Poor Doers
A: First, feed more hay or better quality hay. Second, increase the fat content of the diet. Fat is the safest and quickest way to put extra weight on your horse. HYGAIN offers multiple high fat choices from concentrated fat supplements such as HYGAIN RBO – Equine Performance Oil (99% fat) and HYGAIN TRU GAIN (20% fat) to complete feeds such as HYGAIN RELEASE (10% fat) or HYGAIN SHOWTORQUE (9% fat – no cereal grains). Remember to make all diet changes gradually to avoid digestive upset.
A: During the starvation process, the horse initially uses any fat and carbohydrate stores in his body to supply energy for metabolism. The horse will then go on to use protein not only from muscles but also from vital organs like the heart, literally breaking down his body to survive. If we feed these horses high calorie, carbohydrate rich feeds it can induce a heart attack – this response is known as re-feeding syndrome. The best thing to offer starved horses is small frequent meals of Lucerne. These horses are often dehydrated so wetting lurcerne is an excellent option for these horses.
A: I would continue to feed HYGAIN SHOWTORQUE as it will keep his mind stable as well as helping him gain weight but I would also add some HYGAIN RBO, depending on how much weight you want him to gain you could add as much as a cup per day of oil to his feed. This will add extra calories without making him hot. Keep in mind though a lot of extra calories in any form if he is not getting exercised will form excess unwanted energy. I would also make sure he had hay or pasture in front of him all the time.
