[dnrslucky1]

I just bought a 5 year old horse that is going to need alot of help! She is extreemly skinny and has never had her feet trimmed. I was told she has been stunted since birth, so never gained weight, hooves never grew enough for a trim, and is good for a companion horse only. Is there such a thing as a skinny stunted horse? All the other horses were skinny and long hooved also. She couldn't stand on 3 feet, but I think she was weak from lack of food and unbalanced because of her hooves! Anyway, I will call my vet as soon as she arrives, but, it may take a couple days to get vet out. How and what should I feed her, when she arrives?

[Stormyheart6160]

Start her out on just hay for now! Let her have all the hay she wants, but NO GRAIN!!!!! After a couple of weeks of just hay, then you can slowly start introducing grain into her diet, by just giving her a handful for a few days, then maybe half a scoop for a week, then a full scoop for a week...and just keep slowly upping the amount you give her until she is getting what she needs. I would even break her "meals" down to several times a day once she gets used to eating the grain. Good luck with her. Oh yeah! I've heard of foals growth being stunted from lack of nutrition while growing, but not a full grown horse!!! But, even with that...stunted growth has nothing to do with whether or not a horse can gain weight. At least, not that I've ever heard of or encountered!

[EQRider]

Yes, make hay available all day, just not alfalfa or something too rich. Plenty of clean water too. Make sure she's comfortable, and I've never heard of a stunted growth in a grown horse either. I'm sure when you turn her around you will have a better take on wether or not she can be ridden. I have seen some amazing miracles in which people just turn horses around from knocking on death's door to becomming successful jumping mounts. I wouldn't give up, eventually try supplements, corrective shoeing, there's so many different things you can try when she becomes more stable.

[dnrslucky1]

I thought she just needed some good food,vet care and a good farrier! I will pick up some plain grass hay, as mine is alfalfa mixed. I am sure her growth is stunted, but I was concerned about her weight and balance! But if that stunted thingy forever is a crock of #### which I thought it was, well then I have a chance! Thank You Very Much!

[Blistering Winds]

"STUNTED" she may be. That is a HEIGHT Issue.

But that has nothing to do with how much fat she can put on.

I suggest looking into Beet Pulp. It is doing wonders for many horses here and seeing some great progress with my own.

Something to look into while you wait.


However, don't give her all the hay she wants at once. Not the first few days. Give her a little bit, several times a day. Just give her quarter flakes if she is really skinny. Spread them out over 6-8 times a day. Let her finish them up, wait a bit, then give her more.

increase it (or at least blend the amounts) over several days till she is eating several flakes at once. Then go free choice.

You don't want to colic her if she hasn't been eating much.

Then once she is on free choice, you can begin to add in the concentrates, beet pulp, etc.

[buddiebreeze]

How skinny was she? Is she emaciated or a little ribby? How would you describe her BSC?, are you sure there are no under lying issues. If this horse has more serious health implecations it could cost you a fortune in vetinary care. Did the person who sold her to you give you a specific reason why she wont be able to be ridden?

[buddiebreeze]

Originally Posted by dnrslucky1

hooves never grew enough for a trim,




All the other horses were skinny and long hooved also.

so she has long hooves but never grew her hooves long enough for a trim??

Who did you buy her off of ?(not a name obviously)

[dnrslucky1]

I am guessing her BSC score is a 2, Possibly a 1. Because she was in winter coat when I saw her. She was very ribby and hip bones sticking way out, I did not feel any fat, only bones. She was very alert and friendly, but I did bring some healthy horsey treats, which she loved!
She felt tight and dry to me, like dehydrated possibly.
I realize I will have large vet bills with her, but I could not leave her there. She was like begging for a new home!
My Vet only comes out on Wednesdays, and I am hoping to get her this weekend, weather permitting!
Should I worm her right away or wait till the Vet sees her?
They could not remember the last time she was wormed and she has never seen a Vet.
Wish me LUCK! I will post pics when she arrives!
Thank You so much for your help!

[hjackma51982]

Given her condition, I would wait on worming until she sees the vet. If she has a large enough parasite load, there is the possibility of the dead worms causing colic when her system tries to pass them. Your vet should be better able to tell if that is a risk for your girl.

[Blistering Winds]

on deworming a horse in that bad of condition, this is what I do.

When the horse arrives, I make sure he/she starts eating. After a day of settling into things, I'll pop something like safe guard. Something that has a "lower" worm coverage. Because the horse is a 1-2, talk to your vet about doing half dose. Basically you "get the process" going on a low level. It is risky for resistance, but you don't want to slam a large worm load like the above poster said.

1/2 dose then the other half in 2 weeks. Then 2 weeks later, we pop ivermectin after a month of eating.

However, I know some people that will pop safeguard in one sitting, 30 days later, pop ivermectin. Either or, it depends on the current health in my eyes of the horse when they arrive. I would rather get food on board and keep the horse a bit wormy until they can handle the drug. Emaciated horses CAN succumb to the deworming medicine very easily. So don't rush too fast with it in my opinion.

Damage is already there, but as said, colic would be an even bigger fear. And not just colic, there are some stages that involve the bloodstream. And killing those hard and fast can cause a heart attack, blockage that kills off tissue, etc. So work closely with your vet and if he suggest slamming with ivermectin first and foremost, discuss the disadvantages and concerns with slamming such a thorough product on a horse that thin. NEVER be afraid to counterdict the vet. It has saved many a horse over the years. Because vets are only human, and sometimes they don't see the rest of the picture.