Conference noted::equitation

    My anglo-arab had a similar problem.  His cause was stress (from
    a move and a radically different training schedule.  After a while
    he started to pick up some weight, but not enough.  Though he was
    getting close to 20# of 16% feed, lots of good hay and enough
    supplements to choke him (not literally but some of them smelled
    pretty strange) he would not pick up weight beyond a certain point.
    He looked like he had a hay belly but it wouldn't turn to fat.
    
    I wound up taking him to the Ohio State Vet School where they
    determined he has a blood pressure problem. They belly was water
    retention - not a hay belly. We put him on some Lasix and he looks
    a lot better.  I wonder if I can get people to believe I'm getting
    fat 'cause of my blood pressure....
    
    Maureen
    

    We have had the most success with a product called "SOURCE".  Its
    available at most feed stores and is pretty easy to use.  We've
    also used high protien feed additives like "CALF MANNA" or "BLUE
    SEAL SUNSHINE PELLETS" with varying results.  I don't like to give
    all the protien to horses who aren't in training mostly because
    it can cause more problems than what you are trying to cure.  Stable
    management can really affect how fast a horse puts on weight also.
    The best program is using good quality feed given as many times
    a day as your schedule will permit.  (ie 15 pounds fed over five
    feedings per day is as good as 20 pounds twice a day)  The horse
    as a fast digestive tract designed to absorb nutrition from bulk
    feed, therefore concentrated feed like grain moves too fast to be
    totally digested.  Add lots of bulk (bran or beet pulp), lots of
    "CLEAN" water, and free choice hay and salt.  You should have a
    mild exercise schedule (good circulation is important to digestion)
    and if the weather is cold use a blanket.  Don't forget that if
    a horse has to provide extra heat to stay warm, it has to come from
    fat reserves.  It may be my imagination but it seems that the horses
    we pay lots of attention to (grooming etc) gain weight faster. 
    Lastly don't forget that there are naturally some thin horses and
    fat horses, just like there are some thin people and some fat people.
                                                              
    

    I'd check to see if her teeth needed to be floated too!
    
    Ann

    
    
    My 18 year old gelding could never keep  his weight through most
    of his life.  I tried everything but finally figured he was just
    a hard-keeper.  I started feeding Source Micro-nutrients three
    years ago for youngsters and horses in training and gave it to
    my gelding as well.   Within three months he began to gain weight
    and looks better now than when he was a five year old.  I can
    only assume that something was lacking in his diet that source
    provided.  Though it seems expensive, $25.00 appr. a 5 lb tub,
    this is enough to last 1 horse five months which breaks down to
    $5.00 per month.  Another benifit is that you don't have to feed
    as much (which I DID NOT BELIEVE), but I have since had to cut
    down on all my horses feed because they began to get too fat.
    So the extra money for source eventually saved me money in feed.
    
    Linda
    
    

    I'll second (or is it third) the use of Source!  I had a mare who
    was returned to me on a lease in horrible condition.  I started
    her out on 4 lbs of feed a day plus Source and hand-walking and
    then gradually increased her feed.  She is now being worked 1 to
    1 1/2 hour a day 5 days a week, 7 lbs feed (Trotter - pellets and
    Charger - sweet) and Source, gets fed 3 times daily (hay 4 times
    daily) and is now probably a little on the chunky side.  When she
    was being shown, she was getting worked less, fed almost twice as
    much (at another barn) and no Source and never looked as good as
    she does now.
    
    Linda
    

    Another vote for Source.  Although my horse is a very easy
    keeper (weight problem tends to be in the other direction), I
    did feed him Source a couple of years ago, and was able to 
    cut down his grain rations.  It also improved his hooves
    drastically - the farrier noticed when he came to reset his
    shoes -.  I wouldn't hesitate to use it again, and would
    recommend trying it.  You might want to have the vet check
    her out if she doesn't seem to improve soon, it could have
    to do with something that needs medical attention.

    Thanks for all the responses.  I am keeping a close I on 
    her.  It's not that she's thin, ribby, or anything, but
    I just am not impressed with the overall picture?  I am going
    to put her on source, I used to use it on a horse I had a few
    years back, it worked really well on him.  I am going to have
    the vet check her out soon.  Her appetite is definately there,
    and her mood hasn't changed any. Signed, Bewildered?
    
    

	I used  to give my horse Purina Golden Bulky. He was allergic to
    hay  andhence  in  the  winter  when the grass pickin's were minimal
    would  have  a tendency to lose weight. It helped put flesh over the
    bones  without  making  him high. I know of several other people who
    have also used it with great success.


			    kmr

    	I would suggest race horse oats and alfalfa cubes.
    For years I had a problem keeping weight on my American Saddlebred,
    it seemed that no matter how much or what (and I tried many brands)
    She would not gain, she was healthy but thin.  I changed stables
    and the manager suggested the oats and alfalfa - the difference
    was incredible!  This summer due to the drought (in the South) we
    switched to a pellet type feed -- she began losing weight almost
    immediately, upon going back to the oats, she regained the weight.
    Some of the easier to keep horses do tend to get *fat* on this diet.
    
    Regards, Angela
    

    Hi,
    
    I'm finally getting my baby girl (well, she's 26 as of last Friday)
    back after 2 years!!!  
    
    That's the good news, the bad is that she looks horrible and has
    lost a lot of weight.  When I got her in '77 she was really thin
    and I supplemented her grain with something called "Golden Bulky"
    which really helped put on the pounds.   
    
    Does anyone know if it's still around?  I've called a few places
    and noone seems to know what I'm talking about.
    
    Thanks,
    beth
    

    My barn uses something called "dingee" [I think], sold by Agway, It's
    ground up hay, molasses, and some grain, from the looks if it and very
    rich. We have a 23 yr old TB on it and he looks 12!

    Have you considered "vintage senior" by blue seal? Nutrena also
    has an identical product.  They are specifically for meeting the
    needs of older horses, easily chewed and digested.   It's an
    extruded feed, and some horses tend to find it unpalatable, but
    mixed with something more tempting they seem to do very well
    on it.
    

    re: last two
    
    Thanks.  I picked up some Equine Senior (Purina), which she
    seems to really like.  Its a bad time to change grain on
    her but I've been giving it to her for a treat.  The grain
    store I got it from said it far outsells their Omelene.
    
    Golden Bulky has now changed names to Dairy Fiber Pak and
    is available at Purina dealers.
    
    beth