Reptile & Amphibian Forums

As I just posted, I got a second horse. (I wish someone would reply to it *cry*) She's about 150 lbs underweight. I have Blue Seal Charger course feed, it only has 14 grams of protein (the only thing with higher was for mare with foal). How should I go about putting more weight on her? How many scoops in the morning, at night? What's safe and what's not? How much turnout a day? All day, or is that not a good plan? (Note: my pastures are rich in lush grass that "can be too good for them" if they get too much time out in it). Thanks!

I think the best way to get her to gain weight is to turn her out in the pasture all day and bring her in at night. It's amazing what grass can do!! Try feeding her just a little alfalfa if nothing works. Look at the feed you are using. Try finding a feed that has the appropriate amount of protein, but also has a higher fat percentage. Lastly, make sure she has been wormed regularly.
Good luck with your mare
Remember, some horses are just plain skinny. I've known many horses that just refuse to gain weight.

Also, try putting a cup of corn oil in it's morning feed and a cup at night. This will increase it's fat calorie intake by 1000 or so. Plus, it will make ehr coat nice and shiney and smooth

Silky smooth eh? Hmm, maybe someone else was doing the same thing. I say this because her fur is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SOFT!!!! You just wanna snuggle up to her allllll day! And lucky for me, she likes the snugglins! Heehee!
Thanks for the tips! Alright, grass-o-rama and corn oil it is!

A high fat feed is a good start. 14% protein is about as much as you want to feed, especially if you have good forage on top of that. I wouldn't feed her alfalfa though if you have 14% feed and good grass, you'll be overdoing the protein. On a horse I'm trying to get to gain weight, I will generally work up to feeding her a 4 qt. scoop twice a day, very rarely do I feed any more than that at one feeding.

Deworming regularly is also important, but the most important thing is to have a vet check her teeth. The number one cause of weight loss in horses is poor teeth. You can feed the best feed in the world, but if she can't chew it to break it down, it won't do her much good!

Good luck with her!
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PH Cody
HorseHobbyist Site Coordinator

I agree with all your suggestions. To the person who originally asked the question--just make sure that whatever grain or grain replacement you give the horse isn't high in sugar as well as fat, and doesn't contain corn. You'll put the pounds on that way, but you'll also have a very "hot" horse. (Worse than if you feed him alfalfa!)

Just sign me "Been there, done that."

Joan

Lacy, my underweight horse, is doing great! She's put on at least 50-75 lbs or so, and her energy level is MUCH better! When we first got her she hardly felt like running very much (and of course Pistol was going "LET'S GO LET'S GO LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOO!), now she can keep up with him easy, and she's still not an unruly ride at all!
I'm beginning to think the people at these horse sales don't know how to feed their horses! Lacy was 150 lbs underweight, and Sundance, the gelding we got yesterday, is in awful shape! It's like he used to be a very fit, muscular shape, and then someone just let his body waste away. His muscles have kinda gone to goo, just like you can look at some people and tell they USED to be built, and he's so ribby. Don't worry, though. We'll get him back in shape, and hopefully soon since winter's coming! Should I get him a blanket?
Thanks a milion!
Kim

He should still be able to grow a nice winter coat unless her looks completely anorexic.
Sadly, horse sales are usually for horses with nil to poor training, or horseson the road to slaughter. Of course, there are exceptions!
Youre a brave girl to go to one of those. I cry if I go!!

I don't go to the horse sales myself. We buy from people who go there and buy and sell. They'll go in, buy the good ones that they can find just above killer price, sell them to people, and any they don't sell they resell. They seem to have a new batch every 2 or 3 weeks. We've gotten all of our horses from them. They even said Lacy was so cheap (bought her, my best horse, for $800) because she was 150 lbs underweight at least and not registered. The latest one was $1250 because he's not registered and he's so underweight, but he realllllly is a sweetheart so that brought his price up. He looks like someone bought a great kid safe horse, then the kid outgrew him (he's kinda small) or the hobby, and the family just let him rot in the field. Money very well spent I believe, but I'll find out today or Saturday when I get on him. I didn't get to do a test drive this time. I've been told around here, Lacy's worth at least $4000 even without papers because people want a good horse safe and sane for their kids to learn on. She's a fantastic girl, and so cuddly! (she reminds me of a giant rabbit, I'll post a pic later!)