How can I get more weight on this horse?

Question

My friend got her last week, and doesnt' know too much about her. I do know she's a Thoroughbred older 18 yrs. broodmare and is a pasture horse, she's not sick but could use more weight. How can she be fattened up quick? Any comments are great. Thanks.

Answer 1

Firstly you need to have the vet look her over, particularly at her teeth which are very likely to be in need of attention, and to provide you with a worming programme.

The second thing is that you should NEVER try to get a horse to gain, or lose, weight in a hurry. It needs to be done gradually.

Click this link for more information:
http://www.edp24.co.uk/Content/Sport/Equestrian/2006/asp/Old.asp

Good luck with this horse, and have fun...

Answer 2

Did your friend get the horse vet checked before buying her? If not, you should have the vet come take a look at the animal now. Weight loss can be indicative of medical problems, including intestinal parasites like worms. If the horse hasn't been on a regular worming program, you're going to want to start one. Most people choose to worm their horses with a paste, just make sure you rotate the active ingredient in the paste after every other month, as the worms can build up an immunity to the medicine if it's given over a length of time.

Once you get a clean bill of health, you can look at other factors affecting her weight. The stress of switching owners and environments is enough for most horses to drop a bit of weight. And thoroughbreds are such hard-keepers anyway. You said the mare was a pasture horse. You'll want to go ahead and check the pasture to be sure there's enough grass to sustain her. Horses can mow down large fields in a very short period of time, and will then require supplemental hay. You're going to want to give this mare access to hay or grass at all times. It's the most important part of her diet.

What sort of grain, if any, do you feed this animal? You'll want to put her on something that's higher in fat. A simple mix of rolled oats and sweet feed can do wonders. Sweet feed will boost her metabolism and give her more energy, though. If she's already high strung, you may want to consider a different feed or a supplemental feed like beet pulp. Beet pulp is excellent for bulking up underweight horses and maintaining the weight of hard-keepers. It makes up for nutrition lacking from rolled oats. The thing to remember with beet pulp, though, is that it must be soaked for hours or you risk having it expand in the horse's intestine and causing damage. Start soaking it in the morning and feed it out with her evening grain. The quantity depends on how much your horse weighs and how much she's accustomed to eating right now. As with any changes in diet, you'll want to wean her on to the beet pulp slowly to prevent colic.

There are really no quick fixes to an underweight horse. You need to have patience and analyze the nutrition in the feed you're giving her now. You have options, either switching the feed over to a different type or upping the quantity of what she gets now. You can add a cup of oil to her evening grain. That will help add fat and calories to her diet and improve the health of her coat. You can add beet pulp or a processed supplement like Weight Builder (which is far more expensive than natural beet pulp). If she's still going to be used as a broodmare, you'll have to take into consideration her needs while carrying and nursing the foal.

Answer 3

First you should have the vet come out and give her a look. During the exam, they will check the teeth to be sure they don't need floated. Horse teeth wear as they chew leaving sharp points that need to be filed or "floated" off to make eating more comfortable. Also, older horses may require more than just pasture to supplement their diet. Try a feed specifically designed for seniors. After all health problems have been eliminated by the vet, you can then work with him/her to develop a feeding plan that will work best for your horse and situation. Just be sure to introduce or switch feeds and routines gradually. Horses are very sensitive to change, especially when it comes to their diet.

Answer 4

What I was told by the vets to do for my rescued thoroughbred gelding.

The first vet that had been caring for my thoroughbred (when his health score was a "1") told me not to give him anything other than grass hay. He was to have grass hay in front of him at all times. The reason for this was because you don't want to put on too much weight to quickly because the horse may founder or have internal organ failure.

The second vet that had seen my thoroughbred about a month after I had him (his health score had raised to a "2") told me that she wanted grass hay in front of him at all times and she wanted him started on a "pound" of Senior Equine daily.

About a little over a week later, I called my vet's office to find out whether I should double the Biotin Supplement that I had just started giving him to aide healing with his abscessed and possibly foundered hooves. The vet that I spoke too, says that 20 mg of Biotin is perfectly fine and that I didn't need to increase it. He also told he would like for me to add Accel vitamins to his diet.

I have now increased his feed to a pound of Senior Equine, I'm giving him a 1/2 to a pound of Junior Equine that I have had around the house that has been sitting because my other horses don't need to add on additional weight. He's on a cup of steamed rolled oats, vitamins, biotin supplement, he gets two carrots a day minimum, he gets a couple hand fulls of Apple Waffers as a treat in his grain, all the dry grass and fresh grass he can eat every day. He is still thin to very thin, but he is now starting to show his personality. He no longer just stands and/or sleeps as he had done up to this last week.

It has been suggested to me to give him alphalfa combined with grass hay daily. The alphalfa may put on weight but I have found it causes aggitation in the horses that I have given it to in the past. I have spoken to others that has had the same problems. So, for now, the alphalfa is on the back burner.

It also appears that the thoroughbred may be forever on the biotin supplements because I was told that they naturally have wall-thin hooves. I will verify this when I have him in to see the vet next.

Answer 5

Have the vet look at her teeth and check for parasites or any other conditions.

The feeds I have found that put weight on with out causing excess energy are: rice bran, beet pulp and high quality grass hay. Also, if you can get a forage based feed pellet, that is great. We have always fed a pellet like that but we have it custom made for us. Daily wormer and a good vitamin supplement are also good to add.

Answer 6

I use beat pulp pellets.Start her off on a half a small coffee can for a wk then go to a full one.What you do you put the beat pulp in a bucket cover it with water make sure the pellets are covered it really expands.DO NOT GIVE THEM AS A PELLET .I give it to them in the afternoon then I make it again let itset over night.You dont have to do that it only takes a couple hrs to soak.She may not like it at first but in a few days shes going to be looking for it.You can find bett pulp at the feed store just make sure you tell them you want the pellet.You will see a big difference putting on weight.My friend rescues drafts & she uses that for the weight gain to.

Answer 7

as they said take her to the vet, also have her teeth checked. there are suppliments you can feed her but be carefull because you don't want to her to gain weight to fast otherwise she will end up with health problems. biggest thing is consult your vet. On another note, she is an older horse not to mention thoroughbreds are naturally lean. Just remember vet--and don't add weight to fast.

trust me I raise horses.

Answer 8

Have her vet checked first. Make sure her teeth are examined and she is put on a good deworming schedule. Also, add corn and beet pulp to her diet. And make sure she is getting good quality grass hay.

Answer 9

Well here comes the first trip to the vet. Have her checked out for parasites and general health. Then ask him what he considers a good diet.