Keeping his weight on! :-D

[Gemma16]

Yey, I'm really pleased! Sorry this a bit of a nothing thread but I'm chuffed. I have finally got Taffy to keep weight on!:D

I have been trying for ages all sorts of methods to make him put on and keep weight on. and finally its worked. He looks like a proper section D rather than a TB with chunky legs. lol.

He's now on 3lbs of dodson and horrell competition mix and 4lbs of sugar beet with garlic and carrots, twice daily. Hes out in the field 24/7 except for when I ride (with his rug on).

Lets just hope he stays like this through winter! I'm clipping soon, so I hope that doesn't make him lose any weight.

While I'm on the subject of feeding, what supplements do you all feed? I have been looking at a number that I could feed Taffy. Is it worth feeding stuff for joints and healthy bone even if your horse doesn't have stiff joint? I was just wondering because if it could do him some good in the long term I'd like to get him some.

Cheers:D

[Jay.o]

Woo, well done !
Sorry, had to laugh though at the Tb with chunky legs :D ! Hopefully I wont have a problem keeping weight on Mysy, I havent had her through a winter yet, so we shall see aye ?
The only supplement I feed is a bit of garlin granuals and stroppy mare. But it says to keep it away from geldings so thats no good to you lol. sorry.
I think its cod liver oil thatas good for joints ? (I think, not sure tohugh)

[Gemma16]

Cheers Jay.o. He di lok funny last winter. Just imagine chunky welshie legs on a sleek tb body. That was him he looked odd. lol.

Yeah I used to feed Rus codliver oil for joints.

I don't think stroppy mare would be any good for him. lol. Maybe there should be a new one out for moody males! lol. Or one to give him more common sense. lol

[Jay.o]

Um, well ther is now a new supplement out. its called Stroppy gelding. On the back og Stroppy mare it says ''Warning: Keep away from gelding and stallions.'' So I guess it was a different than desired affect on them lol !

[vickie]

if you are feeding the recommended amounts of mix then he won't need a supplement. if you are feeding less then try something like benevit from feedmark, its reasonably priced, even mpre so at the minute cos its half price :D and does the job as well, as well as top spec etc. jaynes keeping her weight REALLY REALLY well :rolleyes: shes only in over night with ad lib haylage and out all day on poor grazing and shes only getting a handful of readi-grass with her benevit in and shes still far too fat for my liking :rolleyes: i've had to really up the work load to try and get wieght off. it is coming off but v.v.v.slowly:(

[* Groomette *]

For your case, I would highly recommend you put him on some Corn Oil. Corn oil is pretty much all fat..lol..and I have seen it do some amazing stuff to the horses around here. Ideally to maintain weight you want to get the oil up to 1 cup per feeding, or 1/2 cup per feeding...depending on the horse and what results you see happening. It creates weight, not one of those things that people think creates weight but really is just maitaining it (beet pulp, lol)

I currently have my horse on

2 tsp of corn oil/day (he needs it for the nutrients not for the weight..lol)

1/4 cup (max your supposed to feed) Apple Cider Vinegar/day (Heinz..from apples..not from seeds lol)

1 scoop replenish/week

And he's soon to be on either

1 scoop Cosequin
or
1 scoop Absorbine Flex+

EDIT - Thought I might add that he is on a sweet feed grain called Vitality 12, which has most of the nutrients that you find in supplements. Biotin, iron, potassium...lol. Saves me a lot in supplements!

[CLou]

Hi Gemma
My Bonny sounds the same as Taffy - she is a very sleek Section D - like you say TBish but in her case with a very Welsh head. I've only had her for a few months so stayed well away from feeding in the summer with the rich grass. Have been giving her high fibre cubes and hi-fi as reccommended for natives and good-doers but I'm not so sure she is the good-doer I've been lead to believe! Going to give her some sugur beet gradually over the next few weeks and if she's still looking as sleek I'll up the high fibre cubes to something with a bit more umph. It's been suggested that I give her showing mix but I've been loathe to do that as she's not the most docile girl at the best of times and the thought of upping the starch to that extent didn't appeal! I've found "Body build" supplement gave her a bit more bulk but have knocked it on the head for now.

Think we may have to clip soon so that may stick another spanner in the works.

As for supplements we use garlic and semelavite E (or something that sounds like that!) vitamin/mineral supplement.