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sycorider
New Member
 England
5 Posts |
 Posted - 04 Aug 2011 : 08:19:48 AM
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Hi Guys I have just brought an arab who is very thin, his hip bones are purtruding and the bone across the top of his back, very badly at the point of the croup.
I was wondering what you all suggest is the best feed that will improve his condition with out stressing him or blowing his brains. He is a 14.2 6 year old polish x crabbet Thanks.
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complete novice
Gold Member
831 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2011 : 08:38:39 AM
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Hi and welcome to AL 
Sorry to hear your boy is very thin, you'll get lots of great advice on here.
My offering is Bailey No.2 and gradually add in Baileys No.1 over a few days until you have a 50/50 mix. Personally I would start with at least 3 or 4 small feeds a day and slowly increase the volume of the feeds and adlib hay/hayledge, also take a couple of pictures same shots every week so that you can compare weight gain, don't want too much too quickly. What ever feed you decide to go with I think you'll be surprised how quickly you will see an improvement. What feed and how much is he on at the moment? |
Edited by - complete novice on 04 Aug 2011 08:40:44 AM |
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Kes
Platinum Member
England
1819 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2011 : 08:49:06 AM
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Hiya, to Arabian Lines. Sorry to hear your new boy isn't in the best of health, you will get lots of good advice from here.
I myself use Baileys feeds but any feed proven to be weight-gaining will be good, Top-spec and Thunderbrook are also good for condition.
When trying to get weight on a horse always remember the basics of feeding, so as already stated whatever you feed make it small amounts and often. For a horse of 14.2hh a feed shouldn't be over 3 1/2-4lb. I would stick closer to 3 1/2 lb myself. Intoduce all new feed gradually and slowly, don't forget, giving a high calorie diet will mean more calories = more energy. If you can, speak to an Equine Nutritionist, all the major feed suppliers have them for free/good advice so make use of them if using their products.
I also use Linseed oil, great for weight and condition.
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Carole & Kes, West Sussex. |
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Quarabian
Platinum Member
Wales
4340 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2011 : 08:58:27 AM
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Hi and welcome. I second Baileys as a good feed for gently putting weight back on.
Whatever you decide to feed, always have plenty of hay or haylage when he is in the stable. The slow munching is the best way of putting on weight without overheating. I presume he is on good grazing the rest of the time
Hope he is soon improving. Some arabs do have an angular croup, so don't expect too much too soon. Sounds like he is in good hands now. Photos would be good if you can get them on here. You need to set up a photo bucket or flickr account first. The follow Rui's instructions. |
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Vik1
Platinum Member
1711 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2011 : 10:26:41 AM
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You dont say how much and what hes being fed at the moment. If hes not getting fed anything just now then I would give him a basic mix, hi fi and sugarbeet. That might be enough to put weight back on. Then from there, I would add a big glug of veg oil from the supermarket. If that still doesnt work, I change the mix to a conditioning mix. Baileys No 4 is great! So is allen and page calm and condition. If you still need more then change the hi fi to alfa a original.
Weight gain should be slow and steady.
If you dont want to go down the mix route, you could try alfa oil...its brilliant stuff...if your horse eats it!! Mine wouldnt.
to AL. Youl like it on here and learn alot about arabs if your new to them. |
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Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2011 : 10:54:54 AM
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I agree and would want to look at what he was getting: grass, hay, hard feed and workload first versus his new home... i.e. if he is coming from poor grazing and lots of work to good grazing, that may be all he needs or he may have been in a stressful environment
I brought a 4 year old Anglo when I was 14 and kept him at a local livery yard - he had good grazing, seemed chilled out and happy, I rode him nearly everyday and couldn't keep weight on him. As soon as I moved him to another yard, although nothing seemed to change and the grazing was worse, he suddenly became a good doer!
A lot can be said for environment, so I would be cautious and let him settle in a bit before changing too much.
However, you cannot go far wrong IMO by giving Debbie and Thunderbrook a call or getting him onto a good balancer/vit & min supplement |
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sycorider
New Member
England
5 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2011 : 4:27:58 PM
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| Hi again sorry for the lack of info, ok he has previously been on the similar grazing as brought him from someone at our yard, but he was not in any kind of routine with regards to exercise or feed everything was spasmodic. He is now in my field which has better grazing slightly, he is brought in in the morning and given a full haynet which he is allowed to pick at through the day, I have to bring another horse in with him or he stresses but I am hoping that in time he will get used to this rountine. He is now feed 1 full scoop of soaked calm and condition, 1/2 a scoop of baileys no4, 1/2 scoop of readi grass, with garlic and muscle up from global herbs. he has now also been wormed. I am very aware that alot of his problem as well is lack of muscle along his top line so I am currently only working him in walk and trot in the menage, trying to concentrate on some long and low work to encourage engagment of the back end and allow stretch along his back, on the roads he was very nervous of traffic so it is just walking to allow him to get used to the traffic which he is doing very quickly. He is becoming very trusting as the days go by. I also wonderd whether to try him on a calmer at all as wondered whether that would help him to improve if he is more chilled with all the change. I should add the previous owner only had him 2 1/2 months and she had brought him from a sale. |
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sycorider
New Member
England
5 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2011 : 4:35:06 PM
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Thought I would add some pics so u can judge for urselves x
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Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2011 : 4:43:56 PM
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Oh bless him, no wonder he has dropped a bit to go from sale to new home to new mum in only a couple of months!
What you are doing sounds very sensible to me and I would just give him lots of TLC and time - not too much work until he's put on a bit of weight! Good luck with him, he looks a real sweetie x |
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sycorider
New Member
England
5 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2011 : 4:45:33 PM
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Thanks mate he will get unlimited love and attention thats for sure bless him he is so kind and gentle considering and I know he will come right in time x
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complete novice
Gold Member
831 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2011 : 4:57:21 PM
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| He's very pretty and I would guess he has already started to put on a bit of weight, it's good to hear he has a trusting nature. My mare was a a bit spooky when I got her though she's not a nervous horse it did take a while to get her to trust me and I have found a calmer helped, though not sure who it helped most lol. I put her on magnitude which seems to be more effective and a lot cheaper than Global Herbs calmer, she's very laid back now if fact I am more likely to jump at a strange noise than her. |
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TanyanChewy
Gold Member
England
1092 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2011 : 5:01:12 PM
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| Lots of good advice from everyone, just wanted to say he looks like a sweetie and hope he starts to flourish very soon. Enjoy your new boy! |
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MinHe
Platinum Member
England
2927 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2011 : 5:26:46 PM
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Hi - he doesn't look as bad as he sounded from your first email, and I think you are right when you say your think part of his lack of topline is lack of muscle condition. It sounds as if you are on the right track, but agree with the suggestions of rapeseed oil (veg oil) from the supermarket as a way of improving weight without fizz.
Best of luck with him - you sound committed and sensible!
Keren |
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vanishtrik
Bronze Member
England
136 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2011 : 5:58:42 PM
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have to agree with MinHe he does'nt look that bad he's just lacking a little top line, I have found pink powder works a treat for getting them looking good.
good luck with him he looks a nice sort
karen |
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Judith S
Platinum Member
Wales
15686 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2011 : 6:37:29 PM
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You can't beat grass this time of year, be careful not to give hard feed with too much cereal content as this may fizz him up.
Is there any reason why he needs to be brought in during the day - there is nothing worse than stress for removing condition and his grazing would most likely be giving him more than the hay.
Would also agree with the others that he does not look in too bad condition. |
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Quarabian
Platinum Member
Wales
4340 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2011 : 7:35:43 PM
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| Seconding MinHe's reply, he isn't as bad ads i thought he would be. And he is lovely. Another pink powder fan here. Let him come on slowly. he certainly has had a bit of a rough time before you bought him. |
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Honeyb060674
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4301 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2011 : 8:15:52 PM
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Poor boy, but that weight should come back quite easily as he doesn't look too bad. I'd second Judith for the wonders of Dr Green, I'm ready to bet that once he's settled into a routine you'll have problem keeping the weight OFF!
ETA I found Calm & Condition works wonders for condition  |
      
Claire & Sunny x
http://sunnyandclaire.blogspot.com/ |
Edited by - Honeyb060674 on 05 Aug 2011 10:40:47 AM |
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Roseanne
Moderator
United Kingdom
6708 Posts |
Posted - 04 Aug 2011 : 8:57:45 PM
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Has he been given a decent worming programme in recent months? You may want to give him a Panacur Guard and tape treatment if he hasn't been wormed well. Are the paddocks cleared of droppings every day?
It's surprising he's quite so thin at this time of year if he's had some decent grass available.
Sure he's going to be a lovely boy when you've got him right! |
Roseanne |
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herts_babeuk
Silver Member
England
282 Posts |
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Arachnid
Platinum Member
England
1872 Posts |
Posted - 05 Aug 2011 : 08:30:22 AM
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I dont think he looks that bad either(think mine looks like that in Feb but not this time of the year, and mine's hip bones always stick out regardless of his weight!)
Like you I also feed Baileys no 4 but add micronised linseed to help with condition and weight maintenance as Spider burns off weight very easily. I agree with all the others, its probably the stressing that is burning off all your good feed. I have used calmers before but they dont seem to have any effect
Does he weave?
Hes a lovely looking horse by the way. |
   
West Sussex |
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LYNDILOU
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
13976 Posts |
Posted - 05 Aug 2011 : 11:29:41 AM
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I am looking forward to seeing in in a couple of months when he will have filled out, with your tender loving care he will be fine and you have had some good advice here , I agree with Arachnid , he is a lovely looking boy !
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www.dreamfield-arabians.com |
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proctorclaire
Silver Member
437 Posts |
Posted - 05 Aug 2011 : 3:28:04 PM
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| His hind quarters seem to be exactly how my Arab's mares are. No matter how much weight she puts on her hind quarters always stay the same. People have had some harsh things to say to me about her "image" however I've tried everything. She only ever gains weight and looses weight off her belly. Her belly is like a beer barrel just now cause of all the grass and with work she'll loose it and look really good but rest of her stays the same. |
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Nichole Waller
Gold Member
England
1168 Posts |
Posted - 05 Aug 2011 : 7:07:59 PM
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If my vet looked at your pictures he would say "just increase the muscle but not the weight"
I've been told both mine are obese and need to loose loads of weight  .
I'm finding it so hard to get weight off them. They live out 24/7 and are currently on half an acre each of really short grass and a few thistles and a tiny feed of hi fi light with Naff Slimline !! And they are ridden at least 6 times a week...!
Some good advice on here, but be careful you don't end up in my situation. Once the weight is on it's much harder to get off (bit like me and my diet really )
I'm getting paranoid about EMS or Insulin Resistance and laminitis... .
He looks a lovely boy though  |
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Pasch
Platinum Member
2277 Posts |
Posted - 05 Aug 2011 : 11:24:29 PM
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He's lovely and looks very sweet.Is he Russian?They seem to be much more angular than other arabs and have that kind of croup...I would give him good grass,ad lib good quality hay,and don't overdo with feed as that may heat him up and be hard on his stomach and feet.Second the oil.As for work,considering the poor muscle condition,I would first do lunge and long rein work,and start to slowly riding him when his back muscles get stronger,or you may risk some back pain and stiffness.All in all,just a matter of taking it slowly,I don't see a big problem here!
Of course,post some more pics of him when he's a bit filled up,and enjoy! |
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debs
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
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natntaz
Platinum Member
England
2919 Posts |
Posted - 06 Aug 2011 : 1:59:47 PM
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| I used calm and condition when i got my boy a few years ago. It really helped. He didnt get fizzy with it either |
   
Natalie Pix. Essex. Tariq ibn Radfan and Taroub |
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