Help with horse gaining weight?

We have got a 15 year old thouroghbred cross and the thing will not gain weight at all. We have had his teeth floated, the vet checked for worms, anemia and sand. We have tried using weight builder, beet pulp, corn oil, molasses and everything else and nothing is working at all. Our vet set up a feed ratio for him and I know it sounds like a lot but as of right now we feed him 5 pounds of cracked corn and 5 flakes of alfalfa haay in the morning and the same at night. We moved him to one of our small paddocks to limit excercise and keep rounds bales of grass hay available for him at all times in it and the hose is still showing ribs. He is about 16.3 hh and some have said that because of the breed he will stay thin. Can anyone help all of our other horses are fat and have a nice barrell and then he looks abused or something.

Help with horse gaining weight?
Thanks for your question and I hope I can be of some help.





First of all, checking with your vet is always a smart thing to do.





Second, some ideas that I have come across are of course beet pulp and alfalfa, all of which you tried. Another natural way is grass. If at all possible he should have access to grass all day. Another idea, instead of beet pulp which has been said to only fill their stomach and not put on weight, is rice bran. It can usually found at a local feed store or horse store. Just ask and someone should be able to help you pick one out. Max-E-Glo (by RiceX) is a very popular choice and has been highly recommended as a supplement.





Before you start on a supplement I would check that there is nothing wrong with him that is preventing him from gaining weight. Sometimes it's a medical condition.





Another supplement that come recommended to me are "Hard-Keeper" (made by Vita-Flex) - high in all of the fats, amino acids, and the omega-3.





I would just suggest going to your local store for where ever you get your other feed and supplements and ask them what they would recommend. They are often very knowledgeable about what products are available in your area.





I hope that helps!
Reply:TB's are going to be normally more slender than some other breeds (quarter horses for example) although he shouldn't be ribby all the time...





When I had horses, I put them on sweet feed in the winter (because of the corn and molasses) to keep their weight and body temp up, then primarily oats in the summer..





What you've tried sounds like what I would do...he's getting 10 lbs of food a day...just give it more time would be my suggestion (how long have you been feeding him this way?)





What about not changing the total amount of food, but breaking it into 3 feedings instead of 2? He might get more out of it if it was spread out...kind of like if we drink a bottle of water real fast and then have to pee, versus sipping along on it all day and it being absorbed into our body.





Good luck!
Reply:I don't know that much about feed for horses, but I would talk to the vet again and tell her what are telling here. I would also go to a feed store and see what they can offer and what the people there have to say. I would probably suggest something that is high in energy, like a high-calorie feed and something with high sugar content, like glucose. Hope everything works out!
Reply:Well, I can say good job on doing the vetranary care you have done!


About the weinght problem, you said that you are feeding him 5 flakes of alfalfa. This much of alfalfa one could cause ulcers, two, I doubt that he is finishing all of his hay between morning feed and night feed. Alfalfa is also more of an energy based feed as well. When you are trying to get a horse to gain weight, feed little and often. Also try feeding alot of grass hay, and not so much uncotraoled pasure hay or alfalfa (maybye stable the horse?) Then feed maybe 2 flakes grass in the morning...2 flakes grass at noon....2 flakes grass in the evning.


In adition to grass hay, grains are also very good. Ultium has worked wonders on my horses but is rather expensive. You could try compeat advantage. (Compleat Advantage will give less energy then Ultium). And again with this feed little and offten. 2 quts in the morning with 1/2 his suplaments...1 qurt noon with no supplyments.....2 qurts evning with 1/2 his suplyments. You can also mix in some bran mash to ensure he is eating all of it.


One thing with upping all this feed, make sure he is getting exersided at least EVERY OTHER DAY! I can say it enough...horses need to be out, even if they are pasture kept. Exersise for your case could just be an hours walk hack or just walk and chat with freinds, what ever you do make sure he is getting out. This will help keep him happy and encourage him to eat. If he isnt doing anything, he wont eat that much.


Hope this helps!

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