Skinny TB

Question
Hi!

My name is Corey and I am having trouble keeping weight on my 9 yr. old OTTB mare. She isn't emaciated or anything but just a little ribby. She has always been on the thin side and easily loses weight in extreme heat or extreme cold.

At the beginning of the Summer we had a week of 100* degree weather and she lost a lot of weight and since then we have had trouble putting it back on.

Right now she is eating 1/2 scoop of Safe Choice Feed and 1/2 Senior Feed. She gets smartflex maintenance joint supplement, Farriers Formula, and Bugcheck in the AM as well. We also have just started her on 1/2 a scoop of (soaked) beet pulp in the evenings and may increase it with time. She lives out doors 24/7 in a plentiful field but also has hay available all the time.

Her current training is consisting of 2 days of flat work, 2 days of jumping work (still very green), and lunging (w/ side reins) once a week an going out on the trails once a week.

If you have any more ideas on ways to bump up her weight without making her hot just let me know. : )

Thanks,
Corey

Answer
Hi Corey,  I'm not familiar with the grain you're feeding, however I would suggest any grain that is high in fat.  At least 10% fat, Nutrena has a new feed out that is 12% fat that I've not fed but sounds great for hard to keep horses as it's low in protein also.  I would up the grain intake, as much as it sounds like she's getting worked I would feed her up to 2 scoops (6 quarts) twice a day of the high fat grain. Being that she's out all day on good pasture you will be safe having her eat that much grain.  You may also add rice bran or corn oil to her daily grain as it's a good source of fat also.  You can but weight gain supplements in a feed store or catalog, I've not fed them but you could try it.  Keep the beet pulp, I would up it, however, to 1/2 scoop twice a day.  Keep the protein low on the grain so that she doesn't get hot with all that you're feeding.  Good luck, Jessica