[Klassic Superstar]

My horse is loosing weight and is getting 5-6 flakes of hay a day and a small amount of grain, has been worked, no ulcers and no apparent teeth problems but is getting them done in the next month or so.

What grains that are not to high in sugar or coated in molasses helps gain weight, he gets 1/2 scoop grass pellets and 1/2 scoop of oats.

Any suggestions would help.

 

[cakemom]

Try adding rice bran. Maxi glow is a wonderful pelleted one, although I feed ground. Red gets 2 cups 2x a day and I find it keeps him where I want him. Rice bran oil works well too, as does corn oil. Corn oil is not favored by some, although I've used it with great success.
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[gypsygirl]

i would up his hay first, 5-6 flakes is not very much in one day. what kind of hay is he getting ?

 

[themacpack]

What is the weight of the hay you are giving - "flakes" is not a good measurement when it comes to amount of hay because it can vary SO widely. For a horse that is having a weight issue, it is important to know exacty what you are giving them to identify where changes should be made. You're goal for increasing weight needs to be 2-3% of the horse's goal body weight in hay as a base (free choice is best, if at all possible). Also, what kind of hay is it that you are feeding? Increasing the amount of hay will not do a lot of good if it is hay that is not going to be useful to his body.
What sort of "grass" pellets are you feeding? Also, again, weight, not "scoops" needs to be determined in the grain(s) you are feeding. Take a "scoop" of each of the feeds you are using, put it in a baggie and go weigh it (grocery store scale, feed stores, hardware stores that sell bulk nuts/bolts, etc are all good places to find scales).
Until you know what you are feeding, there is no way to advise as to what to change. What is the amount of work the horse is doing? When was the horse last vetted and de-wormed?

 

[Klassic Superstar]

We have huge bales of hay, weighed at 7 pounds each flake for my little horse it is alot of hay. It's grass/Timothy mix

He gets worked about 3 days a week sometimes lunged on the 4th day

He was just wormed about 6 weeks ago, we didn't think we got it all so he just got wormed yesterday.

 

[mls]

Empower is a wonderful rice bran pellet to help with weight gain, yet not make the horse hyper.

 

[verona1016]

I'd suggest adding a ration balancer to make sure he's getting proper nutrition, and then add on beet pulp and/or rice bran for additional calories. I like to keep horses off grain if at all possible

 

[Klassic Superstar]

I do too (off grain) he only recently was put on it

 

[eventerdrew]

I'd try a ration balancer like Enrich 32. I recently put my mare on it to help her gain weight and it's done wonders.

 

[1RedHorse]

Enrich 32 has very very low calories. It's meant for easy keepers to get the nutrients they need without the calories.

I would add Empower to his menu....work up to 3 lbs per day.

 

[TimberRidgeRanch]

weight gain

I am surprised no one has asked what the horses breed is or age what his/her work load is. These are important factors in trying to help with a weight issue.
a good grain when looking to help with weight issues and what I use is Natures essentials by Purina feeds AMPLIFY its great for weight gain and also for show conditioning skin and coat stallions etc. I use this product with my draft crosses.

I also found that Calf Mana 1 cup a day in feed works very well on TBs or hot horses.

Can feed all the hay you want but if the hay your buying doesnt have the needed nutrients its not going to help.

Check with your local Agricultural department to see about having your hay annalized for nutrients content.

Good luck TRR

 

[mudpie]

Is he UTD on deworming? Does he get a psyllium supplement once monthly?

Him having worms or having sand in his gut could be causing him to not gain/lose weight.

 

[eventerdrew]

Enrich 32 also has very high protein though and is designed for horses who eat a lot of hay. So, if he already has enough hay, that's what I'd try.

My mare is not an easy keeper and it has worked for her.

 

[KennyRogersPaints]

I have my filly on beet pulp, it is a cheaper way to put the weight on, I feed 6 quarts of soaked beet pulp along with the horses regular amount of grain. I also suggest Corn oil as a cheap fatty supplement.

 

[Western Gal]

My horse is loosing weight and is getting 5-6 flakes of hay a day and a small amount of grain, has been worked, no ulcers and no apparent teeth problems but is getting them done in the next month or so.

What grains that are not to high in sugar or coated in molasses helps gain weight, he gets 1/2 scoop grass pellets and 1/2 scoop of oats.

Any suggestions would help.

The hay amount depends on the weight. Some flakes weigh less than others in the winter my horses get 20-25 lbs hay a day in the winter. In the summer 15-20 depending on the horse. I have a couple that are not gaining like I wold like as I am feeding grass hay at the moment so for those I am giving 3 lbs of alfalfa pellets and they get 3 lbs of a complete feed as well.
So I would try adding a complete feed I am not real big on oats. I also top dress with Equipride you give 1oz to every 100 lbs or as how loose their manure is.

 

[NorthernMama]

I would just like to ad that regardless of the number of flakes or weight of the hay, keep hay in front of the horse at all times. If he is without hay, he doesn't have enough.

 

[sara0000]

I don't have access to a lot of specialty feeds where I live. Complete feed pellets and rice bran are about all that is available. I have used corn oil successfully for weight gain. I know corn oil is supposed to cause or encourage inflammatory diseases, but for me it has worked so far.

 

[HollyBubbles]

Extruded Barley worked for me on my 8yo thoroughbred along with meadow chaff. He was big and thick in no time. And it didn't heat him up either which was something short of a miracle as he seems to be heated up by the word "food"
Also ezi-beet or something of the likes should help.