My neglected racehorse

Question
Hello, i recently bought a young throughbred horse who is lacking condition. It would be very helpful if you had any tips for me. I am seventeen years old and have had quite a good bit of experience with horses, although not alot in this area.

Before i bought him, he had been out at grass the past four months to fatten him up as the previous owners acquired him in an awful state (apparently)

Now that i have him, he as been on a fattening food mix and is great to ride although recently his legs started to swell, and he just wont seem to put on muscle. he has fattened up well so far, but is lacking in topline. His whole hindquarters are flat and his coat is dull. Do you have any tips on what i should do with him? When he seems to be getting better, he seems to get worse.

Sarah

Answer
Hello Sarah,

In order to develop muscle a horse needs work of the proper sort.  He first needs ground work on the lunge line to learn word commands.

His topline will develop ONLY with the proper mounted work.  Trotting and walking with a stretched and lowered neck, transitions from walk to trot to canter and back again and transitions within gait (short and long)...this will develop his topline.

His legs are swelling probably because he is getting too much fattenting food without the right amount of work to balance it out. He should be worked on lunge line about 20 minutes each way and then mounted walk and trot for another half hour, on long rein, also both reins, at least 6 days a week.After a few months of this he will put on muscle and have a much better topline.

His coat will shine if you groom him well each day, and he could probably use a bit of corn oil on his food, or a vitamin supplement if you can afford it.

I am now working with a neglected TB race horse. I have had him since Aug 3. He is a very different horse now from what he was three months ago.  His coat shines and he is doing his ground work in preparation for mounted work.

Best wishes,
Dorothy