Trouble Getting Weight On A Horse

[HGStables]

I know this might be a little off topic as this horse is not a miniature horse. First off I will list what I feel is important information about him...

16 Year Old Gelding

Quarter Horse

16.0hh

Good Teeth

Wormed

Was thin when I got him, he has filled out some

Had hip injected (dry socket)

Very friendly, not nervous or hyper

Western Pleasure trained

I bought him as my confidence builder as I am still getting over being hurt pretty bad by a horse 3 years ago. The plan is to show him next year at open shows in the Snr classes (W/T/C).

I am not happy with his weight gain I have tried several feeds before settling on the one he's on now.

I started with our milled grain which did nothing for him so stopped using it. I put him on Purina's Equine Senior he wasn't on it very long as they came out with Active Senior food but it was very hard to get so we put him on the closet food to it which is Purina Strategy Healthy Edge. He get's good quality hay and has no trouble chewing or digesting it. He get's a large amount of grain, 2 full scoops of grain, 5 cups of soaked beet pulp, and just over a 1/4 cup of corn oil twice a day. He's eating nearly 4 times what my other quarter horse is getting.

There has to be something else out there that can help him that isn't crazy expensive. I tried Purina's Amplify pellets but didn't see much of an improvement not to mention it is outrageously priced; almost $50 a bag. I know there are other weight builders but I have been warned they can make a horse hot and I do not need that happening. Right now I am very lightly riding him as I am focusing on getting his weight up. I was told to feed rolled oats but my vet says that is an old horseman's tail.

The most recent recommendations I have been told is buying Alfalfa Hay cubes and soaking them and giving him and extra meal every day. Or feeding him hay stretcher. Has anyone herd about this? Any in put would be appreciated.

 

[little shiloh farm]

While it is a more expensive feed, the purina ultium would be my choice. I had an AQHA hard keeper and what I did for him was:

am meal

2 lbs ultium

1 lb alfalfa pellets

pm meal

2 lbs ultium

1 lb afalfa pellets

4 cups (before soaking) beet pulp

2 or 3 flakes timothy orchard alfalfa hay am/pm

I have never been keen on the strategy professional and the strategy healthy edge is formulated for easy keepers.

with the ultium, even though it is more per bag you wind up feeding less so it comes out better in the end.

you may want to add an ulcer supplement and see if that helps smart pak has many good options.

beet pulps is a great addition for adding weight.

 

[mydaddysjag]

If your going to use Purina, I too reccomend Ultium. If you have access to it, Triple Crown Complete is an even better feed, but isnt pelleted. Along with that, a mash of beet pulp and alfalfa cubes, soaked with 1 cup of oil and water, twice a day.

Was he by chance at a WP show barn and kept like a show horse (Limited turnout, only out to be ridden mostly?) I would also look into treating for ulcers. We had a mare like this previously, and once she was treated for ulcers, she became an easy keeper.

 

[denielle johns]

I have 6 horses over the age of 25 and 2 that are in there 30s. I have found that free choice hay does the trick most of the time. We also give all are seniors 3 feeding a day. I feed a pellet feed and 2 get rice bran all get 1 flake alfalfa twice a day and first and second cut free choice. All are fat and do not look there age at all. dont try to rush the weight gain, you could do more harm than good.

 

[chandab]

My only additional thought would be to try a probiotic, I like SmartDigest from SmartPak.

 

[muffntuf]

To me he doesn't look underweight. But if you want to put pounds on him try Body Builder.

 

[Marty]

I've had several geriatric horses in my day too. Presently I still have my 31 1/2 year old quarter horse and he is on Purina Equine St.

I would like to see you put your horse back on Purina Senior and leave him on it and forget the corn oil and all the frills. Give him clean grass hay plus plenty of time on pasture grass. He is big like my guy and he is going to eat but that does sound like a bit too much grain unless you are breaking it up into three feedings. Riding him lightly to me means 30 minutes a day and a good slow warm up. It will take you months to get things moved around. What you want is body shaping, not necessarily gaining too much extra weight. To get this boy back in show shape at his age can be done but mind you, he is not going to look like a 3 year old and part of his body won't change too much if any at all; that remains to be seen as they all are different. These things take time so don't get in a rush thinking you have to do "things" to make him gain weight. He was not on Purina Senior long enough to notice any difference so try again and you should see a difference in about 4 months time at his age. Good luck and best wishes to you.