[xlilxonex]

Switched my guy to a RB (Seminole Equalizer) and he's still not gaining the weight i'd like....

He's getting
1.5 lbs of Seminole Equalizer a day and about 6lbs of beetpulp a day split into 3 feedings..
He's also on MSM, and Garlic Eze
He also is on free-choice bahia hay

He's energetic, happy(well for him...), but you can still see his ribs and his withers seem unusually skinny..

It's prety hot outside and he's a curly, so I know he's probably lost some weight due to sweating like crazy, but i'm still worried. We are on our last bag of Equalizer so is there something else by Seminole that would be better to feed? Should I add more beetpulp?

[Dawn]

Do you have photos of him? How long has he been on the above diet?

[xlilxonex]

He's been on it for about a month I believe... The first bag lasted about 21 days with two horses on it, so Definately a month or a little over... I don't have updated pictures of him, but I can go out and take some in a few moments.

[Dawn]

I can't remember how much weight he needed to gain, but in one months time, you wouldn't really expect to see a massive weight gain.

Is he losing? Or have you noticed that he's gained weight (no matter how little)?

[xlilxonex]

He's gained some, but it's coming and going some... In the mornings you can normally see his ribs, but in the afternoons when we turn him out to graze around our property where the grass is his ribs are covered... He wasn't needing to gain a whole lot but his ribs were showing and he wasn't as energetic as he used to be..

He definately has ALOT more energy, and has gained some but not as much as i'd like.... I did take some pictures but he kept running off everytime I got close, so I had to stand on the porch away from him to take some, so they arent' the best... I'll get more at dinner time.

Here was a picture of him about a week after we put him on the Equalizer... Maybe before, but in that time frame...




The new photos are uploading a.t.m

[xlilxonex]

The main thing i'm worried about is how thin and narrow his withers have gotten in the past 3/4 months... Is this normal with age?

[Dawn]

Originally Posted by xlilxonex

The main thing i'm worried about is how thin and narrow his withers have gotten in the past 3/4 months... Is this normal with age?

What you're seeing there is likely muscle loss. As horses get older, it's more difficult for them to utilize protein (why diets with good sources of amino acids are importnat). In addition to that less exercise also contributes to the problem making it twofold.

How old is he?

[xlilxonex]

He's had less exercise, that's for sure but i'm working on getting him back to work again.. He's 17 but will be 18 in September..

Here's a photo Ijust took. He looks pretty good in it, although sharp withers.. Sorry it's grazing! His ribs are covered here, but I know it's from him being out in the good grass all day, so will have to get a "normal" photo tomorrow..

http://i728.photobucket.com/albums/w...x/100_9748.jpg

[Dawn]

He actually looks really good in those two photos. More muscle needed around his withers for sure. But muscle, not fat.

I wonder since you're noticing the 'thinness' when he's not on grass if he's having trouble eating the hay? When were his teeth last floated?

[xlilxonex]

He probably could use his teeth floated but at the moment i need to wait till my other mare sells before I have the money for it unfortunately.. He's not dropping his grain much and isn't showing much problems... The hay issue is that it's not that great of quality.. He's allergic to Alfalfa t'n'a etc. and it makes him itch BADLY so we have him on bahia hay.. I think i'm going to up his beetpulp a little bit and see if it makes a difference and lunge him a bit each day as I know he will look a bit better with work.