We have an older OTSB gelding, named Gordo, at the stable that we use for the trail riding business. This last winter really hit him hard tho. He's not toooo old, he's 24. We have older horses that are doing a lot better than him tho in the weight department. This last year his trail rides were cut down to only one 1/2 hour ride per day, and that's only if there are no other horses available. So he wasn't overused, but we wanted him to feel like he had a purpose. So he got to go on 3-4 trail rides a week and it kept him happy. Gotta remember this gelding has been doing the same trail rides for over 15 years. It's his daily routine. Once about 8 years ago (when the owner thought she'd get out of trails), we tried to sell him with another trail horse. Turns out Gordo completely trashed her barn, and she ended up giving him back to us. We could never get him in a trailer since. Lol
Anyway, Gordo gets a 1 1/2 scoops of senior feed for am + pm feedings. Along with hay round the clock, weather it's from a round bale or grass/alfalfa mix square bales. He also gets one scoop of legacy joint supplement with his grain each feeding. Now he's not ribby, but his hip bones are much more prominent. He also seems to have almost no muscle in his thighs. Is it because he's been cut back on the amount of trail rides he does? He's not getting fed right? Or is he just getting old? We want him to gain some weight for the winter!!
