Putting condition on

[EnduranceAli]

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a308/pekeali/MitzyCloseUp.jpghttp://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a308/pekeali/Mitzy030307.jpgMitzy the 13.1hh 'stick insect' has come to live with us. She is a 13 year old ex-jumping/hunting pony and very lightly built. Tiny head, non-existence neck, very long legs (she has trouble reaching down to graze :rolleyes: ) and a body which I think looks underweight (will take some photos this afternoon). She is normally rugged up, but whilst out on a hack this morning passing motorists were stopping and commenting on her size. She has a lovely shiny coat, great feet and plenty of energy. Not sure what she was fed before, but I think it was just hay. I have been giving her haylage as well as hay, some grass (either when turned out or in-hand) and today she had some Hi-Fi Lite and carrots :) I am not riding her at the moment, but I think I will try her out when she has some more weight on her back (her spine sticks out at the moment). She comes out alongside Frayne on our hacks - and loves it; a sweetie to lead. Once you have seen the photos you can comment better - but any suggestions on how to get her looking a bit less starved :confused: Ali xx

[x.fat-pony.x]

I don't know very much about conditioning, but an old trick that one of my horsey friends told me is to add soya oil into their feed to improve condition...worth a shot! And only about 50p from a supermarket, you can't go wrong! :D

[x.fat-pony.x]

Also wondering....what's the shaved mark on her side from?
Sorry just curious! :o

[EnduranceAli]

Also wondering....what's the shaved mark on her side from?
Sorry just curious! :o

It isn't shaved - bad rug rub (probably because she is so skinny and has literally been standing outside with a heavy turnout rug on all winter). I have got her an anti-rub vest now and put cornucresine on it (meant to help the hair grow back). It was the first time today that it has been warm enough for her to go without a rug (nice and sunny in their yard) :) She actually does have a shaved area on her neck (can't see it in the piccie) - she had an operation back in November when she came out of the field with a torn open hind leg :eek: Thankfully it has fully healed without a scar :) Ali xx

[HorseManiac]

Um Alalfa A Oil or NO 4 conditoning cubes

Anneli x

[neen]

She does look thin. Last year we couldn't keep weight on Fluke at all (lives out, ad lib hay, gets a feed of chaff, sugar beet and a small amount of mix in the evening). He was going through a growth spurt and no matter how much we shovelled into him (including adding oil to his feed), he still looked gangly. We put him on TopSpec and he looks great now -- he's a nice shape and he hasn't lost any weight this winter. He's now on the LeisureTime variety, as he's a native. It's quite expensive but if you're just feeding it to one small pony, the bag lasts ages.

[Jessey]

I would feed some Alfa (probably oil) and some Speedybeet as these are both high fibre (and shouldn't blow her brains :D)

Adlib forage at all times is essential too and the highest quality you have available will help with her weight - haylage is a good option :D

If you find she still isn't picking up enough then try Baileys number 1 which is a really good non heating weight gain food or try number 4 conditioning cubes as these also are very good and won't heat most ponies up :D or you could opt to add some linseed (ground is easiest) as its great for condition :D

I would also send off a worm count even if she has been reacently wormed - sometimes if they have a huge burden one dose just isn't enough to kill them all off and you just end up feeding worms rather than the horse ;)

J x

[Peanut]

I think Alpha-A Oil and Speedi-beet are hard to beat for condition without fizz. Love them.

[coss]

soya oil, speedi beet and cooked flaked barley, the first and last are fairly cheap. i soak the barley in water a bit just to soften it but it really helps add weight without fizz. some horses are usually calm but go mad on oils but if they don't that is meant to be good as well
Remember different horses wll gain weight on different feeds.

[EnduranceAli]

I would also send off a worm count even if she has been reacently wormed - sometimes if they have a huge burden one dose just isn't enough to kill them all off and you just end up feeding worms rather than the horse ;)

J x


Hadn't thought of that. However, her 'owners' (she is on permanent loan to me) are very particular about their horses' health with regards to vet/dentist etc - she was checked by both before coming here - so I think she would have been wormed regularly. Will also get some soya oil tomorrow and add it to her Hi-Fi Lite - cheap and cheerful option if she doesn't go mad on it (which I can't see happening - she is such a sweetie).

She is having haylage ab-lib, as they have no turnout at the moment (horrible wind and rain here, and their paddock is wet), which she loves. Doesn't go mad for her food unless there are carrots in it, but adores grass (has been kept in a muddy yard for some time) and I try to take her out in-hand every afternoon for some grazing. This won't happen this afternoon, as it is truly nasty weather here :rolleyes:

Ali xx

[puzzles]

For your horse I would recommend that - over a period of 7-10 days minimum - change her current feed to 2-2.5 kg of Dengie Alfa0-Oil (split into at least 2-3 feeds each day) fed alongside a quality feed balancer or vitemin and mineral supplement: some of the best include Dengie Optinum/Classic or one from their new range of supplements, or Global Herbs Globalvite. quality balancers include Baileys Lo-Cal and Blue Chip Original/Lami-Light.
these will provide her with all the nutrients and energy she needs to gain and maintain condition, encouraging 'sparkle' without fizz as the Alfa-A Oil is energy dense yet this is released slowly.
The use of balancers or a supplement means that - fed at the recommended levels of around10g/100kg (supplement)or100g/100kg (balancer) - though check the bag to ensure that you can alter the amount fed of tthe Alfa-Oil without amaking the diet deficient in nutrientsessential for lifeand health.
make sure she has ad-lib forage - preferably hay due to its highdrycontent - and work her regularly so as to encourage a healthy amount of muscle and fitness to develop.
if in any doubt, please PM me, or a nutritionist for no charge.

good luck!

:-)

ps - she is utterly beautiful!!!!!

[coss]

Hadn't thought of that. However, her 'owners' (she is on permanent loan to me) are very particular about their horses' health with regards to vet/dentist etc - she was checked by both before coming here - so I think she would have been wormed regularly. Will also get some soya oil tomorrow and add it to her Hi-Fi Lite - cheap and cheerful option if she doesn't go mad on it (which I can't see happening - she is such a sweetie).

She is having haylage ab-lib, as they have no turnout at the moment (horrible wind and rain here, and their paddock is wet), which she loves. Doesn't go mad for her food unless there are carrots in it, but adores grass (has been kept in a muddy yard for some time) and I try to take her out in-hand every afternoon for some grazing. This won't happen this afternoon, as it is truly nasty weather here :rolleyes:

Ali xx

just a quick note... one of my horse is allergic to soya oil (the other isn't) and he gets really itchy and his skin burns up :( i'm sure he can't be the only horse that has this allergy so just be wary and don't give too much too soon just in case :)

[puzzles]

so long as the pony is in as best a physical hea;lth as possible 9i.e. she has had a vet give her a thorough examine and has had her teeth checked) - including the worm burden theory, that she may be carrying soo many worms - amnd are you sure she doesn't have a virus or something - then adding opil, protein, digestible fibre and lots of energy to her feed alongside essential ad-lib forage 9feed 1.5 times more halge you would hay due to its higher water content.

[notpoodle]

im not clued up about how she could gain some weight, but found that topspec is a very good balancer. my pony's been on it since the summer and it works a treat ... suddenly her hooves grew and she is all shiny and lovely :)

Julia
x

ps: BLESS that little pony!!! she looks like a little darling :)

[puzzles]

. . .and Blue Chip - Original in particular - works wonders in a mere few weeks on working on horse's condition, from Shires to Shetties; and Top Show ponies to happy hackers.

x

by the way, make meals as regular and as small as possible - a small meal is far more appetising than a couple of kilos worth, so be sure to feed at least 203 meals eacjh day, of no more than 1.3kg - especially since she is so underweight.