Feed Choices
 

Hi everyone!
I have a typical Thoroughbred you has trouble holding weight. He is a 10 year old and has been off the track for 2 years. He has an ok weight on him but he still has a ways to go. I talked to an Equine Nutritionist about feed to put Hero on. Right now we put him on Legacy by Nutrena he gets 2 1/2 scoops. It seems almost unhealthy to give this much. The ingredients are...this Crude Protein12.50%Lysine0.65%Methionine0.3%Crude Fat10.0%Crude Fibermax. 10.0%Dietary Starchmax. 18.0%Sugarmax. 12.0%Calciummin. 0.75% - max. 0.95%Phosphorus0.5%Copper50 ppmZinc200 ppmSelenium0.3 ppmVitamin A3,000 IU/lbVitamin D3350 IU/lbVitamin E100 IU/lbBiotin0.60 mg/lb
But he has been on this and about a half a scoop of empower booster for about 5 months and he is still not looking great! It makes me a bit mad. He has free choice of hay and grass.

But my other question is my farrier told me he has a hard keeper and the only thing that works for him is Omleen (sp) 400, but I have read reviews about this and a lot of people say this is not a very good feed. Can I have some of your guys input?? Thanks :)

I have a friend who rescues a lot of horses and to put weight on them initially he feeds bread and turns them out in the pasture. I have seen success in about 5 of his most recent horses looking much better after only a month or two. I am not certain of the long term success of feeding bread, but I do know it can help jump start weight gain

Interesting! I have never heard of that, is it just regular white bread?
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For gaining weight on horses, you need lots of fiber and fat. Fiber can come in hay, pasture, hay cubes, or an even popular choice is beet pulp. I recommend rice bran for adding fat. Also, have the vet check him out for worms (fecal egg test) and his teeth for any sharp spots. You can also add some Alfalfa.

Bread to gain weight? You would have to feed an awful lot of it.. And that much wheat I would doubt to be good for horses. Good way to gain weight? Probably not.. Nice treat for horse? Yes

Thank you for your info :) he was on beet pulp for about a year a half with no improvement whatsoever. This is when i switch from beet pulp to empower booster. He gets timonty hay and alfalfa cubes for extra info. And thank you for reminding me about a fecal egg count! I almost forgot! I got one on him last year which he was negitive but this is a whole new year.
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I am going to attach an article I found regarding bread and other supplements that is from a vet from Rutgers. I am also going to post a couple pictures of the difference feeding bread and turning out a horse can make in a small amount of time. I have seen the success with my own eyes or I might not believe it, but I know this man has rescued and rehabbed many horses in a small amount of time with this feeding regimen...... Article and pics to come shortly!!!

Oh yes please do! I find this rather interesting :)
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I would refrain from feeding bread on a regular basis to gain weight.. It is not meant for horses to eat.

I'm just interested in what this article says.