Help! Advice on keeping weight on 2 yo

[mybeau]

Hello all,

I could use some suggestions on how to put weight back on my coming 2 yo filly. She's used to being out 24/7 with access to hay only. Since we've had terrible weather the past few weeks, she has spent a majority of the time inside with hay and some grain. She has dropped weight, I believe due to the stress and change.

I am going to worm her again with Quest, she was just wormed with ivermectin about 2 weeks ago, and perhaps do ulcerguard. I was thinking about giving her bran mash or beet pulp also, but I don't want to keep pushing her with feed and risk colic. I'll also consult the vet and BO, but thought I'd get some recommendations and advice on here too.

Thanks in advance! :)

[JoZ]

My coming two-year-old was ribby for a bit -- I upped her food and she grew about a hand! (I exaggerate.) So some of your filly's loss of weight could be related to growing pattern.

Do you have reason to believe she is stressed or colic-prone? Does she drink an adequate amount of water in her current (indoor) situation?

I would not hesitate to feed her as much hay as she will eat, without worrying about colic (unless, as above, you know something about her predispositions that you didn't include in your post!). I have also found that beet pulp is pretty easy on their system.

As with everything, I start out with just a little and work up to a larger amount. Our barn has three hard-keeping TBs that are getting soaked alfalfa pellets, soaked beet pulp, oats, flax and oil. They all started with less than a pound total and now probably get about 3-5 pounds 1X/day (wet, not dry). The soaked pellets make up 99% of that weight!

[razzletazzle]

Of course make sure she is getting all the hay she will eat, and I agree with alfalfa pellets and beet pulp as well.

[mybeau]

I appreciate your feedback! I have thought about the beetpulp and alfalfa. I'm worried though after being roughed out during the winter with no grain, that I'll sabotage her little system. She is getting all the hay she can eat. The only reason I believe she is stressed is because she has been inside all day and has acted a little restless with no turnout.

Any comments on ulcerguard or Fasttrack for a young horse?

[NorCalDressage]

Yep, something that is working for me is a combo of Beet Pulp and Alfalfa cubes. Having much better luck with this vs. lots of oats and alfalfa pellets.

I would also give her a daily pro/prebiotic.

[Percheron X]

Oil is sometimes used for some horses to help add weight too..

[Cashela]

My coming two year old was very ribby. I brought him to the vet, she lightly floated his teeth because he did have some rough edges. She told me to worm him aggressively, we did a power pac and she wants him dosed with ivermectin every other month. We increased his grain and added hay stretcher. She also wanted him blanketed so he would not exert any extra energy trying to stay warm.

On my own after observing him eat I thought I would add some Aloe Vera Juice thinking just maybe he had worm related ulcers from before I got him. I also gave him some mylanta and a weeks worth of rantidine.

He has started to gain some weight. He isn't fat, but at least he has some meat on his ribs again.

[JB]

hay and some grain.

What does "some grain" mean, exactly?

Nutrition plays a large role in a horse gaining and maintaining sufficient weight.

It's also not unusual for a youngster to grow right now.

[Cherry]

"Some grain" is not helpful--how much is she getting in pounds? This youngster is growing and laying down a foundation for hopefully a long life! She needs something (feed) with which to do it.

If this horse were older, say over the age of five I would not be so quick to push the feed but this baby needs amino acids and something more substantial than hay so she can grow to her full potential. Cold weather can also sap the life out of a young (or very old) horse.

Give that kid some real food!!!! She won't colic if you introduce the feed slowly and even better if you can feed her three times a day. I think a horse can handle up to four pounds of easily devoured foodstuffs (beet pulp, horse feed, chopped hay, etc.) at a time, or any combination thereof.

You might also want to put a midweight blanket on her when she goes outside again so she doesn't have to use so much of her energy to keep herself warm. ;)