Does he look better?

Weight builders don't do much for TBs or other "hot" breeds that are "hard keepers".

Did you ask your feed store about Alfalfa pellets? Did you ask them about rice bran or flax? These are things that just about any feed store has, or can order for you.

Did you ask your barn manager about giving him more hay? I would increase his hay by 50%, and eliminate the grain/feed and corn. Have her feed him alfalfa pellets, rice bran or flax, and a vitamin supplement. Add some water to make it all stick together, or some corn oil. Within 30-60 days, you'll have a whole new horse, trust me ;).

If she will not increase his hay, then I would add shredded beat pulp to the alfalfa pellets, for added calories, protein, and fiber. Most all feed stores have beet pulp. Just make sure it's the kind with NO molasses.

I have a hard keeper as well, I would look into getting a pro-biotic, and having him on hay, beet pulp (brill stuff, havnt found the full sugar cversion heating, its got hardly any tbh) and boiled barley, this mix has taken my hard keeper from this


To this

I just want to get a few things straight in my mind. A lot of information has been thrown at me which I appreciate as I want my horse to be happy and healthy.

The BO was not really too excited about the idea of giving him free range hay, but he will be going out on pasture all night starting august 1st when a couple horses get moved out and some more get moved in. Hopefully more time munching grass will help him out a lot.

I will remove the cracked corn from his diet, I was not sold on it entirely after doing research and hearing that it could make him hot, but the BO seemed to think it was the best idea at the time. Should I replace it with a beat pulp or flax seed like has been suggested?

Will giving him the weight supplement not do anything? Will it harm him? Will do a a little bit for him?

Beet pulp, its great stuff, really, and it will most probaly make up for the lack of fibre he may be getting, and barley(boiled) is extremly cheap and easy adn fattening and I have found it non heating

He looks nice in the first pics. He looks like a TB, if he is, they're naturally slender and need LOTS of excersise and great feed to make them look nice. But I have to agree, he looks way skinnier than the first couple pics. Not that he's bad, he looks like he just needs more muscle. Pretty horse! ;)

Tell her to at least increase his hay, by a flake or two per-feeding. He's obviously not getting enough food, and the first place to make adjustments is HAY!

Replace the cracked corn with either beet pulp or alfalfa pellets. I personally prefer alfalfa pellets as they have more protein and nutrition and you don't have to soak them. They are high in amino acids, which helps build muscle.

I would also add flax or rice bran. He needs more fat in his diet and those are two healthier ways to add weight than a weight builder. Most weight builders are just dried vegetable oil. You could have bought 5 gallons of corn oil from Sams or Cosco a LOT cheaper! ;) That said, I have found that flax or rice bran works a lot better to put weight on TBs and other "hot breeds".

I am adding rice bran and alfalfa pellets for my rescue mare, but I have say charliBum's change in her horse above is really amazing!

Thanks, and he's in his winter coat in both, so yeah. I LOVE Beet pulp (called sugarbeet here) since I've started using it I havnt taken him off it, its GREAT as is boiled barley, so economical SP haha

I haven't seen any boiled barley here. . .

He may be a bit on the thinner side, but it doesn't look like anything to be worried about. He looks healthy, just a little thin, like my mare was a lil bit ago. He needs some muscling, and a little bit of weight, but not a whole lot, I wouldn't think.