What to fed a 2yr gelding to help build muscles and bulk up?

Question

He is 16h and a paint . I want to show him in halter in the spring . I know that he will bulk up on his own , but as I amriding him a little he has no fat and is very fit . He is getting taller and looks thin . He has plenty of feed and hay .

Answer 1

When my horse lost weight from illness I feed her twelve percent sweet grain (about two coffee cans a day, one morning, one night) and Weight builder plus. But the best thing for her was twenty four hour turn out on pasture and really good quality timothy hay feed in free feed round bales and lots of clean water. Horses weren't ment to digest large quanties in large meals, it acctually inpeeds digestion and causes colic. Especially in underwieght horses. They need several small meals a day, preferbly free feeding. And lots of turn out so the feed will move through the gut. Beet pulp is also a big help as well as proper worming on a rotation schedual. Also watch for founder as the increase in protein might be a shock. Don't bother with electrolites, they don't add weight and could acctually shut down the kidneys. My horse was also given lots of carrots, apples and bread (from a very fancy organic bakery that gives my land owner day olds for the horse and goats). And exercise, lots of light exercise. That's good for bonding as well.

Answer 2

Are you planning on doing Halter with him, or are you just concerned about his size?

If you aren't planning on showing him, don't worry about supplementing him to bulk up. In my experience, horses REALLY fill in during their 3 year old year. As long as you are feeding him high quality feed and grain, and exercising him or turning him out enough for him to stretch out on his own, he'll be fine.

If you are planning on doing Halter, taht's different. I still would NOT feed him a supplement to build muscle. Top halter people do not feed muscle building supplements, they feed vitamin and fat supplements to make them shiny. We feed straight crimped Oats, a 12% pelleted feed (a 14% like Strategy works well too), Bermuda Hay and alfalfa pellets (I wouldn't use cubes unless you soak them, there is a definite risk of choking). As was stated previously, you need the protein for muscle. We use "Dac Oil" and "Dac Orange". They are great supplements that really add bloom. We work our horses 7 days a week to keep them muscled up. Yearlings are lunged or long trotted, older horses are long trotted or ridden.

If you are wanting to do Halter, you shouldn't need the supplement. A Halter horse's bulk comes from his breeding. It's not always a good thing for a horse to be huge, and ESPECIALLY for it to be massive at a young age. You won't see many Halter horses over 8 that are sound.

Answer 3

Protein is what helps strengthen and build our muscles in humans and animal kingdom.

He is also 2 years old and he has a lot of time to still grow tall and then fill out. Need to give him time to let his body's hormones do the natural work first before you get concerned with his bulk/muscles.

Unless he is under weight and unhealthy, you shouldn't be concerned to build muscles and bulk up at this point.

A horse who has free access daily to running (pasture) and roaming can easily build up enough natural muscles on his own.

Bulking up can depend on the breed as well. Some breeds have a slimmer shaped body than stock breeds. Given a over bulk look can be dangerous to the horse's health. Too much muscle, as humans can do, can cause injury to the tissue, causing scarring and damage as well as arthritis in the joints etc.

Need to wait until horse is done growing to see if it will be a healthy choice if this horse recieved more than he has at that given age.

Answer 4

Trail riding up and down hills works great for building muscles and also strength training as well. To add some pounds to him put half a bag of alfalfa meal in his feeder. It seems like a lot, but it does take them awhile (like 1-2 weeks) to eat. When I first got my horse she was about 200 pounds under weight, so we fed her the alfalfa meal and she gained 200 pounds back in 1 month.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

Food will just make him fat. Try some supplements for his joints and exercise him everyday. if you're a english rider jump him A LOT. If you're a western rider, barrel race him and any other gaming. Lunge him before you ride him so he doesn't get too hyper.

Answer 7

GRAIN AND LOTS OF IT!!! give them a bowl of grain in the morning and at night. this puts a little more meat on their bones than muscle, but is good for young ones. also to build muscles, lunge them as best you can

Answer 8

strider or victory, if you want somthing soft to chew, senior

Answer 9

I would not feed him anything. I would just exercise him.