It sounds as if you aren’t planning on giving the foster horse anything but hay? I hope I’m misinterpreting because I disagree

Get the round bale tested so you know what nutrients it’s deficient in, then supplement those vitamins//minerals. He needs the best diet possible to not only gain weight but to be healthy. Or feed him a ration balancer that is well balanced in vitamins and minerals.

I‘ve had my share of rescues over the years; including one that was so weak he fell off the trailer at home. He was an adult. Once he started gaining weight - the testicles that had receded from being starved so bad, began to feel better and dropped down.

They need all the help they can get to recover in a healthy manner. While hay and/or pasture are the mainstay, they need more than just forage to get back to optimum health.

 

Ah, good point. Yes OK I'll look into supplementation.

ETA: But OK even with the supplementation, you don't think forage would be enough for him to put on weight? You think he would need grain?

 

It depends on the horse but I never just put a rescue on grass pasture and hay - they always got some sort of feed that had vitamins & minerals in it.

You also don’t know it you’re dealing with a hard keeper and/or a horse that may have developed metabolic issues due to the long-term neglect he was in.

I have learned it isn’t the “now” that is always the worst part of a caring for a rescue — it’s the residual effects on the entire body/vital organs that the neglect/starvation may have caused.

Sometimes a horse can be rehabbed without much cost, sometimes it can cost way more than the rescuer planned.

I‘m sure the facility he is coming from has given you instructions and hopefully that includes keeping a detailed log, so when he does find his forever home, there’s a good written record that goes with him.

Best of luck — I am a foster failure - they come here they don’t leave, lol

 

When you pick him up from this rescue you should be given a list of what he was eating, when and how much...
The rescue took him from starvation if he is now only a 3 or 4 on the scale....
The damages you not see are the ones that take the time and good nutrition to heal...his guts and what was stolen from his organs, muscle, soft tissue all the way to what you see on the outside of skin and coat along with his hooves.
It takes time to heal a horse, depending upon how bad he was it can take up to 2 years is my experience with mine.

You asked can he continue to gain just eating hay, yes he can.
A mix of your round roll, with alfalfa hay or cubes, sorry most rescues do better not on alfalfa pellets and if you do pellets they get soaked as do the cubes cause you don't know a history of choke and you don't want to find out about it the hard way either.
A vitamin mineral and biotin with amino acids that help carry and energize the hoof growth needs done if you are not planning on doing enriched hard feed.
Bet the rescue did hard feed and the ones I've been in did Purina feeds ...
Make sure you reach out to Purina via there website for their program about feed this and document they will help you with costs for the feed, especially if its a rescue rehab occurring. Here is the link to that program...

purinamills.com

www.purinamills.com

Just remember your changes need done slowly especially as this horse was so compromised and still is very vulnerable to changes upsetting his digestive tract.
You should be told ahead of time the feed fed to him so you have it already, not scrambling to buy it that day is my thought.
Make sure when you leave the rescue you get at least 1 square bale of hay and if a particular feed not easily available you will need to switch to a more readily bought product a full bag so your switch is gradual for least digestive upset.
Most of these horses because they were neglected also have lousy hooves, so you might just need to do the farrier for now not you for hoof care.
The vet, well, the rescue should be able to tell you what you face in attitude when the vet gets involved...sometimes the animal is good and sometimes not so....

With the horse coming to you the rescue doesn't provide hay and feed, cost for vet or farrier?
Board is yours since many take the animals home and home has no fee paid monthly...
I know the rescue {small animal} by me when we foster we are/were provided all foods necessary, vet care too...
I know when they had the horses you came once a month and picked up enough food for that horse for a full month and a bit of extra....

A new journey begins....
🐴...

 

With the horse coming to you the rescue doesn't provide hay and feed, cost for vet or farrier?

They give you a stipend of $100 a month to help pay for things, but generally WRT feed you're on your own. My understanding is that this guy was surrendered to them and is now at the vet's, and the picture I saw of him was him eating a round bale of coastal hay. I don't know that he's been given any hard feed. I'll ask the vet.

They pay for farrier, but only once every 6-8 weeks. They pay for vet costs also as long as it is pre-approved. I know what you're saying about his feet. We'll see. Our barn farrier has an energy that some horses really dislike. I don't want to get this horse into a situation where he doesn't like the farrier. I am planning on asking the rescue org if they have any recommendations for someone.

 

If the Alfalfa hay isn't very 'interesting' to him you can try squirting some molasses over it... It will encourage him to eat, it's an energy source and it can help a bit with weight gain. If he's on the high quality hay 24/7 he will be fine, especially if its of high quality. If your horse has issues with sugar intake etc. don't give him molasses but if not please don't be afraid of it. You don't have to put much molasses on it but enough to make the hay seem tasty.

 

I would see how he does on the quality grass hay if he is only a 4 or so. That's not seriously underweight, the roughage will be healthiest for him, and chances are he just wasn't fed enough.

It's amazing that some people will just not feed horses. I'm still scratching my head over how my pony came to me underweight. She must have been on a dried up pasture with no hay at all, because she is beyond an easy keeper.

I'd also add a multivitamin supplement just to make sure the basics are covered.

 

At a 3 or 4 for body score good forage will put back on the weight. My horses diet is all forage no grain no commercial feeds fed.

Alfalfa hay /grass hay an soaked alfalfa cubes or pellets to give their vit/min. There in good weight when they loose weight. I up the amount of alfalfa hay. I have saved more money by ditching feeding grain or commercial feeds.

Currently not feeding much hay horses are still on pasture.

 

re feeding is tricky. If he is a 3.5 now, he must have been a bag of bones. He should gain on quality grass hay, and ask the grower if he has tested the hay. Alfalfa mix would help. I would give it at night. Alfalfa has many nutrients that grass hay does not. Also many grass hays are higher in sugar than alfalfa. This all depends on the area grown, when cut and baled, Irrigated vs non irrigated. Fertilized vs not fertilized. Time of the year when cut. It also depends on if it is a new field or an older field . To get a general idea ,you can search for a comparison of the nutrients in hay types.

 

regardless of whether or not you add a ration balancer, the horse needs a vitamin/mineral supplement.

You can buy a quality condensed vit/min supplement that only requires a few ounces daily be fed. He has to have something going into his system to rehab what you can’t see, including the immune system.

Mix in timothy pellets or timothy/ alfalfa pellets and pour the hay to him.

 

Just out of curiosity @ACinATX,
are you going through Bluebonnet? If so, I’ve been approved to foster/adopt from them as well. Haven’t contacted them to set up anything with them yet though.


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Yes, I am! That's awesome! TBH I was a little disappointed with some lack of communication about the horse, but I guess it's to be expected as they weren't even sure when they'd be able to take possession of him.

I don't know if you saw, but they are starting a discussion group for fosters. But you have to actually have your foster horse in order to join it.

We'll see what this guy is like tomorrow hopefully (I'm worried about the possibility of storms) but they talked to me and worked with me to get a horse that seems to meet most of my criteria (I was hoping for a pony but they said they don't get a lot of them in; this guy is supposedly 15hh).

One thing that kind of surprised me was how laid back they were (I thought) once I was approved. I sent in my application and they approved it, and then when I asked if they wanted to see the nice paddock I got for him, and hear about my plans to have him next to the paddock with the calm geldings and gradually introduce him, and about the nice round bale I got, and they were like, "Nope, don't need it. We saw your pictures Enjoy the horse." I mean, I could have just sent them pictures of anywhere.

 

Yes, I am! That's awesome! TBH I was a little disappointed with some lack of communication about the horse, but I guess it's to be expected as they weren't even sure when they'd be able to take possession of him.

I don't know if you saw, but they are starting a discussion group for fosters. But you have to actually have your foster horse in order to join it.

We'll see what this guy is like tomorrow hopefully (I'm worried about the possibility of storms) but they talked to me and worked with me to get a horse that seems to meet most of my criteria (I was hoping for a pony but they said they don't get a lot of them in; this guy is supposedly 15hh).

One thing that kind of surprised me was how laid back they were (I thought) once I was approved. I sent in my application and they approved it, and then when I asked if they wanted to see the nice paddock I got for him, and hear about my plans to have him next to the paddock with the calm geldings and gradually introduce him, and about the nice round bale I got, and they were like, "Nope, don't need it. We saw your pictures Enjoy the horse." I mean, I could have just sent them pictures of anywhere.

I am getting the emails regarding the foster group. And yes I think they have a little chaos going on, maybe because the Expo is coming up in about a month and that’s a big deal to get ready for I guess. Anxious to see your new foster “kid” and hoping everything goes smoothly for you tomorrow!


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Depending on his age and how much weight he's down, I would feed him grain for a while. In my own experience, I have not seen horses that were underweight put on flesh very well with just forage. Fresh, and good quality pasture grass is better than hay for putting on weight. But grains will get him there quicker and fill in nutrition gaps. Or a Beet pulp mash supplement--which horses love. Once he's plumped up a bit, muscle building exercise will add flesh too.

Congrats on your new addition! Is this strictly a foster situation where you'll help get him adopted, or do you think you'll keep him?

 

A horse recovering from such starvation and only slightly improved needs their guts to acclimate very slowly to rich foods.
Horses like this one did not lose the meat off their frame by anything else other than starvation and if you know what starvation to your gut does it wreaks havoc through out that needs a slow return to healthy eating. Rush that return at this point and you could yet lose him.
Horses that were starved do gain and significant amounts of weight by just being given free-choice hay and not necessarily rich hay cause that too can upset a gut.
If you watch documentaries of feral and wild they get to this or thinner and come spring lush they gain it all back and those animals are not eating feed of any kind, just grass on the continual move of better grass to eat.
Slow and steady gain wins the race...and gives this guy a second chance at life.
Pasture and grass are waning now it is September, the start of fall is the period of time where nutrition of pasture gets tanked to busy food status, so free-choice hay is what he needs...
Aside from that where AC boards there is not pastures full of rich nourishing grass nor the best housekeeping duties done as many horses on small acreage has made feeding of hay a necessity unless hand grazing for a treat.
ITs why AC has taken over so much of her horses feeding chores is she has hers on as natural a diet as possible in their location.
Grass yes, it is best but not sure in a yet drought area predominantly you will see lush and thick, more like short, over-grazed and near sacrifice area content...not enough for this boy and he is not ready for tousling with a herd to get his fair share to eat. Separate and confined while he makes gains, he has company seen but not need to fight to eat is what he will do best with for now.

AC you're headed in the right direction...
Hay, you gave the animal the ability to eat his full of hay from that roll....dried grass.
That starts the healing....the nourishment of the horse to thrive again..
But you need to let him settle into his new environment for a while yet as he has had so much change since he was rescued...now it is time to settle into a routine of good care and plentiful food {hay} to eat. In the days to come, be weeks yet if he is not still gaining then the slow, very slow introduction of feed..and the more it can be forage based the better for his guts to continue to heal.
The vet office the horse was retrieved from gave you instructions on what to do and when, along with how. If not, they should have...
A contact phone number for questions you may come across and guidance.
Use it if unsure of what, where to do and how is next.

His feet to me are your next challenge...
Not you please, this is going to take true know-how of a farrier and their experience, along with being gentle, patient and understanding to begin to work a miracle and make this boys health flourish, thrive everywhere.....

I have a feeling you struck gold with this one by how you've said he is friendly and enjoys attention along with he has already permitted you to do so much with him he makes me think he was starved for food but not beat as some other animals endure.
Just go slow, use your gut instincts cause seeing that boy daily is also going to tell you a lot about him and his background in handling and riding no one is sure of right now and much to soon to even think about.

Get the phone and a pictural essay started on his journey to renewed life and hope for his future to be filled with love, care and a family to call his own whether that is your family, or you are just the next step to forever...
Don't forget to take the measurements too so absolute proof its working, all the love, care and food given are working to make his life better...
Start his own journal???? I think it would be great to do.
A fresh chapter in his life....
That is my thoughts on this....a slow road to victory and I bet uncovering a brilliant diamond you are about to start polishing to brilliance.
🐴.... jmo...

 

A horse recovering from such starvation and only slightly improved needs their guts to acclimate very slowly to rich foods.
Horses like this one did not lose the meat off their frame by anything else other than starvation and if you know what starvation to your gut does it wreaks havoc through out that needs a slow return to healthy eating. Rush that return at this point and you could yet lose him.
Horses that were starved do gain and significant amounts of weight by just being given free-choice hay and not necessarily rich hay cause that too can upset a gut.
If you watch documentaries of feral and wild they get to this or thinner and come spring lush they gain it all back and those animals are not eating feed of any kind, just grass on the continual move of better grass to eat.
Slow and steady gain wins the race...and gives this guy a second chance at life.
Pasture and grass are waning now it is September, the start of fall is the period of time where nutrition of pasture gets tanked to busy food status, so free-choice hay is what he needs...
Aside from that where AC boards there is not pastures full of rich nourishing grass nor the best housekeeping duties done as many horses on small acreage has made feeding of hay a necessity unless hand grazing for a treat.
ITs why AC has taken over so much of her horses feeding chores is she has hers on as natural a diet as possible in their location.
Grass yes, it is best but not sure in a yet drought area predominantly you will see lush and thick, more like short, over-grazed and near sacrifice area content...not enough for this boy and he is not ready for tousling with a herd to get his fair share to eat. Separate and confined while he makes gains, he has company seen but not need to fight to eat is what he will do best with for now.

AC you're headed in the right direction...
Hay, you gave the animal the ability to eat his full of hay from that roll....dried grass.
That starts the healing....the nourishment of the horse to thrive again..
But you need to let him settle into his new environment for a while yet as he has had so much change since he was rescued...now it is time to settle into a routine of good care and plentiful food {hay} to eat. In the days to come, be weeks yet if he is not still gaining then the slow, very slow introduction of feed..and the more it can be forage based the better for his guts to continue to heal.
The vet office the horse was retrieved from gave you instructions on what to do and when, along with how. If not, they should have...
A contact phone number for questions you may come across and guidance.
Use it if unsure of what, where to do and how is next.

His feet to me are your next challenge...
Not you please, this is going to take true know-how of a farrier and their experience, along with being gentle, patient and understanding to begin to work a miracle and make this boys health flourish, thrive everywhere.....

I have a feeling you struck gold with this one by how you've said he is friendly and enjoys attention along with he has already permitted you to do so much with him he makes me think he was starved for food but not beat as some other animals endure.
Just go slow, use your gut instincts cause seeing that boy daily is also going to tell you a lot about him and his background in handling and riding no one is sure of right now and much to soon to even think about.

Get the phone and a pictural essay started on his journey to renewed life and hope for his future to be filled with love, care and a family to call his own whether that is your family, or you are just the next step to forever...
Don't forget to take the measurements too so absolute proof its working, all the love, care and food given are working to make his life better...
Start his own journal???? I think it would be great to do.
A fresh chapter in his life....
That is my thoughts on this....a slow road to victory and I bet uncovering a brilliant diamond you are about to start polishing to brilliance.
🐴.... jmo...

Sorry, didn't know this was stavation, just thought he was a little thin from being a rescue. Sorry. Scratch what I said.

 

Grass hay can definitely add weight to a horse that has just gotten a little on the thin side and needs extra calories to build back up to optimum weight. I'd always MUCH rather add grass hay first, as that's the safest, most natural way to address the issue. If grass hay doesn't quite cut it, especially if the topline seems to be an issue and isn't filling out adequately, I add alfalfa to the grass hay. This can be as hay, cubes, or pellets. Whatever form, it needs to be fed by weight and the cubes/pellets need to be soaked properly. If that STILL doesn't get the weight on the horse, I would add Triple Crown Senior to the diet. It's a forage-based feed with no actual grain in it. It's a great feed to soak as it soaks up to a fluffy meal very quickly. It's the only bagged "grain" I'll feed.

But I have the opposite issue...an air fern. He eats forage (pasture, orchard/timothy hay, timothy hay pellets) and his KIS Trace supplement plus some extra magnesium, Omega Horseshine, and a joint supplement. He looks like I could fly him in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on this diet. And interestingly enough, when he was on a commercial grain (and lots of it at one point) at a previous barn, he was thin and unthrifty looking. The BO refused to feed more than a pittance of hay, but was pouring the high octane grain to him in an effort to fatten him up. All it did was make him crazy and ulcery. It took removing that and upping his GRASS HAY to get him back to his former air fern glory.