I'm so scared Please Help?

Question

I bought a beautiful Thoroughbred about 6 or 7 months ago who was in really good condition when I got him. He was nice and fat as he had loads of grass to graze on where he had come from. Now he's a lot skinnier and you can see his ribs, I'm going to a show in a week and his previous owners will be there. They already said the regretted selling him and now when they see him, I don't know what they'll think, I'm really quite nervous =(

Answer 1

Forget about the show and focus on your horse. Thin horses never win anyway and so I suggest you do whatever you have to do to stay home even if you have to fake an illness. Just focus on what your horse needs now and think about some other show some other time. You do have access to high quality hay and fine feed even if you don't have access to lush pasture. So there should be no excuse then for that horse to be thin and in poor condition. If you are feeding poor quality hay and low grade grain feed, you can feed the horse tons of it and still wind up with an underweight low energy unhealthy horse. I would recommend feeding the highest quality grass hay and add about 5 or 6 pounds of alfalfa hay to the horse's daily diet. And you should always ask for a copy of the hay analysis to verify good quality. Dry matter (DM) should be about 89% or higher, crude protein (CP) should be no less than 8% (ideally 12% or above), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) should be 35 or less (less is better), and the acid detergent fiber (ADF) should be 33 or less (less is better). Also, high quality hay will have more nutrition and significantly more calories, so be careful with the quantity you feed at first because increasing calorie intake too fast can cause digestive upset and colic. Cut back on the alfalfa hay then when your horse reaches ideal weight. My experiences have been the opposite of yours. I have bought horses in poor physical condition or poorly trained and had some previous owners want to buy them back again after they are healthy, fit, and properly trained.

Here is a link which can help you interpret hay analysis (an Adobe PDF file):

http://www.foragetesting.org/files/Inter...

Answer 2

make sure his worming is up to date!

i used a feed balancer on my 2 TB's who were always on the chubby side- cool mix or show mix.

put oil in his feed., make sure he has more than enough hay (or haylage)

Try blue chip that can work wonders in a short amount of time.

bulk his feed up with things like hi fi light.

Though these are not going to solve the problem in a week they could help over a longer time period.

I wouldnt shy away from seeing them then they will know something is wrong! ask there advice they will be pleased you care enough to ask, if you stay in contact with ex owners they are usually more than happy to help you!

Answer 3

well thoroughbreds are bred to race. and there a new horse at the stable he use to race, and u can see the bones but my instructer rides  him anyway to train he to be a lesson horse.

Answer 4

Get a vet to check him out and liase with him about your horse's diet. Some TBs lose weight like it's going out of fashion, and it can be hard to get it back on them. Is his worming up to date? As he's a TB, is he stressed? These horses stress easily and the weight just falls off. The move could have quite easily caused it and it wouldn't be uncommon for it to take 6 months or so AFTER SETTLING IN to get the weight back on. So if it took him 2 months to settle in (not uncommon) then it may take ages to get the weight back on him. You don't say how much grass he has now, TBs (and all horses really) do great on grass and it may just be a case of waiting until next summer before you really see a change if he's lost the weight this year. One of my TBs had a stint of box rest last winter/this spring. He missed the summer grass due to restrictive turnout and he looks poor now. I know that there's not a great deal I can do until he gets out next summer. I've had him 6 years and he's always been the same - hard feed, haylage, etc. just makes him fret with nervous energy and so he loses weight if fed too much. So he just has pony cubes, chaff, speedi beet and hay. He has all year round turnout but in the winter the grass has very little nutritional value. So it's just a case of waiting. Another question to ask - is he cold? TBs are very thin skinned and can feel the cold more than others. When they get wet, or when the weather's just cold they can seem to lose weight practically overnight. If he's cold, he may be tucked up (like a greyhound looks) and though when he's warm this appearance will go as he relaxes, if he is cold he will lose weight. He could also be in pain, this makes the weight just fall off. Perhaps a low grade lameness/injury that may have gone unnoticed? I'd give the vet a shout, they will be able to clear things up for you. Feel free to email me if you want any more help, I know how frustrating it can be to see your horse dropping weight by the day for no apparant reason. After years of many horses, including TBs, I have sussed what works for them (well, what works for my TBs anyway!) If you can, a picture would be great, he may not be as underweight as you think. :-)

Answer 5

You need to figure out what feed he was on and get him back on that.  Worming may help.  Sometimes the shock of a new place can cause weight loss.  If you are really worried take him to a vet for more advice.  If you take him to a vet they will know you are capable of caring for him.  Don't worry this happens all the time.  They will understand if they are horse people.

Answer 6

FIRST OFF WHO CARES WHAT THEY THINK , THEY SOLD HIM!!!!! AS LONG AS HE'S HEALTHY AND YOUR COMFORTABLE THATS WHAT COUNTS, THEY DONT NEED TO BE HOG FAT TO "BE HEALTHY",  LEAN IN SHAPE ONES ARE GREAT, KEEP A GOOD SAFE FEEDING PROGRAM , VACCINATIONS AND D-WORMING PROGRAM AN LISTEN TO A GOOD VET. IF YOU WERE TO LISTEN TO EVERYONE WHO HAS EVER SOLD A HORSE, THEY LEAVE OUT ALOT, LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE NOT JUST THE NEGATIVE. I BOUGHT A REALLY FAST BEAUTIFUL BLACK BARREL HORSE WHICH I THOUGHT WAS A GOOD DEAL PRICE WISE ONLY TO FIND OUT ALL HIS INFO WASNT SENT WITH HIM THRU TRANSFERS, HER BROKE MY BACK AN CHANGED MY LIFE FOREVER, IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE THEN WHAT I HAVE NOW THANK GOD FOR THAT BUT IT DID TEACH ME SOMETHING TOO.  IT TAKES TIME FOR NEW OWNERS AND HORSES TO SETTLE TO ONE ANOTHER, WORRY ABOUT HIM AND NOT WHAT PEOPLE THINK YOU'LL GO FURTHER.

Answer 7

Don't go to the show and get a vet to assess your horses diet

Answer 8

If he is skinny he needs MORE feed! Talk to your vet....he could have worms or your just not feeding him enough...I would have asked the owners when you bought him what he was fed and how much etc.

Answer 9

It could be a vitamin E deficiency. I don't know what location you are in, but even in good hay and great feed vitamin E is the first thing to leave the  feed. If horses don't have acres and acres to graze on this is very very likely. Have a vet run some blood work. Also, tell the vet what you're feeding your  horse and see if it is good for your horse and how you work him. Also make sure his worming is up to date and that he's not getting his food stolen by other horses that he may be with. Stress also causes TBs to lose weight. Try and see what could be causing your horse stress: a new work regimen, rapid change in feed, lonely, a move, things like that. I would suggest you get him seen by a vet and make sure it's nothing that you caused and then go to the show with a list of reasons why this has happened so if they ask you can let them know. I'm sure they'll want to see him though, so don't not go. Btw fat horses aren't good any more than too skinny ones are. My horse's ribs show, but the vet says he is a very healthy weight.  

Answer 10

1. Skip the show

2. Consider a PowerPak, which is a 5-day wormer that catches worms at every level of growth. This has worked wonders at our barn.

3. My TB gets 2 scoops of Safe Choice every day in addition to free-choice hay. When he drops a little weight, I feed him Wendland's One and Only, which is safe and puts the pounds on.

4. Call the vet.

Answer 11

Horses need to be wormed ever 3-6MONTHS, & NEED there teeth floated about the same & need there shoes check and replaced if neccessary, unlike other animals, horses will loose weight when they have worms, not gain  weight! Horse cannot just live on grass when SHOWN regular! I would get the vet out before the show and ask him to check him out, then go and compete if the VET says he SOUND to compete-He should have a vet check after very competition if EVENTING or Show jumping or HUNTING

! I would ask the original owner's what they feed him and how much too,

You can bulk up his diet with

Crushed Oats

Low Calcium to Phosphorus ratio, they can get fat and some horses can be a little challenging to control

Bruised Barley

Highter energy value then oatsbut is low in Fibre, it may be fed, cracked, rolled, flaked(heat treated) or micronised

Flaked Maize

High in startch-

Low in protein and Low in Fibre

Fed in small amounts

Bran

A by-product of Wheat

High in Fibre

Fed in small quantities, mixed with other horses fed or used as a Mash

, Soaked Sugar Beet

Highly Digestable source of Energy and Fibre,

Good Calcium to Phosphorus ratio

Suguar Beet pulp-12hours-using at least DOUBLE THE AMOUNT of water to the PULP

if NOT adequately soaked, it will swell up in the horse's stomach, with potential fatal results

, Molassed Chop

By-product of SUGAR,

Dark and sticky in appearence

Small quantities to supply energy, improve the condition of coat and tempt fussy eaters

Linseed-

the seed of the Flax plant

Rich in OIL

Fed to improve the condition of the coat

It is poisonous(it contains-Prussic acid) If NOT 1st BOILED  

Covered with cold water and SOAKED overnight, the following day more water is add about 4pints/2litres to 2-3oz/110g of linseed and the mixture is brought to the boil and simmered for several hours, When the resultant jelly has cooled, it maybe added to a bran mash or added to the horses ordinary feed

Coarse Mix

Variety of ingredients and are scientifically prepared to provide a balanced diet.

Chaff & Seed Hay & Medow Hay,

Also note horse need to be kept at a healthy weight-too much fat on them will hurt there health!

Here are some Competition Horses

Jaybee Cassini

http://www.horsedeals.com.au/show_photo....

Jaybee Ambassador

http://www.horsedeals.com.au/show_photo....

Jaybee Gelding

http://www.horsedeals.com.au/show_photo....

Jaybee Alabaster

http://www.horsedeals.com.au/show_photo....

Aachimedes

http://www.horsedeals.com.au/show_photo....

Carbine

http://www.horsedeals.com.au/show_photo....

Jaybee Leuwis AWHA Approved Stallion

http://www.horsedeals.com.au/show_photo....

Jaybee Leuwin

http://www.horsedeals.com.au/show_photo....

look thorough some of these-not all are FAT-TOO SKINNY ISN'T GOOD either!

http://www.horsedeals.com.au/horses-for-...

Answer 12

LESSON LEARNED: When one buys a thorougbred, one must take into consideration the costs, including verteranarian.  

Answer 13

get your horse checked.  teeth, especially.  how's your deworming schedule?  be sure that it's up to date.  also, have your vet double check your diet.

if you're riding a lot, you may not be feeding enough.  tb's are higher energy horses, and burn a lot of feed, quickly.

i don't think you should show, this time.  if you *must* show this soon, feed free choice hay, turn your horse out for an extra hour of grass turn out.  the grazing will help.  add 1/2 cup of black oil sunflower seeds per day, 1 # of well soaked beet pulp per day, and up to a cup of corn oil or a cap full of grapeseed oil or safflower oil per day...to start slow.

this won't do too much to "fatten him up" quickly...but of course, if your horse puts weight on too fast, he'll get very sick.

another thing that works well for all horses, but especially the higher energy horses.  add more meals, per day.  ideally, you should feed 3 to 5 mini meals, per day.  each meal should not go over 2 #'s of feed/beet pulp/etc.  it helps the body to use the feed properly.

what are you feeding now?  you will want to feed a low protein diet with high fat.  the stuff i told you to add, those will boost the fat.  the beet pulp is actually to help ensure that your horse gets some water intake...which could make him look worse than he actually may be.

oh, please cancel your show, and focus on your horse's well being.  there will always be other shows.

best of luck.

Answer 14

You don't mention what you're currently feeding him, but if the grass isn't as good as where he was before you will need to give him more in his bucket feed. Tbs do very well on good grass -it's quite incredible how much weight they can put on, and I've found that even high energy feeds aren't as effective for weight gain, so you may need to give more feed than you would expect.

I too own a thoroughbred, and am constantly keeping an eye on him to make sure he maintains weight, especially after my yard owner changed what he was supposed to be fed to a cheap low energy cube - the weight fell off him and I thought he was really ill until I found out. A change like that can be all it takes to make tbs drop off.

If you haven't access to good grass, then make sure he has ad lib good quality hay - you may even want to feed haylage for a while as it is higher energy.

In his bucket feed, use an alfalfa chop (such as Alfa-A) rather than chaff, as it is higher in protein (I have found it excellent for adding and maintaining weight). Including sugar beet will help as well. Using a conditioning mix or cube, with a high oil and protein content, is your best bet, Baileys Topline is the best I've found (you see a difference within 2 weeks); a feed containing barley is very effective as long as he does not have an intolerance. You may also want to include oil or linseed flakes for a while - freshly cooked linseed is better but takes a long time and is messy. Don't feed oats or maize unless he's very laid back - they'll only make him fizz up and he'll burn off the energy before it can be used to put on weight.

As for meeting with his previous owners - many people say that they regret selling their horse, especially if it was a good animal. Don't worry too much about what they think; you obviously care about his wellbeing, and admitting to them that you have been finding it hard to manage his weight is probably the best option - say you've been looking for ways to compensate for lack of grass, ask them for advice, they'll be flattered and will realise you care.