How to put Weight on...??

I have a pleasure mare that had a foal this year for a friend of mine cuz I was going to college. I get her back in a few weeks and when I go to see her she looks like a typical broodmare with a foal on her side. She is skinny, her ribs are showing and the top and points of her hips are showing. She is a Quarter Horse and is a adverage size, not stocky or have that thoroughbred look. I was wanting different ideas and suggestions as to add weight to her. I plan on trying to show her in about 1-2 months at a series show.

She is up to date on all of her shots and is wormed on a regular basis. She currently gets 2 scoops (6 pounds) of Strategy 2x a day. She isnt on a good pasture and doesnt get alot of hay but my barn there is ample grass and good supply of Quality hay.

I think with some mares (and I'm not a breeder, so hope that someone that does breed will reply to this as well) that they just burn themselves up making milk regardless. Not all mares, of course. Some can be quite fat and lactating.

But the unlucky few that just can't seem to eat enough to gain weight until the foal is off, I think may be part of that concept of weanng early to keep them from dragging down the mare's condition for the winter (or if she's bred back, etc). I would maybe see about upping her feed a tad more to keep up with calorie demands and see if that helps, adding some extra fat to her diet. I don't remember what Strategy's label reads like, a the moment, so maybe I shouldn't have chimed in.

With her having free access to forage, and still being skinny, I would up her concentrates .Esp when you are going to be conditioning her for showing. Exercise might help fill in the hollows a little with muscle tone. Being pregnant sort of relaxes things that weren't before, and not being ridden, they loose a little tone in the back and hip area.That's about all you can do until that foal comes off her, but I'd leave the baby as long as you can for his sake.

Oh, and starting to creep feed the foal will help take some of his demands off her...

hm.. ive been having problems with my mare putting weight on.. but she is better now they we have been giving her minerals and extra fatting suplements added to her feed.. cool calories 100 works really well.. the vet said to me mares use up there minerals and vitamins and electrolytes really easily.. how many rugs does she have on?
and when you ride do you keep going or cool down and get off when she starts to sweat on her neck ?

theres lots of reasons as to why shes not putting the weight on..

before i forget she might have too much sand in her stomach !! .. that causes them not to put weight on.. because its irritating in there stomach as its constandly rubbing on there stomach lining..

You might try giving her soaked Beet Pulp...that is almost guaranteed to get weight on any horse! Grain helps too, if she's currently just on hay/pasture.

Oh yes, and if it's a sand problem the beet pulp will also help!

Shes not on a sand Pasture. She gets 2 scoops of Strategy (14% protien) 2x a day...We live in TX so she doesnt get anything but a fly mask put on her. She has a foal on her but Im trying to get advice on the weight subjuect before i get her back in 3 wks. She will probably need 100-150 lbs put back on her. She is on electrolytes right now. I just want to see anyones ideas on weight building supplements. I have heard the Beet Pulp Idea. I might try that but the last time I tried it she didnt like it.

yea.. but when they graze they get sand because they rip out the grass and the roots.. and you'd be surprised a little bit of sand does alot of damage

My three year old Friesian cross was always a hard keeper until just over a year ago when I put him on Omega Horseshine-now his weight is perfect. It's the best supplement I've found--plus it does wonders for the coat and hooves. It's a stabilized flax seed base and it's full of Omega 3 fatty acids.
Here's a link to it:
http://www.omegafields.com/

My friend put her elderly mogan/saddlebred on it because he was always thin. He's now put on at least 50 lbs and looks wonderful. Two farriers and a vet in the area have been really impressed by it.
I buy mine from SmartPak or Fleet Farm.

Beet Pulp is a life saver in some cases so you might try that