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Expert
Posts: 2685
   
| I have considered getting an amino acid supplement for 2 of my horses. Here's why: the 5yo has always had an embarrassing topline. The horse is broke-broke and can do all of the exercises to build topline like a pro (for months) and still look like she's a 10yo TB (no pun intended). I have come to the conclusion its just HER. However, its HIDEOUS. The only time I ever saw the horse even close to flat-ish over her back was when she was eating like a feeder calf (2lbs renew, MM, free choice Bermuda, 20lbs alfalfa a day) and being ridden like rocky balboa. She has had several months off due to an injury and her back/withers look terrible. I thought about adding an amino acid sup to her diet because from what I have read you can give a horse as much protein as you want but if they don't have enough lysine, methionine and threonine (the "limited" amino acids) they cant use the proteins efficiently to build muscle where it needs to go.
The other horse is a 10yo TB mare that I have only had a month or so that is just a broodmare but has absolutely no topline at all. She was not fed well at all before I got her. She has gained about 100lbs in the past month that she has been here but I don't see the topline coming due to age and breed.
Y'all share your experiences!
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 941
Location: Kansas | If a horse is getting enough quality calories and still losing muscle, I would consult an equine vet and rule out EPM. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| In all honesty - skip the AA supplement.
Get her checked by a vet to make sure she can actually absorb what you are feeding her. Blood work can do this. If something is off in the hind gut, your horse won't absorb the nutrients it actually needs - regardless of how much you are shoving in them.
Once you have the gastric "ok" from the vet - up your calories overall - feeding alfalfa and beet pulp is a great, cost effective way.
I'd look at overall supplements before giving AA. Remember, changing a diet and supplementing will take time to see results as well.
Good luck!
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12708
| The things that I have found to add topline to a pasture butt (as in a horse not regularly ridden), as well as any horse being ridden regularly (which should help with topline, if ridden correctly), are:
Alfalfa, the best quality you can find
Beet pulp shreds
Rice bran
Vegetable oil (I moved away from corn years ago, but users choice)
Weight Builder
Had an old school, very experienced horse person tell me years ago tell me the recipe for adding weight safely and fast: fat and fiber.
I've had my 'get fat fast' diet work over and over again bringing back broodies after nursing, bringing back sick horses, and now a starved 3yo. Two months and they are round again with great toplines.
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Too busy outside!
Posts: 5417
| lonely va barrelxr - 2014-11-30 9:56 AM The things that I have found to add topline to a pasture butt (as in a horse not regularly ridden), as well as any horse being ridden regularly (which should help with topline, if ridden correctly), are: Alfalfa, the best quality you can find Beet pulp shreds Rice bran Vegetable oil (I moved away from corn years ago, but users choice) Weight Builder Had an old school, very experienced horse person tell me years ago tell me the recipe for adding weight safely and fast: fat and fiber. I've had my 'get fat fast' diet work over and over again bringing back broodies after nursing, bringing back sick horses, and now a starved 3yo. Two months and they are round again with great toplines.
I agree with these! |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| Thank you everyone!
I have tried had blood pulled on her 3X in 4 years including decals to try to see if somethin in that area might be the cause. Every time it all came back normal. I considered that hair analysis I have heard so much about?
Thank The Lord she isnt consistently losing muscle, just doesn't hardly have any unless I'm feeding her like a feeder calf and riding like we are training for the Olympics. She has been like this from day 1. So it's not new, but I have finally put my foot down to fix it. When I was riding and hauling a bunch before she got hurt is obviously when she looked the best. She was eating a ton of alfalfa and stayed in her stall a lot though.
Thank you for all of the suggestions. When I start riding again I'll put her back on alfalfa for sure. I was thinking about getting the "cocosoya oil" ("98% fat) and adding an oz to her diet along with everyone else's. The deal with her is volume. She WILL NOT eat grain of any kind or alfalfa cubes or beat pulp in volume. She will eat about 2qts and be full of whatever so the rest has to be in her forage or a very concentrated diet. She's always been this way. Picky butt.
Thanks again from everyone!! |
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Expert
Posts: 1815
| Both of my horse's topline improved dramatically when I started feeding Purina Enrich Plus at a rate of 1# two times a day, plus a # of standlee alfalfa pellets. Formerly I was feeding Purina Healthy Edge, and they looked like had good weight, but lacked topline |
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| My 28 year old mare lost her topline summer before last in the drought and heat. Had not been able to get her to regain it.
Finally she is looking good again. I had to separate her from the rest of the horses as she is a eat a little bit all day kind of horse instead of gobble it up until it gone type eater. Also have switched my horses to Tribute Kalm n Ez GC. She takes all day to finish her pellets and never cleans up her hay, yet she has finally regained her topline. I decided to switch after seeing that the feed had pre and probiotics as well as digestive enzymes coupe with glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM. So far, so good. |
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Expert
Posts: 3514
| Equine Restart by Techmix. |
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Veteran
Posts: 264
| Is it just her topline? Not ribby at all? Could you post pics.
Edited by turnedout 2014-11-30 4:33 PM
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| turnedout - 2014-11-30 4:32 PM
Is it just her topline? Not ribby at all? Could you post pics.
Sure. Nope. Not ribby. Just topline. Give me a sec. I'll have to resize them. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| We had an older lose his topline and the thing that helped the most was coco soya oil. Love it. I was feeding him alfalfa pellets, rice bran and flax plus free choice grass hay. |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| RoaniePonie11 - 2014-11-30 5:22 PM
turnedout - 2014-11-30 4:32 PM
Is it just her topline? Not ribby at all? Could you post pics.
Sure. Nope. Not ribby. Just topline. Give me a sec. I'll have to resize them.
Ok, pictures are added. Some of them are when she is looking the best her topline has gotten and some are not so hot. I know its not an OMG looking thing but when you run your hand over her back, I bet her spine sticks up 1" she also has the pockets on either side of her withers. She has been like this her whole life. The bald faced colt in the pictures is bred like her and has withers but as you can see his back is relatively flat over his spine and has always been like that. He is 2 years younger than her.
Edited by RoaniePonie11 2014-11-30 6:03 PM
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| GLP - 2014-11-30 5:57 PM
We had an older lose his topline and the thing that helped the most was coco soya oil. Love it. I was feeding him alfalfa pellets, rice bran and flax plus free choice grass hay.
well that's great news. I have been planning on adding the cocosoya oil to everyones diet anyways, before my topline thought so this is encouraging lol |
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 Lady Di
Posts: 21556
Location: Oklahoma | TigerTe - 2014-11-30 10:08 AM
If a horse is getting enough quality calories and still losing muscle, I would consult an equine vet and rule out EPM.
^^^^ I swear, it's becoming an epidemic.  If she's doing any stumbling, or suddenly quit working as well or clocking as well, or acting different, I'd treat for EPM. You'd be amazed at how much better they look and feel in just a few days after treatment. |
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| I put my 5yo on Forco for different reasons, but he filled out so much over his top line that I've been recommending it to those who have been having problems. He filled out so much I didn't think my saddle was going to fit! I gave him a month off and when I started hauling him again people told me how great he looked. Actually, someone even called him fat LOL.
I referred Forco to a friend who had tried nearly everything available, and Forco was the ticket for her. |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| More caleries, fat. Imuse a calerie booster of some type. They have bunches out there omagitin, cool caleries, tractor supply have a flax one, purina makes one so does nutrina does also. They all work. |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| WrapN3MN - 2014-11-30 6:08 PM
I put my 5yo on Forco for different reasons, but he filled out so much over his top line that I've been recommending it to those who have been having problems. He filled out so much I didn't think my saddle was going to fit! I gave him a month off and when I started hauling him again people told me how great he looked. Actually, someone even called him fat LOL.
I referred Forco to a friend who had tried nearly everything available, and Forco was the ticket for her.
I have heard a lot of people talking about it. I haven't researched it yet. Guess I need to get to lookin huh lol |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| Also, omce the pastures get lean,i used a mixture of beet pulp, alfalfa cubes put some in bucket add water add to feed 2 times a day helps my ulcer horse. Plus theynget at least 15 pounds of hay a day per horse. |
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Veteran
Posts: 264
| I had a lot of success with FORCO and lysine for my guy! |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | The Forco works amazingly well with THE too. I have my horses on it too. It makes me feel a little better about their gut health too in the winter when they aren't drinking as well as they should. |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | rodeoveteran - 2014-11-30 3:53 PM
My 28 year old mare lost her topline summer before last in the drought and heat. Had not been able to get her to regain it.
Finally she is looking good again. I had to separate her from the rest of the horses as she is a eat a little bit all day kind of horse instead of gobble it up until it gone type eater. Also have switched my horses to Tribute Kalm n Ez GC. She takes all day to finish her pellets and never cleans up her hay, yet she has finally regained her topline. I decided to switch after seeing that the feed had pre and probiotics as well as digestive enzymes coupe with glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM. So far, so good.
WE FEED TRIBUTE KALM ULTRA AND LOVE IT!! I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST EPM TEST TOO. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Since the horse has been injured recently, I would suggest doing a 30 day round of omeprazole to treat ulcers. Then I would put her on probiotics daily.
For my horses I use buckeye grow and win, it has all the vitamins and minerals they need plus high in protein. I will add fat, myself I will add 1/2-1 cup of whole flax.
If I need more fat, buckeye has a ultimate 100 I will add.
If I need calories as well, I will add whole oats. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2013
Location: Piedmont, OK | Definitely Animal Element Performance Detox. It does an amazing job of filling out a horse especially the topline and today is the last day of the Cyber sale to get any products on the website 30% off. If you decide to try it use coupon code CYBER and select Barrel Horse world as your dealer. |
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
| I feed Nutrena Proforce fuel and have noticed a big difference with my horse's topline. THey were fine before, but now amazing. |
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 I am Woman hear me Roar
Posts: 3395
Location: Choctaw, Oklahoma | I researched so much after getting my 9yr old in may. He was under weight and had very little muscle. I wanted to get results before the weather changed. His top line was so bad he looked like a roof top. Very triangular over his entire top line. I tried soooo many supplements with prior horses and went back to basics. I had also fed rice bran, alfalfa, blah blah blah...
Forco and an omega supplement by omegafields changed my view on "proper" nutrition. He is now very muscled, coat is great, and I'll never feed anything else. Even my 2yr old gets it. He is showing some changes even though I've only had him for a month. His chest is getting wider and putting on muscle. |
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 Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | dianeguinn - 2014-11-30 6:07 PM TigerTe - 2014-11-30 10:08 AM If a horse is getting enough quality calories and still losing muscle, I would consult an equine vet and rule out EPM. ^^^^ I swear, it's becoming an epidemic. If she's doing any stumbling, or suddenly quit working as well or clocking as well, or acting different, I'd treat for EPM. You'd be amazed at how much better they look and feel in just a few days after treatment.
It makes me sad to see horses just being pounded on at the jackpots lately....when it's so obvious that I'd bet you money that a round of EPM meds would fix all of their "training issues".
EPM meds have been the cheapest "weight building supplements" I've ever bought. Lani just finished her Orogin 10 and looks great for almost 28 yrs old and no teeth in the back 
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 I'm not opinionated
Posts: 4597
Location: Online | Believe it or not. I have a mare that I struggled with most of the summer. I was feeding her Strategy, Platinum Performance and probiotics, good quality grass hay, because she can't handle alfalfa well. She was losing her topline, she had mushy poop, and just didn't look good. I thought there had to be something. I had her chiro'd, it worked for a few days then she went right back to backbone sticking up and mushy poop. I took her and had her gone through completely by my vet. Soundness, ulcers, bloodwork, the whole 9 yards. Turned out she was just a little anemic. I started her on 2 ounces of red cell a day. Within 3 days her back was flat, she had bright eyes and solid round poop. I eventually dropped her to 1 ounce a day just for maintenance. I recently backed off her riding and thought since I wasn't riding she didn't need the red cell. A week later she was right back to mushy poop and pokey backbone. She went back on 1 oz a day and within 3 days she's back to normal. Cheap easy fix for me. |
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | FORCO was a game changer for me. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 999
Location: Sunny So Cal | THE Muscle Mass and Forco work amazing together! This may be the answer you are looking for. |
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