horse lacking muscle

Question

horse lacking muscle   hello ma'am, can i build up horse quarters through supplements? actually, my friend bought a 10 year old thoroughbred ex racehorse, a mare. i told him that she lacks muscle on the haunches. he told me that it is not a racehorse to be on supplements and also told that he cant afford supplements.

this is the horse photo i have attached

Answer
Hi Rohit,

Thank you for your question.  The only way to get an adult horse to build muscle is to feed sufficient dietary protein AND exercise the horse.  You need to do both, as exercise with a protein shortage or excess dietary protein without work will get you no where.  The source of protein is not as important as the amount of protein fed, but if you have a choice choose a protein source that is rich in the amino acid lysine as it's best for muscle development.  The amount of protein you need to feed depends on how much work the horse is doing, as well as the horse's body weight.  The picture you've provided makes it a bit difficult to gauge muscle pattern and body condition...but it does appear as though the horse could also use more body condition which comes from feeding more dietary energy.

Thanks, Corlena