Posted 2012-01-09 8:48 AM (#6097914 - in reply to #6097573) Subject: RE: Hard keeper, How do I fatten him up?
The One
Posts: 6697 Location: South Georgia
Well, firstly figure out what is contributing to making him a hard keeper. Have a thorough vet exam, blood panel, and fecal done. Then, go from there. Teeth are also an important factor.
Posted 2012-01-09 8:49 AM (#6097916 - in reply to #6097573) Subject: RE: Hard keeper, How do I fatten him up?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 425 Location: Southwest Minnesota
I have a 20 year old Paint gelding who is a hard keeper and this is what I do. I have his teeth checked yearly. 2 years ago his teeth were bad and he went down hill in a big hurry. Make sure you worm regularly. I feed him seperate from my other horses. He gets a mix of alfalfa and grass hay. I feed a complete feed that has a higher percentage of crude fat and he gets Weight Builder mixed in his feed. I used to use Cool Calories which I loved, but can't get anywhere around here anymore. The Weight Builder I believe is made by Farnam and I get it at the local farm supply store (Runnings, TSC, etc.). I have used beet pulp before on a different horse too and I purchased that at the local feed store, it was not available anywhere else. You may want to talk to someone with some feed expertise. Try your local extension office or ask your veternarian who would be a good resource for equine nutrition. Good luck!
Posted 2012-01-09 9:03 AM (#6097946 - in reply to #6097916) Subject: RE: Hard keeper, How do I fatten him up?
The One
Posts: 6697 Location: South Georgia
chuckie31 - 2012-01-09 9:49 AM I have a 20 year old Paint gelding who is a hard keeper and this is what I do. I have his teeth checked yearly. 2 years ago his teeth were bad and he went down hill in a big hurry. Make sure you worm regularly. I feed him seperate from my other horses. He gets a mix of alfalfa and grass hay. I feed a complete feed that has a higher percentage of crude fat and he gets Weight Builder mixed in his feed. I used to use Cool Calories which I loved, but can't get anywhere around here anymore. The Weight Builder I believe is made by Farnam and I get it at the local farm supply store (Runnings, TSC, etc.). I have used beet pulp before on a different horse too and I purchased that at the local feed store, it was not available anywhere else. You may want to talk to someone with some feed expertise. Try your local extension office or ask your veternarian who would be a good resource for equine nutrition. Good luck!
Cool Calories can be found from various sites online. Horse.com, smartpak.com, etc. It is 99% fat, whereas Farnam Weight Builder is only 40% fat. You have to feed an extremely greater amount of Weight Builder than Cool Calories.
Posted 2012-01-09 9:05 AM (#6097949 - in reply to #6097573) Subject: RE: Hard keeper, How do I fatten him up?
Never Named
Posts: 1630 Location: N.W Florida
Yep, BOSS is in the bird feed section (:
Make sure you get the Black Oil Sunflower Seeds, not the ones with the stripes or the mixes or anything. Just the plain black ones.
I swear by this stuff and I will never use anything else, EVER. It's great stuff. I even give my easy keepers a tiny handful once a day, it keeps them feeling so good, topline filled in, and coat so shiny and silky.
Posted 2012-01-09 9:33 AM (#6098012 - in reply to #6097949) Subject: RE: Hard keeper, How do I fatten him up?
1D Lawn Mower
Posts: 1063 Location: Southeast, Texas
TURNNBURNCOWGIRL - 2012-01-09 9:05 AM
Yep, BOSS is in the bird feed section (:
Make sure you get the Black Oil Sunflower Seeds, not the ones with the stripes or the mixes or anything. Just the plain black ones.
I swear by this stuff and I will never use anything else, EVER. It's great stuff. I even give my easy keepers a tiny handful once a day, it keeps them feeling so good, topline filled in, and coat so shiny and silky.
[= Good to know! I hate getting that blank stare from the person behind the counter! Do you feed it twice a day or only am or pm? Mine are all holding weight okay this winter, so far. But we can't get any hay, so they are having to be a little tougher than years past. Another question, you feed alfalfa pellets- can pellets replace alfalfa hay, in a pinch? If so, how much do I give them to equal out the same as a flake or two? Sorry, OP- not trying to take your thread. [=
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Hard keeper, How do I fatten him up?
