Chivalry is slowly loosing weight. It isn't bad yet, but I don't want him to loose any more especially since we are coming into winter. The BO suggested Strategy, but I'm not really a big Purina (I think it's made by Purina) horse feed fan. What do you think?

He is on good quality grass hay (4 flakes a day plus turn out on grass, but at this time of year it really do much), oats (4lbs/day) and McCauley Bros. M30 (vitamins).  I would be adding the Strategy to this if Chivalry continues to eat it all otherwise I would replace 1/2 the oats with Strategy.

 My other options are to up his hay and/or add in some alfalfa. Or beet pulp. Any ideas? Thanks

 

My farrier and friend breeds race horses and manages a fairly large boarding barn (he's a farrier as a sideline, having learned so he could trim his own horses - that's why I can actually get ahold of him AND he shows up!!!)  He deals with a lot of older lesson horses for the college program and he swears by this stuff in a big green tub - I'll have to find the name and producer.  It is a high fat stuff, which cuts way back on feed needs, and then he feeds good quality hay on demand.  There are also a few high fat feeds that are pricey, but you don't feed much.  I've got a 10 y/o TB that I'm trying to get weight on after a rough summer and I was just talking to him today while he trimmed my guys.  He takes really good care of all the horses and they've never looked better.  I'll talk to him tomorrow and get the deets so I can get started and share them with you.

Terry

i had rescued a pmu mare that was under weight, and possibly pregnant, and i gave her the strategy white. today she is actually too fat so we stopped giving it to her. so i would say the strategy is good..

 Thanks, I'd like to check it out just so I have options.

 Ooh, I am hoping that if I go with Strategy that I can cut back after a month or two and just maintain his weight. Thanks for the info, it sounds like it's working for you. That's good to know.

Try any of the high concentrated high fat mixes you can top dress.

I found most horses will not eat rice bran unless it is "doctored" in some form. I have my daughter's horse on one right now, it is pelleted and the picky eater eats it!

 

purina Senior feed put 300 lbs on fantacy with in 3 months.

now hes fatter then ive ever seen him.

I've had very good luck with Purina Ultium. You could also try feeding Stabilized rice Bran--I added 1/3 scoop 2x day to regular feed and that helped tremendously with weight and coat. You might also try a suppliment like FatCat, but I think the Ultium and/or rice bran work as well or better. You might also try adding beet pulp--make sure you prepare it according to directions as some types need to be soaked well before feeding.

Upping the fiber content in his diet is where I would start before I added expensive supplements. Horses are designed to eat LOTS of fiber and in the winter digesting the fiber will go farther to keep his body heat up than grain or supplements. So I would say up the grass hay..keep him full. Free access to hay is the best thing for you horse.

A close second would be soaked beet pulp. Again, it ups the fiber and fills his belly. Just be sure to rinse any molasses the feed mill may have added. Sugar and starch are NOT good for your horse in large quantities. You can safely feed up to 10 lbs (beofre soaked) of beet pulp a day, though you probably won't need to feed that much. Grains and prepared feeds I generally view as supplements. Because almost all horses if they get enough grass hay have no weight issues except when in hard work then I think some oats and sparing amounts of alflalfa are fine since the horse's eating time is spent by the work time. But going into winter I wouldn' t add more concentrates to his diet, chances are he'll be more idle, not more active. Again, hay is your best option to help with the weight.

A bonus to giving more hay is your horse will be more content throughout the day and less apt to be cranky or develop bad habits out of boredom since hay takes longer to chew, it's more time consuming. Another bonus...less chance for colic and founder, since the tummy stays full more of the time and there's no blood sugar spikes and less worry about founder since the sugar/starch that can cause it isn't a strong factor.

 Cool calories will help put weight on horses, I also agree with the soaked beet pulp. I was told by a vet for older horses to give them 1 cup of corn oil twice a day to help them keep on weight.

 Thanks everyone. This gives me some great info. I had heard good things about beet pulp before too. Maybe I'll try it.  Since, I'm not really looking for him to gain weight, but I don't want him loosing anymore either.

Another thing, Chivalry's winter coat came in late. Don't know why, he always has had a great furry winter coat. But we've had our first frost and now he is starting to get fuzzy. I'm sure that will help keep his weight up too.

Again, thanks everyone for the great info!  

My friend and I have used Strategy for the past 3 years and swear by it....we add it to soaked beet pulp, alfalfa cubes an alfa supreme.  Also...you can add oil to your horses feed.  I have just gotten a dutchwarmbloodxarab and he is very unerweight.  He gets a cup of canola oil added to his twice daily feedings. It is a good way to add fat to your horses diet!