Hello nutrition experts! Is triple crown senior (12lbs a day, split between 3 meals) sufficient for muscle growth in a hard keeper? Or should I be top dressing with a high protein balancer as well?
The horse is fed free choice hay and is gaining weight steadily, but I would like to build a bit more topline as well.
Thoughts?
Correct work builds muscle.
Thanks, I am aware. I work with a trainer to make sure he is working correctly. I am only asking for feeding advice.
If you’re not already, the addition of some alfalfa hay would be a nice way to get some extra protein in. In my experience, (which should not be taken as scientific or professional advice) even adding one average flake of alfalfa hay is the best supplement for overall condition. Cubes work as well if that’s easier from a management perspective.
I’ve not had any issues feeding TCS to any of the horses in my care (though I currently have one that I reduced his TCS so I could feed more Alf without turning him to a blimp, he’s getting VT blend to fill the nutritional gap) nor have I seen an issues or complaints from others feeding it (including young horses headed for the racetrack or yearling sales).
I would definitely not add any ration balancer on top of 12lb of any fortified feed.
A horse gaining weight isn’t going to have the topline he’ll have once the weight is there.
Give the new diet time to do its work.
Whenever I see posts about building more topline, I look at the feet.
A barefoot horse with an improper trim cannot build good topline.
A shod horse with an improper trim cannot build good topline.
A horse uncomfortable in their feet for any reason, cannot build good topline.
Some questions:
Also you mentioned it, but didn’t explicitly ask. I also tend to suspect feet are the root of all problems, but this horse is shod all around and feet are done well, so I don’t think the topline problems are caused by bad feet.
I think JB is probably right that I just need to give it time. To clarify, I am not concerned that I have had him on this diet for a while and am not seeing results. I have been slowly upping his grain portion and have only been feeding this new diet for 2 weeks. I am just wondering preemptively if I am feeding properly to build muscle.
Thanks for all the insights everyone!
If he is a TB off of the track, he should already have a good topline if he wasn’t injured and that’s the reason for his retirement. Those TBs are walking muscle. Many people may see a loss of condition once the TB is let down, typically because they are not feeding enough for a horse with high metabolism / used to high quality feed.
Do you have photos of his condition, and his feet?
Without knowing true weight/measurement of what he is eating, it is tough to tell if it is a matter of “not enough” or, if something else is at play. But you mention this is a newish diet – 2 weeks is not much time to give the diet a chance to work.
“Half a bale” is not much of a metric here, where we have several different varieties available and all at different nutritional profiles and weights – “half a bale” of coastal wouldn’t even keep one of my easy keepers in good weight since they tend to be low nutrition and rarely more than 50lb a bale… but “half a bale” of alfalfa would since those are typically anywhere from 70-100lb bales.
To answer your question at its most basic – it really depends on the quality of the hay and whether or not the horse is sound. A sound horse will never build good topline. I always immediately suspect discomfort somewhere if absence of topline is the genuine concern, versus distribution of fat/good condition of the horse.
30-40lb squares are small. To me, “pretty dang big” would be 60-70lb squares. 15-20lb of hay would be too little. 30-35 would be fantastic in this situation
2 weeks and he’s visibly gaining, says you’re on the right track. Everything about all the hay he’ll eat, AND 12lb of TC Sr, is going to support all his physical development
My bales are 60-70lbs, half of that is 30-35. 
In my experience OTTB lose condition fast and they lose condition and weight when they aren’t being worked.
When I’ve had to feed up an OTTB I’ve done free choice very good Timothy plus at least 5 lbs of alfalfa a day. Then the same small beet pulp mash to carry a vms and flax as I use on the easy keepers.
If they are still underweight there is a cool calories product here that’s basically alfalfa meal and vegetable oil pellets. Very palatable and high quality.
The key is very good hay. If your hay has the baseline protein level of about 10% then some alfalfa will give you the boost of protein you need.
I agree he should be eating upwards of 20 to 25 lbs of quality hay a day. 30 lbs is not excessive for a TB. Get a fish scale and weigh it. You can stuff a large hole haybag so he has hay in front of him 24/7.
I don’t know TCS. We don’t have it here. I think from what I’ve read on COTH that it’s a quality feed that is forage based, but probably lower protein? I don’t myself think any horse I’ve come across needs 12 lbs of any bagged feed unless he has no teeth and it’s a forage replacement. I would cut the bagged feed and give him free choice very good grass hay with about 30% of total hay as good alfalfa.
I switched over to commercial 2nd cut Timothy from random cool climate grass hays several years back, and it has been the best thing ever for both hard and easy keepers.
I also really like the results of a comprehensive vms with plenty of copper and zinc.
Ohhhh I totally misread your comment LOL! So we’re on the same page 
Adding alfalfa is great if you can get it! I’m bringing my 6yo OTTB back into work after about 5 months off. I’ve seen a huge improvement in his weight and muscle development after adding alfalfa. Granted he gets a decent amount - about 10-15lbs a day but that’s because we’re treating him for ulcers so the vet ok’ed him getting straight alfalfa when he’s not on pasture.
TCS is a great feed and should cover most of your nutrition bases.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
