Why isn't he muscling up quicker, am I feeding him right?

[ellieplatt]

My TB's top line isn't improving as quick as I hoped, his weight is perfect and his back is starting to slowly develop over the past few months, I notice a difference in his bottom although I think its where he's gained weight as its still quite 'pointy' looking, across his necks better than when we got him and now cant see the definition of his shoulder now looks muscled, am probably schooling him around 3 times a week and hacking 2 days, sometimes more sometimes less (you know how it is) also been having lessons since September.

I feed him on Alfa A, Baileys no.14 Balancer and Speedibeet (a handful as too much seems to make his legs swell?) 2x a day, which he seems to like and work well on, he also has 2 large nets of good quality hayledge a day.
I don't feed any supplements, do i need to? or am I expecting too much for 3 months decent school work? He works well in the school and is forever improving but I just cant see his top line improving as much as I'd like...

(Got him back in march and he had around 5-6weeks not being ridden then started again with lunging, then was turned out over the summer and hacked a few times along with being lunged a week - wanted to let him chill out after racing and get to know him, just a little bit of back ground to help)

Any advice on feeding to help and exercises ect would be great,
Thank you HHO'ers!

 

[Maesfen]

It's work that produces muscles along with the correct feed to fuel the work but never feed alone. Work the horse correctly over time and his shape will improve.
Remember, some TBs are naturally built that they will find it hard to make what some perceive as the correct outline but correct working will help improve the topline. Hill work and over different terrain is very good to make him balance and use himself and will be more interesting for him.

 

[mrogers]

what maesfen said. If you want to help, try strapping. It has made a huge difference to mine

 

[dilbert]

I really like Charnwood Millings Linseed too

 

[ellieplatt]

what maesfen said. If you want to help, try strapping. It has made a huge difference to mine

Might be a silly question but what's strapping?

Am having fornightly lessons with a very good flat instructor competes national BD and judges, was very hard finding her so am getting the right schooling work in

 

[PoppyAnderson]

Strapping is using leather pads to 'bang' the muscle and make it twitch. YouTube it and have a look. Is great for bingo wings too!

 

[eatmoremincepies]

I would check the nutritional profile of what you are feeding, compare to the NRC 2007 guidelines on the nutritional needs of horses. I was feeding my oldie a similar diet to yours and thought he looked perfectly well but was not muscling up, balancing his feed properly has made a big difference. Our hay, which I thought was pretty good, turns out to be quite low in protein, and making sure he is getting enough protein has made a big difference. Google NRC 2007 and you shoudl find more info. Mine is on oats, bran, soy and linseed (correctly calculated rations) and the difference is quite remarkable.
Plus of course get a really good instructor to assess how "correct" his way of going is, and check on the amount and quality of work you are doing with him, as others have said, the feed alone won't do it.
EMMP

 

[ellieplatt]

I would check the nutritional profile of what you are feeding, compare to the NRC 2007 guidelines on the nutritional needs of horses. I was feeding my oldie a similar diet to yours and thought he looked perfectly well but was not muscling up, balancing his feed properly has made a big difference. Our hay, which I thought was pretty good, turns out to be quite low in protein, and making sure he is getting enough protein has made a big difference. Google NRC 2007 and you shoudl find more info. Mine is on oats, bran, soy and linseed (correctly calculated rations) and the difference is quite remarkable.
Plus of course get a really good instructor to assess how "correct" his way of going is, and check on the amount and quality of work you are doing with him, as others have said, the feed alone won't do it.
EMMP

Thank you so much will do some research and ask YO about the hay, also when I next see instructor will ask her opinion

 

[mrogers]

He will need the fat there though to turn into muscle for the strapping to work, protein foods are also good for building muscle

 

[CBFan]

Feed your haylage off the floor so he is stretching right through his back when he is eating rather than tensing / shortening it tugging at a haynet.

Is he turned out?

Try some pole work - even just individual poles placed around the school will get him picking his feet up and using his back more.

 

[AmyMay]

How much road work (or out of the school work) are you doing with him?

 

[Tnavas]

He will need the fat there though to turn into muscle for the strapping to work, protein foods are also good for building muscle

You physically cannot turn fat into muscle - fat is fat, Muscle is muscle. What you do is lose the fat and develop the muscle.

You develop muscle with quality work and foods high in protein.

 

[Zimzim]

A Good amount of work i.e. schooling/ hacking/ Lungeing will help to develop muscle and topline and get your horse working correctly and balanced. Feed alone wont do this.