Advice on putting weight on old pony

[Foxdale Farm]

I am taking care of an elderly pony gelding. He is a welsh/Arabian cross, and the owners believe he is likely about 30 years old. He has always been healthy and sound, but he looks ribby to me right now, and I want to make sure he has enough good weight to get him through the winter. He also has diarrhea (sort of), and I have no idea what to do about it. It's chronic, but not severe. He just tends to get the squirts, although his manure is still solid, for the most part. He also still appears energetic and healthy with no outward signs of illness. He is UTD on worming and I have an app't to get his teeth done. Could be that he just isn't digesting his food well because it isn't chewed properly. He currently gets a low starch, low sugar, high fat grain along with a multi vitamin that has probios in it and very good quality grass hay. I also add a little extra oil to the grain. I considered adding beet pulp or maybe soaking alfalfa or timothy pellets to what he currently gets. Any advice on what I could give him to put some weight on him before winter? Economical advice would be appreciated! Thanks in advance...

www.foxdalefarm.us

[Mach Two]

Wow, sounds to me like you are doing everything right, but you might back off on the oil.
I'd certainly soak the hay to make it easier to chew, and make sure he is drinking, since the runs can sure pull a lot of water out of the gut.

[goeslikestink]

I am taking care of an elderly pony gelding. He is a welsh/Arabian cross, and the owners believe he is likely about 30 years old. He has always been healthy and sound, but he looks ribby to me right now, and I want to make sure he has enough good weight to get him through the winter. He also has diarrhea (sort of), and I have no idea what to do about it. It's chronic, but not severe. He just tends to get the squirts, although his manure is still solid, for the most part. He also still appears energetic and healthy with no outward signs of illness. He is UTD on worming and I have an app't to get his teeth done. Could be that he just isn't digesting his food well because it isn't chewed properly. He currently gets a low starch, low sugar, high fat grain along with a multi vitamin that has probios in it and very good quality grass hay. I also add a little extra oil to the grain. I considered adding beet pulp or maybe soaking alfalfa or timothy pellets to what he currently gets. Any advice on what I could give him to put some weight on him before winter? Economical advice would be appreciated! Thanks in advance...

www.foxdalefarm.us

get a vet out to him - if hes scouring then hes ill and thats might be also connected to his weight issue if his gums are pale and not salmon pink hes aneamic so call avet also dont forget not all horses live pass the age of 20 hes 30 so might be on his way out

horses that are senior and been ill treated or malnorish need to have very careful diets
feed hay to get the gut moving then a offer small tiny feeds once they are accepted then you xan worm the horse

but call a vet now-- my motto is if in doubt call avet and with older ponies they often have lots of things going on and only a vet can sort it out as to what

[Daventry]

Beetpulp is likely one of the more economical ways to get weight on him. If he has any signs or symptoms of Insulin Resistance or Cushing's, you'll need to get beetpulp with no molasses in it. Otherwise, regular beetpulp should be fine.

We purchased a 23 year old pony stallion this spring who was horribly underweight. First thing we did was get his teeth checked and floated. That made a HUGE difference as the sharp points were bothering him and he was having trouble chewing properly. Next step was to get him on a good diet of beetpulp along with good quality hay. We gradually worked him up to approximately 4 gallons (water bucket full) of beetpulp twice a day and he started putting weight on in no time! :yes: It also made sure he was getting enough water intake too! We just use the regular processed beetpulp, but our little guy has absolutely no signs of laminitis, IR or Cushing's.

[goodhors]

I would be careful at his age, about adding much weight. Think more towards "racehorse fit" with a little flash of rib now and again but not much fat layer. His older joints DO NOT need the extra weight to carry all the time, to make YOU feel better. Extra weight is hard on him. Think how tired you would feel carrying a 30 pound backpack 24 hours a day! What would your feet and legs, as well as your BACK say to that extra load day after day?

As winter is approaching, you need to be doing the "laying on of the hands" and actually FEEL how he is under the hair coat. Can you feel a rib just petting the barrel or do you have to poke fingers in to the 2nd joint to find it? Really should be done weekly, if he is not groomed daily. They can gain or lose a lot of flesh under winter hair without you ever knowing it, unless you are touching them to check on a regular basis. Too far apart to catch changes quickly, if not done weekly.

You could give him a light blanket if you think he is cold. Much easier to cart about than an extra 100 pound or more, which is probably what will be needed to flesh out the rib area and other less visible places like neck crest or rump. You can't target body spots to make only that look better, darn it!

My older horse, 35yrs, did very well withwet beet pulp feed and wetted hay cubes, since her teeth were not very good. Hay cubes had no hardness left when fed. Hot water on the beet pulp and hay cubes helps soften them faster, seems appetizing when fed warm. She chewed grass but left "spitwads" after she got all the flavor out. The wet hay cubes helped a lot to give her real roughage to digest, but were soft enough to swallow easily and not be a choke problem.

You might look at his diet and reduce ALL sugars, molasses items. Older animals seem to have a lot of problems with sugars in digestion, processing it in their system. Can cause the squirts too. Many of the Senior Feeds are VERY HEAVY in added sugars. We have seen great weight increases after someone's old horse was changed to Senior Feeds, along with laminitus/foundering. Sugar was bad for them. My older horse got some apple and carrot trimmings mostly for flavor. We used Old Kent Senior feed, which is much less sugar than Purina Equine Senior, which reeks of molasses. She didn't get much of the Senior feed anyway.

We feel keeping her weight light, aided in her ability to move around the field, prevented other problems. She had a light quilted blanket when weather got brisk in fall, additional blanket when it got really cold. She was happier outside, moving about in most weathers. People are told all the time to lose weight, stay healthy! We should not make our horses and ponies into meat animals, carrying extra poundage for "good looks" shown in advertising from the feed companies!!

Look at his bright eyes, easy moving around the field. Is his coat thick, shiny (if clean or groomed), nice attitude? I use these criteria much more than fat layers, to decide if horse is in "good condition" especially an aged animal. Some ribs showing is good for him if he is bright and shiny as well! Race horse fit is way healthier than FAT.

[Foxdale Farm]

Look at his bright eyes, easy moving around the field. Is his coat thick, shiny (if clean or groomed), nice attitude? I use these criteria much more than fat layers, to decide if horse is in "good condition" especially an aged animal. Some ribs showing is good for him if he is bright and shiny as well! Race horse fit is way healthier than FAT.

I would have to say "check" on all of that. That makes sense to me and makes me feel a little better about it. I am starting with some alfalfa pellets in addition to what he already gets (just a little bit of a low sugar, low starch grain along with excellent quality grass hay)and will soak them just to make them easier to consume, however, I will only start with a little bit. I will follow your advice and not feel like I need to put a bunch of poundage on him just to make myself feel better. I just want him to have a good winter, so I will keep soaking the pellets and get his teeth done and see if those things make a difference. He is out on pasture with shelter 24/7, so he's always moving around, and I have honestly never seen him take a lame step. The heartiness of these types of crosses really impresses me!

Thanks everybody!

www.foxdalefarm.us

[Tee]

I would add a good probiotic to his diet as well. It'll help make sure all his food is being utilized properly as much as possible. :-)