So i’ll keep it to a 1/2 pound and feed just alfalfa pellets & keep upping amount,till up to 10lbs a day. That 9,000 calories a day better then nothing,guess thin is better then to fat.
Can’t keep buying feed they won’t eat…i’am at a loss tried almost every feed purina has and 5 feeds from nutrena,some of those feeds i won’t buy it’s junk feed.
They stayed at a good weight last summer,on pasture and minimal feed,and being worked hard.
With picky/ill horses, it’s rare/unlikely that you’ll buy something that they will LOVE and HOOVER at first sight. Often you just have to buy something that you know is what they need, that they don’t find too objectionable, and stop the food roulette. Feed them what they’ll eat, in a quantity that they’ll eat. Stop switching things up. When they are reliably cleaning buckets, add a little more.
This takes time. And patience 
That weight won’t go back on overnight, and they won’t transform into great eaters overnight. From their perspective, eating hurts. You’ve got to give them time to realize that it doesn’t.
So keep with whatever quality feed they like well enough, keep up with the meds, and wait for them to feel better.
If you’re not happy with their weight once it gets cold, having a blanketing plan is probably a good idea. Hopefully we’re far enough out from winter that they’ll be in good weight going into it, but if not–you won’t want them shivering off hard-earned calories.
[QUOTE=Simkie;8826977]
With picky/ill horses, it’s rare/unlikely that you’ll buy something that they will LOVE and HOOVER at first sight. Often you just have to buy something that you know is what they need, that they don’t find too objectionable, and stop the food roulette. Feed them what they’ll eat, in a quantity that they’ll eat. Stop switching things up. When they are reliably cleaning buckets, add a little more.
This takes time. And patience That weight won’t go back on overnight, and they won’t transform into great eaters overnight. From their perspective, eating hurts. You’ve got to give them time to realize that it doesn’t.
So keep with whatever quality feed they like well enough, keep up with the meds, and wait for them to feel better.
If you’re not happy with their weight once it gets cold, having a blanketing plan is probably a good idea. Hopefully we’re far enough out from winter that they’ll be in good weight going into it, but if not–you won’t want them shivering off hard-earned calories.[/QUOTE]
Thanks, i’ll keep them on alfa pellets and the omolene 200 that’s what they will eat and clean up right now. All other feeds have been a fail that’s feeds that are supposed to be lower NSC.
I’am getting in a panic because were in september and i have very thin horses. And winters can be brutal up in the northern mn where i live. Only thing these boys got going for them is they are getting their winter coats,the fuzzy is starting already.
If i divide omolene 200 into 1 1/2 pound per feeding wouldn’t that cut the NSC,so not so much at one time. ?? I just want them to eat and get more calories into them…
Omolene 200 is like feeding your kid pixie sticks. A handful to get meds in? Sure, fine. As a regular part of their daily diet? Ehhhhhhh, really not a good idea.
You’ve tried a lot of good feed. What did they like best of the lower NSC feeds? Stick with that. Use a handful of the 200 for meds, if you need to, and go with a better feed for their weight gain. Give them what they’ll clean up. As they do that consistently, increase the volume. Slowly. It’s probably going to take some time before they’re up to the amount you want, but it’s really going to be better in the long run to get them eating something that’s not loaded with sugar.
They’ll eat proforce fuel,for a while. Getting meds in them is easy just throw pills on top of alfa pellets. They liked triumph senior if i remember it’s kinda high NSC also.
I’ll mix the omolene 200 1/2 pound and add in the proforce fuel again,and hope they don’t decided all feed is evil. Their eating 7 1/2 pounds 7lbs is alfa pellet 1/2 pound is omolene 200. Don’t know how much more they will eat, kinda getting to the limit on amount… 3.75 lbs per feeding. Was 3 lbs for a while.
How long does it take to see improvement in lyme symptoms after on doxy?? 4 year old is still stiff,sore.
[QUOTE=tazycat;8826957]
So i’ll keep it to a 1/2 pound and feed just alfalfa pellets & keep upping amount,till up to 10lbs a day. That 9,000 calories a day better then nothing,guess thin is better then to fat.
Can’t keep buying feed they won’t eat…i’am at a loss tried almost every feed purina has and 5 feeds from nutrena,some of those feeds i won’t buy it’s junk feed.
They stayed at a good weight last summer,on pasture and minimal feed,and being worked hard.[/QUOTE]
I lived in MN for 5 years. Thin is not better than fat in that climate. I am going against the advice you have gotten here and say to give them what they will eat. You don’t need to feed 9 pounds of Omolene 200. Start with 2 pounds mixed with the alfalfa pellets and either go up or down as needed. When they clean it up then increase it by 1/2 pound.
My horses have always had sweet feed. I like it, they like it. I have had horses for 40 years now and I have never had an ulcer in one of them. I know that those who have treated for ulcers are saying the sweetened feed is bad, but that is something I would go to the vet with ( the one who has seen them) , not on the internet.
You are going into winter up North with 3 thin horses and I suggest you get a blanket for each of them, because unfortunately you are going to need it at least this year.
If they were in good flesh last summer you need to figure out what has changed and why despite forage 24/7 on abundant grass and freedom they have developed ulcers? Was it because of the Lyme disease?
Can you treat all 3 for Lyme even if they show only trace? You need to get them eating really well before the snow flies and the temps drop and that can be in 3
weeks.
I would buy and feed whatever they will eat. I like Omolene and my horses young and old did well on it.
Candyappy,vet has no issue with the omolene 200 i had talked to him about it here once before. Pasture isn’t what it was a year ago nutrient wise,but horses still prefer it over hay.
Don’t know why the ulcers but the one horse has them. They pretty much prefer the omolene over all other feeds,proforce fuel is not their idea of what they want.
Weather is already getting very cool at night and days are also a lot cooler.Have blankets for all three so set there. I keep getting told low NSC feeds are better for horses,well try telling them it’s better.
Only 2 have positive lyme test other one was negative so no wont treat him,only treating the 4 year old who showing signs of lyme.Their eating better now as long as its feed they like.
If snow flies in 3 weeks and gets cold,well horses will still be thin,don’t see a big weight gain in 3 weeks. Ugh their pretty thin.
Ultium has the highest fat content I’ve found (15%). It’s 15–16% nsc, which isn’t the lowest in the world, but you can buy it locally, and the alf pellets will balance that out and give the horses an all-around healthier diet.
Can you get alfalfa hay where you live?
Now’s the time to get their blankets.
[QUOTE=tazycat;8828998]
Candyappy,vet has no issue with the omolene 200 i had talked to him about it here once before. Pasture isn’t what it was a year ago nutrient wise,but horses still prefer it over hay.
Don’t know why the ulcers but the one horse has them. They pretty much prefer the omolene over all other feeds,proforce fuel is not their idea of what they want.
Weather is already getting very cool at night and days are also a lot cooler.Have blankets for all three so set there. I keep getting told low NSC feeds are better for horses,well try telling them it’s better.
Only 2 have positive lyme test other one was negative so no wont treat him,only treating the 4 year old who showing signs of lyme.Their eating better now as long as its feed they like.
If snow flies in 3 weeks and gets cold,well horses will still be thin,don’t see a big weight gain in 3 weeks. Ugh their pretty thin.[/QUOTE]
If they have blankets and are eating the feed you give them they will gain. Glad to hear you don’t have lymes confirmed in all of them. Treating should help.
Once the grass goes dormant ( or covered w/ snow or frozen) will they eat their hay?? That is when I would put out the alfalfa. At least that is plentiful in MN.
If you can get them to eventually eat the alfalfa hay over pellets that would be better.
Why don’t you just give them free choice of a good hay to add weight and calories? My pasture is not sufficient to maintain my horses through the summer so I feed hay year round. Although this year with all the rain we have had it is coming back pretty good. I also live in Mn. and have had 3 horses with anaplasmosis and one with lyme disease. All received 3 days of iv antibiotics and are doing great…
I have 180 acres of pasture, they have no interest in eating hay. There’s a big round bale of alfalfa hay in their shed. They’re hardly touching it, it’s good hay no mold no dust.
4 year old is fine now still on doxy, just came home from 4 days of riding. …out in Dakota’s. 4 & 7 year-old are ridden 5 days a week.
There eating 5lbs alfalfa pellets & 3 lbs of omolene 200. Dry lot isnt an option there is no dry lot.
They didn’t like the ultium when i did try it,right now their eating the alfa pellets and omolene 200. Maybe not the best but it’s what they’ll eat.
http://chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?392996-Purina-NSC-Values-amp-kcal-lb-values
This info is a few years old, but may be helpful.
Also, I started adding about two teaspoons of fenugreek seed to my mare’s feed. It improved her appetite across the board.
To add calories, you could also add Amplify.
Good luck.
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