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 Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
 
| In feed for the newer horse we got... little background, he's 13 and came to us really underweight, gross actually, poor coat and just looks like a gangly yearling... plus he's injured... not sure what happened, he came up in the previous owners pasture with the injury. Going to the vet this weekend to get evaluated. I've got him on 4lbs a day (thats typically the max amount recomended rate) Bluebonnet omega force, two large flakes of good alfalfa (split into 2 feedings) and unlimited good grass hay plus he gets out on the pasture which is good right now for 7-8 hours a day. Also started him on Forco and mm. He was dewormed as well and I'll hit him again in a few weeks. I'll have his teeth checked but I haven't seen anything to indicate he has trouble eating the hay or grain... I was looking at Triple Crown Sr for him since it's more beet pulp based and has slightly higher protein and fiber. Granted I've only had the horse on this diet for a 3 weeks but he hasn't picked up at all... nothing... wondering if the TC would be a better choice... plus it's quite a bit cheaper than my omega force... I could actually add a 3rd feeding of the TC if that would help... where I'd get the tc is where I get my BB and it all comes from the same clean mill. |
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
 
| I feed the TC to all mine and they absolutely love and thrive on it! Its HIGH fat , low NSC, low Starch and is a complete feed. So essentially horses who cannot have hay can eat just the TC. My colt is on 6-7 pounds daily split into 3 feedings and the rest is the same as you. Alfalfa and Unlimited grass hay. I love the TC!
Edited by FLITASTIC 2017-04-06 3:08 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
 
Location: Gainesville, TX | Senior feeds are excellent for adding weight because they are complete feeds so you can feed them a ton and not bee too scared. When we were feeding up a horse we treated for ulcer, wormed, checked for teeth, and fed them 9 one quart scoops a day (divided into 3 feedings) plus free choice coastal of Purina senior. We added canola oil too. I don't think I have ever seen one put on so much weight so fast. |
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Veteran
Posts: 233
| Good on you for taking him on. Can you give him more alfalfa? And sometimes it just takes time. They have to fix their insides before they can fix their outsides. How's his attitude? |
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| hannahbug - 2017-04-06 3:13 PM
Good on you for taking him on. Can you give him more alfalfa? And sometimes it just takes time. They have to fix their insides before they can fix their outsides. How's his attitude?
If I feed anymore alfalfa than what I'm giving him, he won't eat it. His attitude is very sweet and he likes people. I am keeping him away from my other 2 geldings right now because they are Jerks to newbies and with his injury I'm afraid he couldnt defend himself when it comes to establishing their ridiculous pecking order nonsense lol! So he gets his turn out in the evenings till about 8am then I bring him up and let the others out all day. My husband has owned this horse before with his ex wife ... so he knows him and his background he was sickened when he came off the trailer to see how poor he was. |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | want2chase3 - 2017-04-06 3:23 PM
hannahbug - 2017-04-06 3:13 PM
Good on you for taking him on. Can you give him more alfalfa? And sometimes it just takes time. They have to fix their insides before they can fix their outsides. How's his attitude?
If I feed anymore alfalfa than what I'm giving him, he won't eat it. His attitude is very sweet and he likes people. I am keeping him away from my other 2 geldings right now because they are Jerks to newbies and with his injury I'm afraid he couldnt defend himself when it comes to establishing their ridiculous pecking order nonsense lol! So he gets his turn out in the evenings till about 8am then I bring him up and let the others out all day. My husband has owned this horse before with his ex wife ... so he knows him and his background he was sickened when he came off the trailer to see how poor he was.
I second the "good for you" for getting him back to a good home. I'm also a firm believer in the SR feeds. . . |
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| oija - 2017-04-06 3:10 PM
Senior feeds are excellent for adding weight because they are complete feeds so you can feed them a ton and not bee too scared. When we were feeding up a horse we treated for ulcer, wormed, checked for teeth, and fed them 9 one quart scoops a day (divided into 3 feedings) plus free choice coastal of Purina senior. We added canola oil too. I don't think I have ever seen one put on so much weight so fast.
That's what I'm wanting to do .... up his calories.. I don't feel comfortable pouring more omega force to him. Think I'll give the tc sr a try |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | adding a pound of rice bran and a cup of flax adds quite a bit of fat without adding a lot of "substance" to what he's eating-small doses with a lot of punch. Read the labels on what you're feeding and what the sr feed has many times per pound the sr doesn't have the amount of fat which is most likely what you're needing. Also, healing from an injury is taxing on a horse-so until the injury is healed you will probably struggle with weight gain. (I'm not sure the type of injury so just threw that out there) |
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| I believe the tc sr is 14/10. This horse just doesn't have much of an appetite... he's really slowing down on his alfalfa too. I have no clue what happened to his leg.. back left.. I was told he'd been kicked out on 100's of acres and was rarely seen .. they found him with his ankle blown up so big he had to drag his foot and sickly thin. The swelling and heat has gone down since he's been here.. was told xrays and mri were done but no one seems to want to give up the info... weird situation and the one who is suffering is the poor horse! He's not in any pain though which is good and he's bearing all his weight on it and it's not tender to the touch.. so we have to go to our vet and get more xrays done to see what we are dealing with. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | I think you are feeding him enough to have noticed a change in his weight by now. I would make sure he's able to utilize the nutrients, starting with a good pre/probiotic to help his gut get back on the right track.
ETA: Just read where you said he's being very picky about the alfalfa. That's a symptom of ulcers. Treat for those and you should see a huge jump in his appetite, his weight, and his overall demeanor.
Edited by BamaCanChaser 2017-04-07 4:25 PM
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| BamaCanChaser - 2017-04-07 4:22 PM
I think you are feeding him enough to have noticed a change in his weight by now. I would make sure he's able to utilize the nutrients, starting with a good pre/probiotic to help his gut get back on the right track.
ETA: Just read where you said he's being very picky about the alfalfa. That's a symptom of ulcers. Treat for those and you should see a huge jump in his appetite, his weight, and his overall demeanor.
I've had him on Forco from day 1. I started him on the tc yesterday and he gobbled it right up. He ate most of his alfalfa last night too.. but still weird to me that he's leaving some because my others clean it up...every bit of it. I took a pic of him yesterday and I can see now he's picked up some... we've got a ways to go but I'm happy I could see a difference and I'm thinking he really likes this tc so that'll help too. Ulcers have definitely crossed my mind too. |
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