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Underweight horse

4K views 39 replies 12 participants last post by  mustangmaiden 
#1 ·
Tips on how to put weight and muscle on a skinny rescue horse?
*also, feel free to post some before and after pictures of your rescued Missouri Fox Trotters, or any breed for that matter.
 

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#2 ·
No pictures, but in October of 2010, we rescued 2 TWH's, a 14 yo mare with a body condition score of a low 3 and a 4 yo gelding with a body condition score of 1. He was not expected to live through the winter, but 5 dedicated vets put their heads together along with ours and we came up with a feeding plan that would push him to gain weight at an almost unheard rate once the danger of refeeding syndrome passed. He was on the maximum amount of Senior Feed for his ideal weight per the feed tag split into 3 feedings, 1 cup of Calf Manna once a day, free choice grass hay with limited fed alfalfa hay, and 24/7 pasture with free access to his stall so he had a herd to play with and teach him how to be a horse (He'd been trained on pads as a Big Lick show horse and never been on pasture or with another horse after weaning). He thrived and gained 500 lbs in 5 months and grew 4 inches!


Muscling for him was partially been on pasture where he could self exercise until he was his ideal weight and cleared for riding. It took about a year of conditioning him under saddle to build his muscles, especially his hindquarters and top line. His conditioning program was 2 fold----arena work to develop flexion and learn shoulder in, haunches in, side pass, working on spirals, serpentines, and circle, transitions between gaits and changes of direction, etc. The other part was long trail rides, gradually increasing distance, speed, steepness of hills, and time as his TPR indicated he was ready for. Today, now a 10 yo, he's hubby's trail horse, roping horse, and just have fun horse!
 
#4 ·
My gelding was a little bit ribbier than yours this fall. What we did was start him on indoor board at night, and give him beet pulp and a high fat feed(touch of sweet feed to make sure he ate it all) twice a day. He did not get free choice hay as there was a hay shortage last year, but he was on pasture during the day until the snow came, then got fed hay and alf cubes 4x a day. He also started into light work to help with both muscling and to create a routine to lower stress. This was November, by Feb(when I saw him next) he was in great condition.

I'd say yours is a 3-4.
 
#5 ·
I'd guess she's a low 3 but it's difficult when you can't feel a horse, and also we can't see her neck. Her spine is very prominent, with no fat or muscle on either side. Personally I wouldn't ride a horse until they hit a 4, if you give her much exercise you'll have more difficulty putting weight on. They have to get to that point where their body isn't potentially using up their own muscle and breaking down organs for fuel before they can put on fat, and then they can start putting on muscle. You also don't want to put on muscle which increases the metabolism until the horse has some fat to use as backup fuel. My opinion is that I wouldn't want this horse to risk losing any weight until there was more to work with.

Our vets recommended free choice alfalfa hay for our rescues until the horses were a 4 on the body condition scoring (then free choice grass hay), along with gradually increasing amounts of senior complete feed. We also fed some beet pulp and oil.
 
#6 ·
I haven't decided on a schedule for her yet, I might just do light groundwork for a couple weeks and then slowly work in the more strenuous stuff once she puts on some more weight. Actually, it's suppose to rain all week, so this week she'll probably be able to just rest and eat, next week I may do a little ground work and continue feeding her good, and then the week after that I'll be on vacation, so that'll be another week of eating and resting. Maybe once I'm back she'll have some more weight on her since that will be three weeks from now, and then I can start working in some walking and trotting in the round pen and a few light rides. Now I just need to figure out where I can find some alfalfa.
The rescue place she's at now has been riding her for 15 minute rides at walk and trot (not sure if they've cantered) and I believe they've had her on pasture, but I'm not sure if they're giving her alfalfa or grain, or if they are giving grain what kind it is.
She gets home tomorrow, I think I'm going to give her grain twice daily, a certain amount of alfalfa daily so she doesn't over do it, and a round bale? And slowly start putting her out to pasture because our pasture is very very lush and all new grass, with only one other horse on it.
How does this sound?
 
#9 ·
Horse Mammal Vertebrate Stallion Mare


I was given Tiffany because the owner couldn't get her in foal. She got the horse in payment for a stud service that had been unpaid.

When I floated Tiffany home, every time we went round a bend to the left she almost went down in the float. As soon as I had her home I fed her up to gain weight, and had her teeth done. She was lame on her left fore, I forget the details now but I had it bandaged and a 'shoof' on to lift the heel or get the foot off the ground. It didn't take to long to start putting on weight, but the extra weight put her in to heart failure. I had to have her PTS. The vet told me Tiffany was almost certainly drugged for racing. I had my first migraine just before she went.
 
#10 ·
I would score your horse a 3....she is thin!!!
Every single area to look at for a "fat deposit" is deficient or missing.
To ride her now...No!
Take her for a walk to build some muscle, strength and endurance.
To place a saddle on her back and then your weight is a injustice to her.
Just remember that for every bit of work you demand from her she burns calories.
Calories she desperately needs to gain weight.

Till you fully heal the inside of the horse she will not heal outside.
Muscle takes good nutrition over a extended period of time supplied to appear....
Your horse is not ready to do work with you astride in my opinion.
Go for that bonding partnership building walk instead...both of you will get good walking exercise.
:runninghorse2:...
jmo..


 
#11 ·
This was Roy when I first got him just about a year ago. I didn't ride until 6 months in and we mostly did lots of groundwork :) trot poles and even going for walks will help begin building muscles. Turns on the hind and fore can only help as well. Once she gains a bit more weight maybe add a pole or two :)
 

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#12 ·
I'm trying to work out a schedule for her right now, I'm hoping to be getting some light rides on her in a month, but if she hasn't gained enough by then I'm totally fine with taking it slower. I'll mainly focus on ground work and i won't start any of that till I'm back from vacation, except for some basic stuff like leading, flexing, etc. maybe next week. My only goal with her right now is getting her back healthy, then I'll start thinking about training. And of course lots and petting and brushing for the next few weeks. Right now she's broke to ride but ONLY with voice commands. She's a huge sweet heart though. She should get here at 6:00 this evening, so I'll be out looking for hay today. I'm wanting to keep a round bale in the arena with her at all times, and give her a certain amount of alfalfa and grain a day, and slowly introduce her to the pasture since ours has so much new grass.
And poor boy, do you have any pictures of him now?
 
#13 ·
I'd call the mare a low 3......and at this point she doesn't need more than self exercise on pasture with other horses in a herd. You will find that while she is gaining weight, it doesn't show since the body will build fat around vital organs first to protect them before adding fat to the areas we normally check for to evaluate a horse's condition. You really need to have a vet run bloodwork to check for compromised organs since the body will pull nutrition from any place it can.
 
#15 ·
The rescue has had her for 5 weeks and has had her vet checked already and everything was good, I will probably have her vet checked again sometime as well as have the farrier out and see if her teeth need floated. I think she's getting quite a bit of exercise for a horse in her condition at the rescue, but once she gets here she'll get to just hang out and gain weight for a while.
 
#16 ·
Might I make a suggestion that you find out exactly what they were feeding her and stick with that while she transitions to your care and home. Then make gradual changes after she has had a chance to settle in a few days..
Same feed brands and hay are needed...
For such large animals they are rather delicate.
The horse will have enough upheaval and stress with the move happening....

Best of luck with her...
She will be a true beauty in no time!!
:runninghorse2:...
 
#18 ·
She's home! Excuse the up close and personal pictures, but I think she may be gold champagne and not palomino!
She's been a sweet heart so far, a little excited and trotting, but sweet. And she has a beautiful gait.
 

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#21 ·
The rescue people named her Stardust, but I'm wanting to rename her, I like Penelope but I told my sister she could help me pick the name and she doesn't like that one. Also, she's clearly had mane pulling done, is there any way to help her mane grow out faster? And does mane pulling cause any permanent damage to her mane?
 
#25 ·
Senior feed is processed differently than any other feed making the utilization and absorption of the nutrients easier on a horse whose health has been compromised.
Senior feed usually has a higher fat content and fat is considered "cool calories" and a safer way to put weight on. Forage, hay or pasture is the biggest part of a horses diet, but feed in your case will help to address the neglect the hose has had and restore missing nutrients her body lost.

Mane pulling does not give any long-term or long lasting issues.
The mane will grow back in naturally.
Finger comb or gently brush the hair from the bottom to the top taking out snarls. Don't yank or pull so less hair breakage occurs...
Your now getting the horse good consistent nutrition will have the mane growing healthy.
Many use this product or that but you really don't need anything but good nutrition, something as a rescue she lacked.
Now corrected...

A quality feed will have all of the minerals and vitamins that work together in balance to start that hair, hoof, coat and her all looking so much better, and her feeling better too!!
Just remember it takes time for the insides of the horse to heal before you will really see it on the outside.
Do not get discouraged as it takes time, and not a month but many months for a horse to really blossom and glow with health.

When you do feed this horse, you must build up slowly to the full amount of feed fed.
Meaning, she may currently weigh 800 pounds because she is so thin but should weight 1000 pounds. You will slowly build her to eating for that 1000 pound animal so she has ample calories, vitamins and minerals her body needs.
Feed tweaking is done often with rescues...just go slowly and watch her closely.
Take pictures and tape measurements so you can have a record of her improvement...when you see them every day sometimes our minds trick us into not seeing the good or bad.
I do this with all my horses so they not get to fat nor lose weight and I miss it..:icon_rolleyes:

Enjoy your new horse.
She is a beauty unfolding in front of you!!
:runninghorse2:....
jmo..
 
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