What is the best why for an older horse to gain weight?
Posted on | June 29, 2010 |
I have a older 25 yr old hackney pony that I would like to put weight on whats the best and safest way to gain weight?
He has had his teeth floated also.
Category: weight gain questions
Comments
9 Responses to “What is the best why for an older horse to gain weight?”
Leave a Reply
June 29th, 2010 @ 11:31 am
Try and put her on a senior feed. Also add veggie or corn oil to her feed. Someone said above to put 1/2 to 1 cup- never do that. The most you should give your horse is 2 ounces per feeding. You might also look into adding a soggy beat pulp mixture to her feed regimine along with horse quality alfalfa or hay. Make sure she’s one a regular deworming schedule and having her teeth floated when needed. Make sure she has salt and mineral blocks available along with loose salt next to a fresh supply of water.
June 29th, 2010 @ 11:31 am
first i would check her teeth, since she is old she could be getting bad teeth and cant eat very good. they make weight supplements i would try some of thoes and see if they work. or just give her more food.
June 29th, 2010 @ 11:31 am
Corn oil is the best/easiest. Full of fat, tasty, and doesn’t spoil easily (good to keep in the barn!)
I’d start with pouring 1/2 to 1 cup over her grain twice a day. Adjust as necessary depending on weight gain and pony size/
June 29th, 2010 @ 11:31 am
Just add about 1/3 cup of corn oil to her grain every feeding. I had the same problem with my QH, but it fattened her right up.
June 29th, 2010 @ 11:31 am
Rice Bran will put fat on your horse with out the increased risk of colic. It is a great supplement and you can gradually work him up to 3 coffee cans full a day. Get his teeth floated and if he does not have a good eating surface try soaking alfalfa cubes or some kind of pelleted food in water to make into a mash, he will be able to get this down. Older horses without good teeth require a tremendous amount of work but with time and love you can really bring them around. I would also suggest a food with a high protein content to check out Nurtenas website.
Purina I believe also makes a product for the elderly horse called Equine Senior. I have used several different methods to put weight on elderly horses and I have found the Rice Bran to be most effective and economical way. Good luck I hope that your old timer steals your heart.
June 29th, 2010 @ 11:31 am
Soaked sugar beet but read the instructions about soaking time, also add oil
June 29th, 2010 @ 11:31 am
Feed it corn oil. It works. increase its hay. give it like a flake extra. If your not feeding it grain, then buy some Senior feed, and follow the directions, it will help. But slowly increase the feed, or the horse will founder. It would probably be best to consult a vet, and if the horse is showing its ribs, get it a winter blanket.
June 29th, 2010 @ 11:31 am
Corn oil does wonders. But just as the basics go quality hay and grain. They can eat a lot of hay but if it’s not nutritious it doesn’t really help. Try feeding all the hay he/she can eat. A good feed either senior or a higher % feed like a 14% can help.
June 29th, 2010 @ 11:31 am
I would first get her teeth checked. If they are bad then she can’t and won’t eat.