on safely. Good luck!

Thank you for your time to comment and for a non judgmental reply, lovely horse

 

[Tiddlypom]

Does the ‘ad lib’ Haylage he gets include when he’s turned out on the inadequate grazing, or just when he’s stabled?

How long per day has he been out on the inadequate grazing?

You did post that you want weight back on him quickly. It’s better to aim for a steady but not too rapid weight gain. More forage is usually the first and best port of call.

 

[TPO]

If those photos are recent/current he doesn't need to put on more weight IMO.

 

[Grapefruit2021]

If those photos are recent/current he doesn't need to put on more weight IMO.

 

[Widgeon]

If those photos are recent/current he doesn't need to put on more weight IMO.

I don't tend to weigh in on TB related threads* but I also thought this! He looks in great shape to me. So long as he isn't expected to drop a lot of weight over winter I wouldn't be worrying.

*As a cob / native owner, the more ribs I can see, the better I sleep at night