Help! Need Weight!

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Barbara Sky Horse on July 6, 2009 at 7:08pm

.....hmmmmm.....
I'd love to know the details of how your horses wound up stuck in a trailer for 36 hours.
Or are you saying they were in the trailer for a Total of 49 hours... without getting out??
My FIRST Thought is what has the Veterinarian said regarding all of this?
SECOND .... if someone else is responsible ... have you consulted with your attorney??
~ Barby

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Heidi on July 25, 2009 at 8:49pm

It was a definite "Thelma and Louise" trip. One person along for the ride thought it was like living in a movie for three days. One of the horses had these funny prints on her face when we got her out of the trailer-it was the bars from the windows. She apparently had fallen asleep with her face pressed up against them. Believe it or not, the whole trip started to improve after we spent the night in Gustine. Gustine? Guess what we had to stop the trailer for-wind gusts!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Eileen on July 6, 2009 at 8:40pm

36 hours in the trailer should not have an everlasting affect on your horses. I also had to keep my horse in a trailer for close to 36 hours and he was fine once getting off and walking around. Of course he was fed and watered when in the trailer. It was not planned either but things happen. I would also like to know what the vet says regarding this weight issue. Were the horses in question underweight in the first place before the trailer issue? Are they quite old, or have other health issues? Where are they staying. Are they outside, eating grass, geteting feed as well. So many questions it is not easy to answer with the sketchy story that you have given us.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Heidi on July 25, 2009 at 8:55pm

They were a tad thin when they got in the trailer-one reason I was moving them from that barn to somewhere else. They are improving, they are eating everything put in front of them, but I think I need to give them even more hay. They are a little older, and I moved them to someplace that's colder than they are used to. One of my horses "tenses out" in the trailer, and I think that didn't help. They were fed and watered repeatedly on the trip, but sometimes they refused to eat and drink.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Michelle Synnot on July 7, 2009 at 12:34am

get the vet to check their teeth and recommend some nutritional options..

put them on a probiotic suppliment

slowly introduce a high fat feed/ possibly suppliment with calfmana

try introducing (slowly) some alfalfa

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Heidi on July 25, 2009 at 8:53pm

Good thoughts-I'd forgotten about Calfmana and I'll try some of your other suggestions.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Emily Stopp on July 7, 2009 at 1:09am

Goodness.. ..

Well with experience feeding high quality feed = high quality/healthy horses..

You want to keep an almost constant availability to good hay.
as for grain whatever they get slowly up the amount a little. Veggie oil helps digestion and makes their coats gorgeous. Oil can also give extra calories to a diet, this should be added to grain with a few swishes.
Talk to your local feed supplier ask for recomondations as I dont know anything of your horse (s) besides they were at one point judging from the description severly malnutritioned and dehydrated.
I agree with michelle aswell to get your horse (s) vet checked perhaps their teath need to be floated and they are having difficulty eating the grain and hay provided.
If your horse does need his/her teath floated until they get it done and after make a little beet pulp ( another good and easy weight gainer )
Again giving beet pulp should be done slowly like any grain advance/change. Beet pulp is normally 1 part beet pulp, 2-3 parts water and left overnight for the pulp to obsorb the water. Beet pulp is also great for older horses who have problems eating.
I hope I helped = /
p.s - give a little more info!!!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Heidi on July 25, 2009 at 9:00pm

They were a little thin when they got in the trailer, and they are older. This week around here is probably the first week that had weather they are used to-hot. I'm giving a little beet pulp, but I'm thinking when it comes to all the feed, I might just have to feed even more. They are eating everything, and their waste looks as if they are getting all the good out of it, but the vet checking teeth is the next step.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by IrishRider on July 13, 2009 at 6:01pm

If you want a supplement suggestion, I have used Cool Calories on my mare and they worked really well. I just mixed it with some Equine Senior and he gained weight without getting hot. I seemed to help her coat as well, although she already had a really nice coat.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Heidi on July 25, 2009 at 9:01pm

Cool Calories, huh? I'll look for it at my feed store.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mini Morgan on July 26, 2009 at 8:47am

I like the Frontrunner feeds, especially their phase one (16%) or phase two (14%) pellets. Either one is good for putting weight on a horse. Both contain brewers yeast which is good for digestion. I used to use calf manna but have been so pleased with the results I get from the Frontrunner feeds that I now use them instead.

• ▶ Reply