Help! getting skinny horse back into shape!

*Jessika_N* · 11-20-2005, 08:01 AM

hey, I am leasing a 12 year old arab named Jetta. The place I got her from didnt..uhh lets just say she didn't look good when I got her. And I want to know how to safely pur wieght on ehr and start putting her back in shpae. I had her 2 years ago and she was fine but she keeps getting sore when she isn't getting hard work at all, any suggestions??

racher · 11-20-2005, 08:35 AM

Heya Im actually trying to fatten up my new horse, too. Find out what she was being fed, and gently increase the amount. I would advise adding a bit of cod liver oil, too. (For coat/skin condition!) Also, although you may be keen to ride her, I'm not riding my horse for the first week to let him fatten up! Horses loose 30% of their energy for heating themselves up, which means her food wont be going to getting her fat. So a rug wold be a sensible purchase. Anyway, good luck with her and I'm sure you'll have long, happy times together!

Bubba · 11-20-2005, 12:00 PM

It's actually a much better idea to work them at the same time; fat doesn't help a horse's condition

. It just makes an overweight, weak horse

. Working a skinny horse at the same time helps their muscles get back into shape right along with the rest of them.

Working with her current ration is a good idea, though, and just slowly increase or change her feed to something more efficient. Start her working easily, just walking for a while, then some trotting, etc. You may find her "skinniness" is actually more of a lack-of-muscle issue than real "weight" even, as you work her more and get her body back into good shape. Good luck!

SportPonyCrayzi · 11-20-2005, 02:44 PM

Really, the healthiest way to get her back into shape is to keep her in light work, and give her lots of HAY! Grains, supplements, oils, etc. can be great choices, but first, start out with hay. And you really don't need to be as careful as you would with grains when changing her diet. I personally think grass hay is the safest. But Bermuda hay is also very nutritious. So, I'd personally get her on a grass-bermuda blend, and just stick a few bales in the stall for her to munch on.

There are many types of oils, so consult your vet on this issue.

A very good product is Medallion's Soya Plus (www.medallionequine.com). This is an EXCELLENT blend that will greatly benefit your horse in many ways. Also, Moor Glo is a great product that's easy to feed. It's basically a pelleted blend of rice bran, soy beans, and flax meal.

If you want to increase her work, slowly add some alfalfa pellets in for extra proteins. For extra carbs, slowly add in some oats (but be careful with these...if anything, I'd try to avoid them unless you think it would be necessary and the vet okays it).

Sue B · 11-20-2005, 07:40 PM

Can you explain what you mean by "she gets sore" when she isn't worked?

11-20-2005, 08:01 AM	#1
Jessika_N Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sussex, New Brunswick, Canada Posts: 134 Images: 14	Help! getting skinny horse back into shape! hey, I am leasing a 12 year old arab named Jetta. The place I got her from didnt..uhh lets just say she didn't look good when I got her. And I want to know how to safely pur wieght on ehr and start putting her back in shpae. I had her 2 years ago and she was fine but she keeps getting sore when she isn't getting hard work at all, any suggestions?? __________________ Impossible is nothing EAI Jallietta***

11-20-2005, 02:44 PM	#4
SportPonyCrayzi Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: ..~Arizona~.. Posts: 788 Images: 21	Really, the healthiest way to get her back into shape is to keep her in light work, and give her lots of HAY! Grains, supplements, oils, etc. can be great choices, but first, start out with hay. And you really don't need to be as careful as you would with grains when changing her diet. I personally think grass hay is the safest. But Bermuda hay is also very nutritious. So, I'd personally get her on a grass-bermuda blend, and just stick a few bales in the stall for her to munch on. There are many types of oils, so consult your vet on this issue. A very good product is Medallion's Soya Plus (www.medallionequine.com). This is an EXCELLENT blend that will greatly benefit your horse in many ways. Also, Moor Glo is a great product that's easy to feed. It's basically a pelleted blend of rice bran, soy beans, and flax meal. If you want to increase her work, slowly add some alfalfa pellets in for extra proteins. For extra carbs, slowly add in some oats (but be careful with these...if anything, I'd try to avoid them unless you think it would be necessary and the vet okays it). __________________ "We will restore chaos to the country! And we will!" -Ignoramus George Bush This is a sad time in America--a country that I have loved and cherished so much . Please take care of Her and vote without ignorance. [}~~{]SPC[}~~{]

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11-20-2005, 08:35 AM	#2
racher Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 23 Images: 2	Heya Im actually trying to fatten up my new horse, too. Find out what she was being fed, and gently increase the amount. I would advise adding a bit of cod liver oil, too. (For coat/skin condition!) Also, although you may be keen to ride her, I'm not riding my horse for the first week to let him fatten up! Horses loose 30% of their energy for heating themselves up, which means her food wont be going to getting her fat. So a rug wold be a sensible purchase. Anyway, good luck with her and I'm sure you'll have long, happy times together!

11-20-2005, 12:00 PM	#3
Bubba Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 318	It's actually a much better idea to work them at the same time; fat doesn't help a horse's condition . It just makes an overweight, weak horse . Working a skinny horse at the same time helps their muscles get back into shape right along with the rest of them. Working with her current ration is a good idea, though, and just slowly increase or change her feed to something more efficient. Start her working easily, just walking for a while, then some trotting, etc. You may find her "skinniness" is actually more of a lack-of-muscle issue than real "weight" even, as you work her more and get her body back into good shape. Good luck!

11-20-2005, 07:40 PM	#5
Sue B Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,824 Images: 6	Can you explain what you mean by "she gets sore" when she isn't worked?