How much Complete is he getting? If he’s in good weight and getting at least 5lb then it’s doubtful thats a problem. There would be no harm trying him on the Growth if you wanted.
Yes, young horses get tired just from the stimulation, not even from the riding (because some young in hand horses at USDF shows are SO tired by the 2nd day of the show, and all they did was trot a little triangle).
[QUOTE=JB;6626381]
The best Rx is proper nutrition and time. Those ARE your “muscle and energy supplements”
Don’t force his body to your timetable. Adjust your timetable to his body.
What’s he eating now?
I promise, when my WB was 4, I was asking the very same question. You can’t do anything about it. Fit him up appropriately for his age, but just remember, he IS still growing, and that takes a lot of energy to be done properly[/QUOTE]
this. just add something like Triple Crown 30% to his feed.
Other than that, it’s just a waiting game as they grow up.
I took my 3 y/o XC schooling last Sat for the first time.
We only walked around with my friends and trotted over some logs.
He was so tired that afternoon that he fell asleep at the top of the pasture and was left up there when everyone else came down to eat dinner.
I had to walk up to the top of the field and wake him up.
:yes:
cutie pies.
But, if he’s already getting 6 or 8lb of the Complete, you don’t want to add TC 30. If he’s only getting 4lb, then I’d add maybe 1/2lb of the TC 30.
Yesterday we schooled him over some jumps and did some lead changes and after I put him on the walker to cool off and he was falling asleep while walking! 
I will up his Triple crown a little and give him some electrolytes, just in case he isn’t drinking enough.
But HOW MUCH Complete is he getting now?
More might just make him fat, and that won’t help his energy at all.
If he’s in good weight, he’s getting enough food.
He is getting 5 pounds of complete right now.
He has dropped a little weight since being at the show and new training barn, but he isn’t underweight.
Most people like their hunters fat, I like to keep mine sound
I’ve had great results adding Platinum Performance supplement. Great line up of amino acids that are protein’s building blocks. Most of my horses have always been more “up” on PP supplement.
I would run, not walk, but run from any feed that has even slightly high starch levels. Your horse would probably do great at his age on a ration balancer.
My friend’s daughter’s FEI dressage horse is working wonderfully, both Regional & National HOY awards for past 3 years, on Buckeye Grow-n-Win mixed with Purina Ultium for that bit of added slow release energy. Plus he was put on Platinum Performance a year ago for that added level of energy that FEI horses need. This combination keeps him from having to eat loads of concentrated feed & so protects his gut also.
He is thriving on this with TONS of controlled energy (& he can be a bucker) works solidly with a great mind. Easy to get & keep fit on this program.
ck out Immunall–a great product. I use it on any horse that just doesn’t seem “right”. I highly recommend it.
Corn oil and electrolytes. 1 cup corn oil twice a day. Has made a HUGE difference with all my horses. Also helps to prevent lactic-acidosis.
Corn oil helps prevent lactic acidosis? It really doesn’t Where did you read that?
Corn oil is very high in Omega 6 which is responsible for the inflammatory response, which is why I would not ever feed it, even if I felt the need to add oil. There are far better choices without that issue.
As well, 2c oil is a LOT for horses who don’t have EPSM/PSSM issues, and many horses just won’t do well on that.
Samotis - 5lb Complete is probably borderline the lower limit for that feed and his age/training. You’ll want to monitor his weight, obviously, to make sure he doesn’t get too close to “just right” but still losing with his increased work and stress. You could safely feed several more lb of the Complete if necessary. That’s the easiest thing to do as you’re still just feeding 1 thing.
If you are sure he is getting a proper diet, I personally would just start with adding 1oz/daily of salt then re-evaluate. Another thing I have had good luck with for general wellness at my boarding barn is tractguard, which is just electrolytes/calcium carbonate/yeast and made a huge difference in the hydration and general GI health of the last 3 horses I had (one that was chronically dehydrated and had 3 impactions in 1 year).
I know from just my own personal experience lately working a ton of hours and dealing with a long commute, I have started drinking more water and electrolytes and it has radically improved my own stamina and helped with fatigue. I did it as an experiment after starting my horses on the same protocol, and it worked!
It’s no guarantee of course, but I would deal with this systematically rather than throw a bunch of different things all at once at the problem.
I will up his Triple Crown and I ordered him some blue lite pellets. They are an electrolyte with no sugar added.
I just feel bad for him because he is so lethargic!
Tons of people keep telling me, oh yeah he is 4, mine all did that.
Would riding him every other day be better?
I would consider every other day, or at least make every other day a light ride maybe just 30 minutes of a good walk.
He’s growing, and may be growing right now which is sapping some extra energy as well.
I ride mine every other day and it certainly seems to help. I do concur with others who pointed out that youngsters get especially tired at shows - whether from the increased demands on them physically or just the WOW! look at that! which will keep them up all night and exhausted during the day 
Interesting update!
So this morning I got to the barn and both his hind legs were swollen. Huge.
I hosed them off and he went on the walker. He has a low grade temp and is literally closing his eyes while he is eating.
He is eating, drinking and pooping normal, but with these puffy hind legs and a temp I am thinking maybe an infection? Or virus?
Maybe there was more to him being lethargic. :no:
Vet is coming this afternoon to do bloodwork.
I am wondering if he picked up something from the show? He is UTD on all his vaccinations.
Thoughts?
Where do you live? A client of mine had horses with the same symptoms and it was a reaction to trees in the field. I can check the name if you are in an area with trees and want to investigate it more.
I live in Arizona. Not sure what kind of trees are in the pasture. Not remembering any at the barn. Maybe an old dead one?
He hasn’t been at my house for a month and I just have palo verde and pine.
How did they know it was the trees?
Vet is coming to look at him in an hour or so. She said she would take blood.
Shipping fever? Youngsters, even those UTD with vax are still prone to getting it.
