[Canadian Sage]

I just got to really looking at Sage tonight, and noticed shes lost quite a bit of weight, Can't believe I never noticed until tonight.

Her belly is fat (like a hay belly), but her hip bones are slowly starting to become more prominent.....lack of muscle rather than weight loss(she has been off for two years, sick a month after foaling. but is better.)?

Shes getting fed morning and night (cannot put her on pasture due to boarding agreement, but I might see if she can go out with the mares), about half a bale at each feeding.

What else could I give her to build up that weight? Monica is a hard keeper, as far as weight goes as well, and all I did was up her hay intake and give her a half a bucket of cubes morning and night.....Sage is getting the more hay than Monica is.

I will have to get pictures...unfortuanetaly, they will have to be after my horse show this weekend....

[Gypsy Rose]

Pics would be nice, but what I think what everyone is going to want to know is:

What exactly are you feeding Sage, and how much. Any grain, supplements, beet pup, etc? Or just the hay?

How old is she? What type of hay are you feeding, and how much does your half a bale you're feeding her weigh- in lbs. if possible.

What is your deworming program like? Have her teeth been checked lately?

[Canadian Sage]

Shes just on grass hay. As far as poundage, no idea, i am very bad with estimates (especially when it comes to pounds and such..never could wrap my head around that).

She is 11 years old, I have had this happen once in the past when she was 5 (was just lonely, threw her out into the field with other horses and she was happy). She IS near other horses (Monica is on the other side of the fence).

Deworming, every few months (every 2 months or so....i think is what it comes to).

Yes, teeth have been checked.

[Gypsy Rose]

She may not be getting enough hay- you might want to actually weigh it, and see what you're feeding. She should be getting 1.5 to 2% of her body weight in forage a day for weight gain, and to keep her digestive system happy.

Another thing is her vitamins and minerals- straight grass hay is deficient in a few areas- I'll let Dawn, JBand Rio or PeggySue pick that apart, that's more their area.

I do know that horses on just hay should be fed either a ration balancer or a vitamin/mineral supplement to help fill the nutritional gaps. There are several good ration balancers out there, and vitamins/mineral supplements, as well that can meet these needs (yes, I'm aware that you're in Canada!),lol!

[PeggySue]

aren't or weren't you on one of the Canadian Ration balancers already??

[Xiphias]

How long ago was her foal weaned? She might still be playing catch up from the foal...?

Cathy

[Canadian Sage]

Peanut was weaned end of July/begining of August. She never dropped weight at all after weaning.


I did forget to add that shes got a salt block in her pen as well. And I do plan on getting a molasses lick (large) for the horses to lick when I bring them in everyday for grooming.


Like I said, my first plan IS to see if she can go out with some of the other horses, I know she would be happier.