How many days riding for an underweight OTTB?

[Serigraph]

I'm going to order the "Conditioning Sport Horses" book, but just curious on thoughts of riding every other day or two days, one off etc for bringing a horse back into work.

This horse is 12, underweight by about 100lbs, NO topline (a little ewe necked), some butt muscle though. I really don't know what he has been doing lately, but I don't think it's been much. He's carted a few kids around w/t.

I've only had him a week and have been on him 3 times and lunged lightly once. I started him on MSM and joint supp too. I've just done walk, trot, but I have sloping terrain only to work on. The longest I've worked him in 30 min with lots of walk.

I have not put an underweight horse back in work, so that is my biggest concern plus the fact he has no neck or back muscle, I don't want him to get sore. He is not used to a lot of weight (I'm about 117lbs) but I think that is a lot more than he is used to right now.

Any suggestions for conditioning plans and how many consecutive days would you work him?

[CBudFrggy]

Depending on his age and metabolism, you might walk off anything he'd be able to gain. You're better off waiting 3 weeks to fatten him up a little before working him. Mine was like that and it was up and down, up and down. It was very frustrating until I just stopped riding him to let him fatten up.

[Blugal]

Depends on turn-out, how much & what kind of grain they are getting. While I agree that sometimes just letting them fatten up first is good, other times they get too wired & nervous on a huge amount of grain with no exercise.

I first had an underweight TB who was 8 - wasn't ridden from Nov. - Feb. and then I rode him or ponied him 4-5 times/week (he was on limited turn-out), then went to every day once spring started. He started getting too fit without gaining weight on that program, so cut back to 4 days/week riding & turn-out on grass plus supplemental hay & as much high-fat grain as I could get him to eat.

My current guy is 4 - he is doing better with being ridden 4-5 times/week when I can (i.e. when he's not scraping himself up) - if he has a lot of time off he just worries off the weight running around his paddock.

[Serigraph]

Here is more info:

-He's 12
-Out 24/7 on pasture
-Not a nervous type or high energy type
-Is getting fed 3x's per day -3 full (5qt) buckets of beet pulp and Triple Crown Complete (before that was getting Race Ready)
-About 2-3 flakes of hay, but he usually won't eat it all and prefers pasture
-Is turned out with one other gelding of similar temperament

[LKF]

Just give it time. I think that light riding at a walk and some gentle slope work will help build up and tone his muscles. Be sure that you back it up with a proper ratio of feed and hay. 30 minutes is about right.
Too bad he prefers the grass over the hay. If you were able to put him in a stall for part of the day and feed an alfalfa mix, then you'd see the weight come on a lot faster.
But it sounds like you're on the right path - Have you gotten his teeth done? And have you wormed him?

[Blugal]

Don't know what's in that feed - but I would consider adding more sources of fat (rice bran, oil). I usually put rice bran in (phosphorus) if I'm feeding beet pulp (calcium). One of these days I'll get scientific about it.

[Serigraph]

yup, he had his teeth done recently, is on a daily wormer and also was wormed recently since he was off the property prior to me having him.

I can put him in the stall with hay. Maybe I will do that. How about alfalfa cubes? Does those help put weight on?

[Blugal]

How about alfalfa cubes? Does those help put weight on?

Yes, but might also make him hotter. I haven't really had any issues - they are a good supplement especially if you are at a barn that doesn't want to "do" several types of hay.

[Simkie]

I really like handwalking unfit or thin horses, especially on hills. It definitely puts muscle on, and it's not hard on them like "real" work.

I would be sorely tempted to add oil to your feeding regime. Also, has the horse been power packed and wormed for tapes?

[LKF]

yup, he had his teeth done recently, is on a daily wormer and also was wormed recently since he was off the property prior to me having him.

I can put him in the stall with hay. Maybe I will do that. How about alfalfa cubes? Does those help put weight on?

As another person suggested, look into Rice Bran. There is this stuff on the market called Max-E-Glo rice bran. Excellent source for putting on weight that comes in 40lbs. bags in pellets or powder. I use the pellets so the horses don't waste it. A bag costs $24+/- and it also has other important vitamins such as Biotin. Puts a glow on their coats.
If you can work it out, I'd feed your horse in a stall. Make sure his friend can come in with him and be in a neighboring stall (so he won't fret). That way he can have some quiet time to eat.
The cubes are a nice treat, but (for me) I'd stick to a mixed alfalfa hay or a good orchard grass mix. I think that it's easier to manage the portions with flakes.

[Serigraph]

I had not really thought about hand walking, I can do that. I think he was getting rice bran and some corn oil. I'll check into that too. Triple Crown Complete has a fairly high fat content - 10 or 11% - not hugely high, but better than some.

I don't know if he's been power packed. It looks like he's put on a little since he got here. I just didn't want him to loose it while I try to put some condition on him too.

He's at home with me, so I can tailor his program. He gets orchard grass and timothy. Can you feed the beet pulp with the rice bran?

How often would you hand walk and how many days?

[CBudFrggy]

Ditch the beet pulp--they're empty filler--no calories. Fine for rehabbing horses who get fat on air, but your boy, a TB, needs calories. Go for feeds with high fat content, and if your home, smaller portions over five times per day. Rice bran is a good option, and so is the oil. A 12% feed that has a high fat content ought to do well. JMHO.

[talkofthetown]

Serigraph-

My 9 y/o OTTB is getting the same as your horse, only not as much of it (roughly 2.5 lbs Complete per meal). He gets Complete for breakfast, Complete, beet pulp (3/4 green scoop), and 1 cup BOSS for dinner, and a midnight snack of more beet pulp. I've been having problems with my boy's weight for several months now, and I've just recently gotten him on a consistent diet. With that feeding schedule, I ride him 4-5 times a week, either dressage ring or trot sets around the fields, and he's slowly filling in around the ribs. I've been out of town quite a bit recently, so I'll see what he looks like after being out of work.

Not sure if this will help, but keep us posted...we can make our horses fat together! :D Good luck.

[Simkie]

How often would you hand walk and how many days?

I'd take him out daily for perhaps 20-30 minutes to start with. Increase duration as he starts to build some muscle. Continue until you see enough muscle to feel comfortable riding :) Make it work--a nice, forward marching walk with no dawdling.

I walked my mare for MONTHS--first as prescribed by the vet for her rehab after surgery and then I continued it just because when I saw some very nice muscling up from walking--and I really think it did good things for her. It encourages them to use themselves evenly and it's so low-impact and not really calorie intensive. Once they're back in work, it's also an excellent way to warm them up.

I do like TC Complete. It's 10% fat, and you can absolutely add up to two cups of oil a day on top of that. My girl, who is a hard keeper extraordinare, is currently on 4lbs of TC Senior + 4 lbs TC Low Starch (8 lbs total, four per feeding) per day, along with 2 cups of oil. She's in moderate to hard work and looks excellent.

[turningpointequine]

Remeber, Triple Crown Complete's #1 ingredient is beet pulp and it also contains rice bran. It's a good high fat feed. Time and patience is probably best.

[Gry2Yng]

None of my OTTB's have done well on 24/7 turnout in the summer. They run/pace too much from the bugs and lose weight instead of gaining. In early spring and fall they are fine, but not late spring/summer. Can you bring him in at twilight? You might see more dramatic weight gain.

[Jleegriffith]

I like to spend a month or two walking and trotting on the trails staying light in the tack. I might do a bit of canter but only if the horse offers it. Ground poles are also great for building muscles. I ride 3-4 times a week for 20 min. If they are really think I might spend the first month lunging with side reins but keep the sessions short until they build muscle and stamina. Walking in hand works as well and if you can pony off another horse that is great (I have never tried that).

As far as feeding my young Tb's all eat triple crown complete and I add rice bran and beet pulp to those who need a bit more. I have used max-e-glo, ultimate finish, Triple crown rice bran but I am not sure if any one is best so I just get the rice bran from southern states with my feed order. Adding oil is a very cheap way to add calories. Buy the big jugs from sam's club.

I would second whoever said 24-7 turnout isn't all the best for Tb's at this time of year. I have stalls that turn out into the fields and mine all come in their stalls with their fans on during the day with hay in front of them. They have tons of grass in the field but they hate the bugs so even with fly sheets the spend a lot of time moving around.

If you can feed him seperately and try to get him eating as much hay as possible that would be the easiest but it just takes a lot of calories to put on the weight.

[joiedevie99]

I second hand walking up and down some hills, and out and about whereever you can. You could also do some light trotting on a big circle on the longe line to start building up a little stamina/muscle. Since you said he's quiet, longeing might not erupt into bucking/galloping/weight loss sessions like they did with my TB.

[Serigraph]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to pick up some rice bran today and I hand walked him last night.

He is out 24/7, but I leave both stalls open so they can go in/out at will. I don't have electricity in the barn unfortunately, so no fans. I think if I locked him in now, he'd be unhappy b/c he loves to be side by side with my other horse at all times. He is very quiet, and there is very little running around...just slow meandering.

[sm]

Walking hills, easy walk/trot transitions when you do hop on will help build topline while keeping him from being bored.

Yes, short and consistent/daily:

I'd take him out daily for perhaps 20-30 minutes to start with. Increase duration as he starts to build some muscle. Continue until you see enough muscle to feel comfortable riding.

[wookie]

my new ottb also gained weight at first and then began to lose as i rode him daily. i feed him grow and win-one cup each feeding with two cups each feeding of strategy. he gets endless orchard grasss and pasture-which is dying due to lack of rain. but he is finally coming out of the skinnies.
he last raced in april. the grow and win does not make him hot.