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Post by yewtree on Feb 28, 2013 9:19:57 GMT
Not a very good photo as was taken off my phone in limited light last night, but just wanted to post a photo of Sox and his weight gain.  He’s on a very high calorie feed at the moment so this will be cut down once he goes out 24/7, to a token amount of alpha beet, a general purpose vitamin and mineral supplement and his lami free supplement. I’ve had him now since January 1st and he was quite underweight when I took him on. I had a nutritionist out (and spoke to the vet) and changed his diet. January 1st:  He was previously on fast fibre and molasses free hi-fi chaff plus out 24/7, he is now in at night and out during the day with two feeds of alpha beet, high fibre cubes, healthy hooves (a tiny amount), vegetable oil (again a tiny amount), micronized linseed and a general purpose vitamin and mineral supplement. Plus a large haynet over night (we’ve tried giving him more but he just leaves most of it, whereas if we give him a large net full he tends to eat most if not all of it. He is out from 6am until 7pm every day, in a sectioned off field with another pony next door. He is only been ridden at weekends at the moment which consists of road work hacks (both hills and flat surfaces), mainly at walk with short sharp trots. We don’t have a ménage so I’m limited to schooling on hacks. Does anyone have any tips for building his muscle and topline back up? |
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Post by GinaGeo on Feb 28, 2013 10:01:43 GMT
I'm loving Fenugreek alongside the Micronised Linseed at the moment  I bought a bag about a month ago after seeing some very positive reviews and have been feeding it to one of mine as a bit of a trial. I've been happy with the results and it's not expensive to try either. I bought a 1kg bag from my local tack shop and as you only feed about 20g per day it lasts about 50days. The bag only cost me about £5.00 |
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Post by yewtree on Feb 28, 2013 10:09:10 GMT
Fab thanks will try that to |
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sarahp
Happy to help
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Post by sarahp on Feb 28, 2013 10:12:03 GMT
To build up muscle along his topline he needs to be worked in a correct outline, and trotting up hills would be great too.
Schooling on hacks is fine, many are schooled completely without using a manege, it's a question of thinking what you are doing all the time instead of just slopping along as we are all tempted to do on hacks - asking for walk in an outline for a bit, then letting him down long and low (where safe of course), lots of transitions, leg yielding across paths from side to side (that's much easier to teach that way than in a school anyway).
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Post by yewtree on Feb 28, 2013 10:38:15 GMT
He is usually always working on the bit (without me asking) although I also ask him to stretch etc |
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Post by angelena on Feb 28, 2013 13:31:27 GMT
How old is he? Have you had his back checked? Just curious as seen a horse similar condition before that had kissing spines.
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Post by yewtree on Mar 1, 2013 9:12:20 GMT
He is 15. He has been thoroughly checked over by vets this year and last (was attacked in the field last May)
He had lost the weight as he was left and not ridden or fed properly - hence the weight and condition loss. Its nothing medical as to why he looked how he does - he has seen numerous vets and nutritionists
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Post by angelena on Mar 1, 2013 12:57:32 GMT
Just always curious sorry. But sometimes sadly these things are ruled out by owners.
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Post by yewtree on Mar 1, 2013 13:19:58 GMT
He was puyt on loan to a girl who let him go down hill, the picture in the dark isnt the best i'll get some more the weekend
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Post by TLSEquestrian on Mar 5, 2013 19:09:02 GMT
I feed saracens show improver pencils, they're fab for topline along side schooling of course. Saw such a difference in all of mine after using them! Think they also help with conditioning so would be good for him good luck!x |
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Mar 5, 2013 19:58:18 GMT
Too much sugar and starch in those for me.
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Post by victoria25 on Mar 6, 2013 13:33:38 GMT
Lots of walking up and down steep hills, feed from the floor, lunge on a slight hill ... make sure they;re properly walking when hacking rather than ambling on x
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Post by yewtree on Mar 6, 2013 13:36:16 GMT
He's not allowed a lot of sugar or starch as hes laminitic, hence the diet he is on at the moment (although it is high oil/fatterning)
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Post by Chelsea on Mar 19, 2013 20:22:26 GMT
He's not allowed a lot of sugar or starch as hes laminitic, hence the diet he is on at the moment (although it is high oil/fatterning) My mare has to be on a low starch and low sugar diet, she sounds similar to yours in that she will only eat a certain amount of hay/haylage  So I feed her speedi beet to up her fibre intake, and also linseed which is making a huge difference. BUT, I have recently started giving her Bluegrass Releve (I think Saracen have the same thing in the UK?) for extra energy. It is high in fibre and oil, low in starch and sugar. I am loving the results, along with hill work and working long and low she is seriously improving but is sane and happy at the same time. Hope that helps |
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Post by tbmare on Mar 22, 2013 10:31:26 GMT
Have you tried a balancer feed, these seem to help with giving that better look to them as well as supplying vital vits, mins etc in a balanced format.
peeps used to go on at me for a while about the benefits and I must admit thought I was a bit of a con... but having used them for the last 2/3 years can honestly say.. I would never look back.
We use spillers balancer lite and have done the past 2 years, but have also used Dobson and horrel.. fast grow? cant remember the name.. but used it on the foal with great results and Top spec for one of the older girls.
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Mar 22, 2013 10:50:44 GMT
I'm a huge balancer fan too, but the OP does say above he is on a vit/min supplement, and alfalfa is a good source of protein so that should be covered. Worth a go though if he still isn't improving, you never know what might be missing from the diet. Correct protein is required for muscle building.
D & H Suregrow? Is that what you were thinking of?
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Post by honeybees on Mar 22, 2013 18:42:59 GMT
When working him, alternate between working long and low and short and uphill. As others have all said hill work at a walk or trot is really beneficial.
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Post by honeybees on Mar 22, 2013 18:51:28 GMT
Does his saddle fit OK? Looks like muscle wastage around his withers just wondering if it's been checked by a professional?
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Post by yewtree on Mar 22, 2013 19:03:26 GMT
He hasnt been on the supplement long but is improving still
His saddle has been checked by a local qualified saddle fitter - Miles Pearson
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Post by Em5 on Mar 22, 2013 19:11:33 GMT
Happy hoof is stamped by the laminitis trust but its is Not low in sugar! Maybe worth looking at that if he's laminitic
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