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Just adopted a rescue! Boney Hips

3K views 22 replies 12 participants last post by  TTristan788 
#1 ·
Hey guys I just adopted a rescue gelding hes a beautiful Arab cross but when he was found he had severe weight loss. Im told he was at 500lbs. He seems to be doing great now but his hips are still a little on the boney side. Any suggestions on getting these in shape? I've heard more exercise but is there anything I can give him to help?
 

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#3 ·
Welcome Tristan,

Wares, what are you seeing that I'm not? Only pic I get is of a guy lunging a horse & you can't tell anything from the angle.

But yes, if the horse is still skinny, I would only be working him lightly until he gains a bit more. As for what to give him, what's he getting now? It's not great to try to 'pack it on' too quickly. Gradual weight gain/loss is best. I'd start with grass/grass hay free choice, perhaps a portion of his daily ration as alfalfa, and a good nutritional supp. If he's been starved previously, especially if he's not doing as well as you'd hope on a good diet, you might also want to consider ulcer treatment &/or a probiotic too. Obviously worming & teeth are important factors.
 
#5 ·
Well Ive only had him since Sunday. The lady I got him from got him from a foreclosed property. He was tied in the back starving, so she bought him. she had him for a few months then I liked him and bought him I'm giving him Coastal Hay, Purina Strategy, and hes in the pasture. I only turn my horses out at night.

I can't tell in the lunging picture at all, but the other picture, the horse looks underweight to me, and maybe wire cuts on the lower legs?
He got banged up going in the trailer and some cuts he got before I met him. Im guessing Dove weed sores.
 
#4 ·
I can't tell in the lunging picture at all, but the other picture, the horse looks underweight to me, and maybe wire cuts on the lower legs?
 
#7 ·
He's a nice looking horse. He has obviously improved and gained weight since being rescued. He still needs to fill out more before heavy work.
I would have a vet give him a thouough exam. The vet can give you a good diet plan and let you know what kind of work schedule to follow. Also, he can let you know what to look for as far as possible health issues as sometimes horses in really bad situations and undernourished need additional care.
Good luck. He's a lucky boy.
Give him a few days to settle in. It is a good time to do a little ground work and spending time getting to know each other.
 
#8 ·
Have you tried Purina Ultium? I have my Arab on it because he's a hard keeper, and it does really well with keeping the weight on him. It's nice because it's a weight builder, but it doesn't make him all hot and sassy. You're new boy is also very pretty, good luck with him!:)
 
#11 ·
He's alright to be in light work. Light lunging just to refreshen his lunging skills, walking to regain some manners he may have lost. You don't want to burn off the calories you're trying to pack on.

A vet check would be beneficial to see if there are any side effects due to his starvation or if he has any sharp teeth in his mouth.
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#12 ·
He's alright to be in light work. Light lunging just to refreshen his lunging skills, walking to regain some manners he may have lost. You don't want to burn off the calories you're trying to pack on.

A vet check would be beneficial to see if there are any side effects due to his starvation or if he has any sharp teeth in his mouth.
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Well he's gonna be going to the vet Tuesday. But he had a little episode last night, I put a saddle on him and a wild pig jumped out the bushes and scared him so he bolted and flipped the saddle under him now he has some wire cuts around his legs from a downed fence he hopped over and threw me into, nothing deep at all I think mine are deeper. This poor guy is so responsive under saddle and doing ground work its amazing I wonder what happened that made him so spooky?!
 
#21 ·
^^Or keep them paddocked somewhere that pigs live too, or are common. Horses will spook at many things they're not accustomed to, but you can get them used to virtually anything that doesn't hurt them.
 
#22 ·
My horse's corral is across the road from the brahma bull and the steer. I have witnessed her laying down taking a nap in her corral right out in the open with the brahma bull and the steer grazing in the corner closest to her. No problem. They are her neighbors. She thinks they are safe and trustworthy enough to lay down and snooze in front of at dusk time.............But sometimes when the sun shines bright or the moon, it doesn't matter if it is cloudy or raining....sometimes when you least expect it........the brahma bull and steer become THE DEVIL!!!!!!AHHHHHHHH RUN!!! FREAK OUT!!! Doesn't matter who you trample, just RUN AWAY!!!!

She has let the resident goat eat out of her hay basket. She will tolerate the goat. The goat is OK with her. That is the pigmy grey goat. But the floppy ear goat.........once again THE FLOPPY DEVIL!!! RUN AWAY!! Then stop and turn and stare with the whites of the eyes showing and snorting and repeat above.

Horses are horses. They see things very different than we do and they spook at what we consider nothing. To them it is something. Movement of any sort gets them as does things far away on hills, or goats on the roof. That was a bad day.

Anyway, it is normal, I think for a horse to be extra spooky especially in a new enviornment and with all the starving etc.

If it was me, I would wait before trying to saddle him again and just hang out for a week or so doing some low stress ground work like halts etc. But that's me and I am in no way an authority on anything horse related.

It was great that you have given this horse a home and care so much for him. Lucky horse.
 
#23 ·
If it was me, I would wait before trying to saddle him again and just hang out for a week or so doing some low stress ground work like halts etc. But that's me and I am in no way an authority on anything horse related.

It was great that you have given this horse a home and care so much for him. Lucky horse.
Im gonna do this. This happened last week so im gonna wait till the weekend to saddle him up. We did some ground work but he was very very different, very disrespectful but after awhile he was back to normal. I think im gonna try that ultium feed he doesnt look like hes making much progress in the weight area.
 
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