Supplementing for weight gain
   

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Supplementing for weight gain

This is a discussion on Supplementing for weight gain within the Horse Nutrition forums, part of the Horse Health category

     
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        06-09-2010, 09:29 PM
      #1
    Weanling
    Supplementing for weight gain

    I have an awkward situation where my horse is not getting enough quality feed where he is boarded, and is consequently having diffiulty keeping weight on. He is in a paddock with a dozen or so other horses that are all eating off a round bale of mostly grass and timothy hay. There is no grass. The horses in his paddock also get some oats poured in piles on the ground once a day. Because he is a bit of a baby, he gets pushed around by the other horses and rarely gets to eat any grain. So far, he isn't ribby, but his hip bones stick out and he is very slight in his hindquarters.

    I'm feeding him about 1-2 litres of complete feed and about 1-2 litres of mixed grain (barley and oats) about 3 times a week when I am out to ride. Unfortunately, I can't get out much more often than that. I am looking for a good feed supplement to help him gain some weight and particularly to help him build his topline. I am working him under saddle for about an hour 3 times a week.

    Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can put some weight on my guy, at least until I find a better boarding situation for him?
         
        06-09-2010, 09:39 PM
      #2
    Green Broke
    I give rena some stuff called High Fat, I find it helps a lot, she didn't lose any weight this winter at all. :)
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        06-13-2010, 04:41 PM
      #3
    Started
    First thing I would do is find a new boarding barn !!!
         
        06-13-2010, 10:43 PM
      #4
    Trained
    The best bang for the buck I've found, and I've tried dozens of different supplements, is SmartGain by Smartpak. It's a very small dosage that you can mix in with a little grain and feed as a snack so you know he's getting it. It's a powder that smells like cookie dough. It takes a few weeks to take effect, but it should help until you can find a better boarding situation for him.
         
        06-14-2010, 07:13 PM
      #5
    Started
    Athe most bang for your buck would be rice bran :) high calorie in a small amount and enought o make a difference.
         
        06-14-2010, 07:17 PM
      #6
    Banned
    If your horse is not provided a private place to eat, a weight supplement will not matter, because the likeliness that he'll get to eat it is very small. When my TB was turned out in a group 24/7, he was the leader, and any time he wanted more grain, he just had to walk up and start eating it out of someone elses pan. They would move, or he'd beat the crap out of them.
         
        06-14-2010, 07:29 PM
      #7
    Started
    If you are wanting to work with the place you are at replace the barley and oats with beet pulp and alfalfa and rice bran... and try to get there 7 days a week to feed him also make sure he is getting the min recommended amount of the complete feed for the nutrition needed
         
        06-17-2010, 12:36 AM
      #8
    Weanling
    Thanks for the advice everybody. I have arranged to send my horse out to a good summer pasture where he will only be with one other horse. He will also be getting grain and protein supplements daily. Hopefully the change will help him develop a little more muscle in his topline.

    I was reluctant to change barns because I really liked the people at his current barn. He has also been getting good care there, but just doesn't cope well in a larger herd. I wish I had the time to be there to feed him myself every day, but that just isn't possible.

    Anyways, thanks again!
         

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