This may be directly related to the lack of pasture. You can separate the horses at feeding time or, if that is not an option, you can try incorporating multiple feeders spaced apart from one another. High starch supplement foods such as processed corn or oats can help increase the energy in a horse’s diet. Putting Weight on a Thin Horse. If your Thoroughbred horse is having trouble putting on weight, try checking its teeth first. EquiShure balances the environment to maintaining proper pH for optimal digestion. Feeding at least the minimum recommended by the manufacturer ensures the horse consumes the daily recommended requirement of many important nutrients, including several vitamins and minerals. The important thing is to spot issues early on so that you can make some changes as soon as possible. Thoroughbred horses expend energy trying to keep cool in the warm months and when struggling to stay warm during the winter. No grass is available to graze where I live, so he is turned out daily but meal-fed. I also feed a supplement called weight builder in with their grain. If you feed your Thoroughbred twice a day, consider feeding him or her three times a day instead. Q: I'm unhappy with my 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding's weight. This means that the horse excretes most of the electrolytes prior to absorption in the large intestine. I suggest dosing 5,000 IU (20 ml) in combination with the other diet recommendations. help is greatly appreciated. Q: I’m unhappy with my 14-year-old Thoroughbred gelding’s weight. This can often lead to weaker horses not getting a turn at the hay bin or food trough. While some Thoroughbred horses seem to be easy keepers, you will find that some of them struggle to maintain their weight. (source). Nano-E is commonly recommended for PSSM horses and any case involving muscle development problems. Visit equinews.com for the latest in equine nutrition and management, and subscribe to The Weekly Feed to receive these articles directly (equinews.com/newsletters). If the horse is still not doing well, contact your vet and get a blood test done to rule out any other illness or underlying problem. (source). Lairic, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Free choice hay or grass of high quality is best. 1 scoop of sugar beet. An underweight Thoroughbred requires even more energy, or calories, to help it gain weight. Supplying the recommended amount of feed should provide better results in body condition and it will simplify the diet significantly. Tips and Tricks to Get a Horse to Gain Weight. I have a thoroughbred ex-racing horse and can't seem to put any weight on him. For example, you may find that the recent environment changes exposed Shuster to parasites he was not otherwise in contact with, which could warrant a modification to your deworming protocol. Build up to about 2 cups of oil a day. Supplemental fat sources can also be added to your Thoroughbred’s diet to help them gain weight more quickly. If nothing else seems to be helping your Thoroughbred gain weight, you may need a veterinarian to check your horse for undiagnosed diseases. Kentucky Equine Research designed a nanodispersed, water-soluble natural-source vitamin E proven to be highly absorbable and effective at raising vitamin E blood serum levels. Chronic infections and gastric ulcers can also cause weight loss. "When you add weight when a horse is standing, the force of the weight is divided through all four limbs," Wickler says. Watch the social dynamic if you suspect this is the case and see if your hard-keeper Thoroughbred is just not getting a chance to eat. in Agriculture from Cal Poly Pomona. Other high fiber foods, such as wheat bran and alfalfa pellets, when fed in moderation, can help supplement poor forage qualities. The weight each participating horse in todays race is carrying and the weight carried in previous races is a major element to consider in your research. Adjust Your Feeding Regimen Based on Activity Level, 7. Lastly, depending upon his workload, he may require additional electrolyte supplementation. Sometimes a horse will simply need its teeth floated, or filed down, to remove sharp pieces or uneven teeth that are causing pain and preventing adequate chewing. Use a Chart or Journal to Track Progress, 9 Reasons Your Horse is Bucking (and how to stop it), 5 Tips to Keep Your Horse From Standing in Mud, Equine Anatomy – Naming the Parts of a Horse. Then, follow the instructions on the label to introduce the feed slowly and carefully to his diet. He is currently on two scoops of hard feed and a scoop of beet pulp per meal twice a day but he cannot seem to gain any weight. Knowing the steps that you can take to help your Thoroughbred get to a healthy weight is half the battle. Horse owners in Australia should check out these products. Metabolic supplements and weight builders for horses give a much needed boost to metabolism in large part to a spectrum of essential Omega fatty acids, anti-oxidants, vitamins, and formulated minerals. I've owned horses for 25 years and have a particular love for gentling wild horses. Here is a guideline for how you might approach feeding a thoroughbred that has come directly out of a racing stable: Month 1 –Put the horse out to pasture or give it access to ad lib good quality grass hay and feed 1 kg/100 kg BW of alfalfa/lucerne per day. start with a small amount at first and slowly increase it to 1 cup daily. Luckily, there are a few tricks you can use to easily monitor your horse’s weight gain. I rescued a 5 year old thoroughbred gelding two months ago. It is difficult to see positive changes in your horse’s weight when you see him or her each day. Horse weight gain supplements are an easy and healthy way to help body conditioning, while providing fuel for performance. Maximizing forage intake for weight gain with free-choice, high-quality hay is ideal. Copyright Blenheim Publishing LLC. Here are some dietary strategies for putting weight on: The equine digestive system is designed for grazing. RiteTrac also contains a unique hindgut buffer (EquiShure) that balances the pH and provides an optimal environment for fiber fermentation. The following are suggested feeding strategies for weight gain in horses which do not have an underlying medical problem and have not been through a … Never feed more than 0.5 percent of a horse’s body weight of concentrates in … and a few apples and carrots Although balancer pellets are great for nutrient delivery when faced with easy keepers, a balancer isn't needed in Shuster's current diet. Getting your Thoroughbred to gain weight can seem a little overwhelming, but a lot of these options are easy to implement or discard if they do not apply to your horse. If you enjoyed the article please take a moment to pin it to Pinterest or share on social media. i wish to begin working him soon so i need some suggestions on ways to put and keep weight on a hard to keep thoroughbred. Different Diets. Any ideas? try veg. In addition to protection from the heat of the day, and the bites of the mosquitoes and other flies, horses that have problems keeping weight on in summer could benefit from extra feed, whether it’s good-quality hay in the barn where it can relax and eat without fretting at the bugs, or a concentrate or supplement to help put on weight. I am trying to put weight on a thin Thoroughbred and have been giving him alfalfa pellets and beet pulp pellets in addition to 15-17 hours a day of lush pasture. With the right plan and the best wormer, you can help your Thoroughbred ward off parasites and hopefully gain weight as a result. Discussion Starter • #1 • Nov 13, 2011. This is good not only for your own memory, but also gives you a record to show your veterinarian. As an antioxidant, vitamin E supports muscle function and immune health. A significant worm infestation in a Thoroughbred horse can cause a decreased... 3. A bad tooth or an infection could also be causing the problem and may need medical attention. Adding oils to your horse's feed will help increase his weight and can aid in digestion. In order to see the benefits from this feed, it must be fed according to the manufacturer's directions. Not every Thoroughbred horse is the same, but that is what we love about them, right? also i recamend using 20/80 grass hay. Try adding high fiber supplemental foods such as beet pulp or soy hulls to your Thoroughbred’s regular diet. BEFORE - Queen's Rowdy Lad needed a good worming and some groceries. 2 scoops of apple chaff. There is never any additional cost to you. This may give your horse a better chance at getting his or her fair share of hay or grain. Blood … Based on the information you provided, I have several recommendations to ensure Shuster is getting the proper nutrients for optimal health, performance, and weight gain. Whole corn is not recommended because it is harder for horses to digest. Make Sure You Are Feeding the Recommended Amounts, 4. Kentucky Equine Research offers a slow-release electrolyte, Restore SR, which provides a time-released source of sodium that allows sustained absorption for maximum replenishment. Ideally, the omega-3s should outweigh the omega-6s in the diet. Hi everyone, I just got a new horse yesterday. its a great way to put weight on them. The current diet doesn't appear to be providing enough calories for weight gain. A high fat, high fiber diet will help to assure good weight gain after checking the teeth and doing the worming rotation. You may find that you can resume the diet you prefer once weight gain is achieved. This can lead to weight loss and prevent weight gain when needed. I currently live and board my horse in Los Angeles, CA. If this is not possible, consider adding more hay to your horse’s regular meals. Hard keepers generally take longer to reach goal weights than easy keepers, and horses of certain breeds, like Thoroughbreds, sometimes take longer, too. He always has water. I write these articles to help others learn more about horses. These are purely averages, as not every Thoroughbred will succumb to these standards. (source). Take a picture now to establish a baseline visual reminder of where your horse started. Thoroughbreds, especially those that compete or exercise regularly, need extra calories to keep them from losing weight. Feed Separately from the Rest of the Herd, 2. 3/4 scoop of mix. The Thoroughbred typically has a deep chest, lean body, and long flat muscles. If a jockey weighs less than the minimum, weight must be added. I ride him four or five days a week, low- to –medium intensity work (low-level dressage). The weight carried by a horse is designated by the rules of the race and in handicaps by the official rating allocated to the horse. It also contains necessary levels of protein that will exceed his requirement, thus removing the need for the amino acid supplement. Work with your veterinarian to find the best food for a horse that is missing a lot of teeth. If you have multiple horses in the same enclosure, a natural hierarchy will be established within the herd. Racehorses carry weights to meet the minimum weight assigned for a specific race. (source). Shuster is 16.3 hands (170 cm) and ribby. There is no actual breed standard for racing Thoroughbreds as there is with the Arabian or Morgan, as their primary purpose is racing at speed, not as specimens of conformation and conforming to a certain type. : the equine digestive system is designed for grazing cause weight loss 's Staff veterinarian Dr.. I have put about 50lbs on him nutrients is by feeding proper levels of a high-calorie.. During the winter when water can easily freeze to see the changes of! 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