New Member

Posts: 9
From:Swartz Creek, Michigan, United States
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 03-12-2004 06:39 PM         

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My horse is a National Show horse gelding, and he is 7 years old. When I got him he had pretty good weight. He was fed 1 and a half pounds of grain twice a day, and two flakes of hay. He was only ridden about two or three times a week for about 45 minutes. He used to only be inside the barn with no turn out. I ride him about 5 or 6 days a week and for 1 and a half or so. He goes outdoors everyday, and he wears a blanket when its under 35 degrees.
When I noticed that he was loosing wieght, I upped his feed, and now its up to 2 pounds of grain twice a day, 1 pound of beet pulp(twice a day) and 3 flakes twice a day. I was wondering if I should up it again, and if there is anything I can give him. He gets "hyper" so i dont want to give him to much of anything that will make him hyper. I had a lesson recently, and the instructer told me that he needed to gain at least 200 pounds. He is wormed every two months so I doubt that that is the problem. Would red cell and corn oil be a good idea? Please let me know, thanks so much

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Member

Posts: 47
From:Oakton, VA USA
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 03-13-2004 06:00 AM         

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Corn oil is always worth a try if you're trying to add weight. What grain are you feeding him? You may want to try a higher fat grain as well.

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New Member

Posts: 9
From:Swartz Creek, Michigan, United States
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 03-13-2004 07:44 AM         

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I am not sure what kind of grain he is getting, I board him at a barn but I will find out. I dont want to give him to much of a high energy grain because he gets hyper and misbehaves. How much corn oil should I use? Thanks!

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New Member

Posts: 9
From:Swartz Creek, Michigan, United States
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 03-13-2004 07:46 AM         

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Hey. I am not sure what kind of grain he is on, because I board him at a barn. But I am pretty sure that its sweet feed. I will find out though. How much corn oil should I give him?

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Member

Posts: 47
From:Oakton, VA USA
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 03-13-2004 03:24 PM         

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Try starting out with 1/2 cup corn oil in both morning and evening feed. Too much too soon can cause your horse to have loose stool. You can up the amount once he gets used to it, if you need to. Also, if he's on sweet feed, definitly switch him over to a high fat grain, pellets work well. Switch him over gradually, until he's just on the pellets and corn oil. That should help him a lot. Sweet feed is often a high-energy grain, and that sounds like just the opposite of what you're wanting.

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New Member

Posts: 9
From:Swartz Creek, Michigan, United States
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 03-14-2004 06:00 PM         

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Thanks, i will do that. Now is is also getting a lot more hay. He gets 3 alafa flakes a day, and 6 flakes of a different kind of hay. I also have him on focus weight, and cornoil. I will see if I can change the grain he is getting to the pellets. Thanks agsin

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Member

Posts: 944
From:Columbus, Tx ,USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 03-15-2004 09:03 AM         

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Weight builder is also great. Don't try to rush the weight gain, You'll end up getting fat instead of good muscle.

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New Member

Posts: 9
From:Swartz Creek, Michigan, United States
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 03-16-2004 05:27 PM         

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Thanks!

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Member

Posts: 10
From:Amarillo, TX, USA
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 03-18-2004 10:28 PM         

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You should always try increasing the feed rather than switching the type first. Horses are better digestibly if they have multiple small meals a day. Ask your stable manager if they can take the amount that he eats daily and spread it out over the day. He should have good quality hay available to him at all times. Be careful if you decide to try corn oil. Adding this should be taken very slowly over about four weeks gradually increasing it. This is also true about fat added grains. Horses have a microbial population in their cecums to much fat to fast can kill these "bugs". Horses were meant to graze. Every horse needs turn out time and time to be a horse. Horses were not meant to live in stalls. Your horse may need time to be a horse. Make sure that hay is constantly available if he is not going to be able to graze. Horses were not meant to have a considerable amount of fat. If he is not a high performance horse that gets used constantly and very day he does not need a very high amount of fat. Be careful with Weight Builder because it is basically like feeding them a bunch of candy bars. Also there are supplements available to help their microbial population in their cecum. Good luck!

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Valerie Johnston

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Member

Posts: 944
From:Columbus, Tx ,USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 03-19-2004 06:44 AM         

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Thats true about the corn oil.

Although increasing feed can be just as harmful. Too much feed can cause founder. I found this out the hard way. Anytime you deside to switch, add or take away something, always do it gradually!

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Member

Posts: 10
From:Amarillo, TX, USA
Registered: Mar 2004

posted 03-19-2004 02:09 PM         

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Yes I agree there is a certain point where you can't increase their feed anymore. I would make sure that he has hay all the time as well, small meals and lots of hay will help his digestion. The hay kind of helps things move along.

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Member

Posts: 134
From: NC -USA
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 03-21-2004 11:41 AM         

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Sweet feed even at 10% maintenance can make a horse hyper....so I would switch to a plain oat instead. Add corn oil, about 1/4 cup per feed, and about 2-3 flakes of hay per day...try getting to see Merk's Vet manual, it has the formula for proper ratios.
Also, FLOAT THE TEETH WITH an equine dentist! A vet usually does not do as great a job. Do it once a year. Costs anyhwere between $25-50 depending on if the dentist could do the whole barn or a bunch of horses!!
Worm the horse with a great wormer like ivermectin about every 6-8 weeks religiously!
Then wait and see about 2 months and your baby should be on the gain! Best wishes.

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