Mares weight loss mystery???

Question
Hello, my name is April and I am a first time horse owner. I'll just start from the beginning, I got Lucky when she was 2-1/2 yrs. old in Feb., now 3. Well I got her on Thurs. and she injured her leg that Sunday. She got spooked in her stall by a stud and got on her two back legs and when she came down 1 leg got caught in the gate and ripped the meat completely off on both sides. To the bone. So i'm dealing w/the healing process which is taking a really long time. The vet had let me know it would be a long while before her leg would be 100%. So a couple of months went by, her leg coming around, and then I noticed that she was still limping. So a friend of mine decided to take her for about a month b/c their stalls were big enough for her to move and run a bit. But, when she had left she was looking a little skinny so they said that they would get her weight up and have her saddle trained since she had not been riden in about a year. Which the vet recommened that she not be riden until healed. The guy that had her said that he had rode her and she was okay.
Well, these last couple of days as I have been going up there daily I noticed that she is still losing weight. I can see her ribs, her hips and it just looks sunkin in around her body and face. The guy said that they had tubed wormed her but I have a feeling that he didn't. So I did Monday (07/03) and yesterday (07/05) i went to see her and she actually looked some what better. Could it of been that they didn't worm her, and that was the problem? I have decided to worm her again in 2 weeks and then worm once a month. Is that okay to worm them like that? Maybe she isn't getting feed enough. I only get to go once a day to see her so I have to give her enough hay to last till the next day. I give her 3 scopes of feed and 1 scoop of pillets? What would you recommend, feeding wise, to get her weight back up, how much feed, and how much hay is a good quantity? Would you recommend Red Cell or Red Dot as a weight gainer? Do you think I should start to lunge her to get her moving that leg again? At one time I was lungeing her atleast 3 times/wk. Although, she is no longer walking w/a limp. Thanks for all your input and help,
April and Lucky Woman

Answer
Hi April;

First, congrats on your purchase of Lucky!  Welcome to the greatest addiction on the planet.

I'm going to be really honest with you April about what I think you should do.

1.  Bring her home or at the very least take her out of where she is now.  Your friend is not doing her any favors.

2.  Turn her out 24/7, preferably to pasture, but not a 'rich' pasture...wean her onto the pasture if it's rich, but get her out of a stall.  Horses are designed to heal in movement.  The only way a horse gets circulation to the legs is through movement.  The greater the circulation, the greater the potential to heal.

3.  Find a vet who specializes in leg injuries and have him/her come and exam her leg thoroughly.  Tell the vet to bring their portable x-ray and leg ultrasound machines.  You have to know what the extent of the internal damage is.  If there are any bone growths, or if she damaged a tendon or ligament and the extent of that damage.  Discuss a course of action; supplimentation, acupuncture, massage, stretches, water therapy, bandaging, linaments, exercise etc...

4.  Choose a complete pelleted feed or an extruded feed for her that is suitable for a horse of her age and level of activity.  Do some research in this area and speak to representatives/nutritionist from some of the different equine food manufacturers in your area.  They will be able to help you with supplimentation befitting the area you live in and in regards to dealing with her weight issue.

5.  Put her on a grass mixed hay and offer it to her free choice.  Yes, even if she's on pasture, give her free choice hay.  Horse's have sensitive digestive systems and should have food in their stomachs 24/7, otherwise the PH level rises, they get upset stomachs, can colic, get ulcers etc...

6.  When the vet specialist clears her for work, then discuss with him/her about the best exercise program.  In the meantime, while she's turned out 24/7, she'll self-exercise and begin this process on her own.

7.  Have a fecal count done on her to determine the level of worm infestation she may or may not have and speak with the vet about a proper worming program designed specifically for your horse.  Also, have them pull blood and do a full blood work up to make sure she doesn't have some sort of allergy, nutrient imbalance, or systemic issue that contributing to her weight loss.

Best wishes!

Sincerely,

Lana Reinhardt