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Ot: horse question

R

rrman61

Well-known Member
I am getting a a severely malnourished/wormy 1 1/2 year old quarter horse.its in a nearby "pasture" and I just want to give the Animal a chance.it might weigh 250 lbs.i have the deworming covered,could use some feeding direction though.don"t even get me started on the guy that let it get so poor.
 
From a friend that has rescued a few and runs a boarding stable.

Do a worm blast 3 different workers 10 days apart and soaked beet pulp added to grain beet pulp is safe. scoop in am and pm increase to 2 scoops and slowly add in senior grain.
 
Good vet can put you on the right track, but depending on how good its teeth are you could start it out on all the good hay it will eat plus a light sweet feed 3 times a day for a few days then up the percentage of the sweet as soon as you think it can handle it. Plenty of fresh water. Watch the manure so it don't get too loose or it might twist a gut from the new feed. Just my opinion, others may think differently. One thing for sure I'd do before you put it out in pasture where anyone driving by can see it, is to call the local sheriff or animal control people and let them know whats going on. Last thing you need is someone thinking you are at fault for the horse's condition.
 
I watched an episode of Texas Country Reporter one time where this couple had both retired from different gov't-related jobs. They bought a farm out in the country and, with neither of them having EVER had anything to do with horses, opened up a horse rescue facility. Said they got horses in there that weren't expected to last more than a couple months, yet were there and looking real nice and healthy several years later. Was one of the best stories I think I'd ever watched! Will see if I can find it online...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkTlcfv1Flk
That's the one. Enjoy!!
 
I would start a little slow on the hay for the first couple days too. Too much too fast can cause problems. And I would wait a few days for the sweet feed as well if it is really in bad shape. And 250 pounds on a year and a half old horse is really bad. That is unless the horse has had new grass available tho get started on.
 
I would start feeding the horse good quality low protein grass hay. Let it eat what it wants. Then after it gets some thing in it digestive track then start out with some oats with a little molasses on them. I do mean just a little molasses too. Remember this horse is malnourished. So you need to start out SLOW and easy on feed. The grass hay and oats both have lots of fiber. So this will help get it used to eating without issues. Then after it gets used to better feed for 10 days to two weeks you can work a higher protein sweet feed into its diet. I would keep it on the good quality grass hay for the time bring. The volume of lower quality hay is better for the horse.

Example feed it maybe half a bale per day of grass hay verses a few flakes of high protein alfalfa. A horse that is not being worked does not need the protein.
 
I have plenty of good grass but even that I don't
want to let him have too much too soon not to shock
his system.thanks for all the good advice
 
I would talk to a Vet or the APL who do animal rescues. If you do it wrong you can cause colic or cause it founder. Get expert advice.
.
 
You might be careful with giving it a full dose of dewormer, I've seen if the horse is excessively infested with worms you can cause an impaction colic simply due to worm numbers. I would not use a harsh dewormer. And realize the gut lining can be compromised with a large infestation. If it would be me I would look for a lowered DE and TDN ration, oats a good choice as they are "safe" and I would definitely start out with a grass hay, Bermuda, and slowly introduce alfalfa as it will need increased energy as it is still a grower. Must get him/her "right on the inside" before you can get him/her right on the outside.
 
Definitely talk to a vet, take picture, run it across a scale and document, document, document. I am a shoer and had a customer who got a malnourished horse and got in trouble with animal control. In fact, I might go so far as to contact animal control and let them know you have this animal in case someone turns you in.

Good luck.
 
We rescued a three year old that was starving, skin was 4 inches below the hips. Talked to a few rescue groups. Dewormed about half dose and only fed alfalfa hay with plenty of water. No grain at all,She did great. Once the weight was on switched to Bermuda
 
(quoted from post at 16:43:36 06/05/17) I am getting a a severely malnourished/wormy 1 1/2 year old quarter horse.its in a nearby "pasture" and I just want to give the Animal a chance.it might weigh 250 lbs.i have the deworming covered,could use some feeding direction though.don"t even get me started on the guy that let it get so poor.
Click to expand...

Is the horse worth anything? Is it broke to ride or drive? Is it out of good stock or a scrub? The US is overpopulated with worthless horses. Might be putting it down is the best option unless you have a lot of extra time and money on hand.

FYI- I'm a horse owner and lover, but reality is what it is.
 
Dad rescued old Smoky back in 1948 I think. Was tethered on a lawn in town and starving to death. Gave 25 bucks with a saddle. We boys had to help dad get him on his feet first days. Dad handled the feeding. Our pony grew up to be a 11 or 12 hundred pound, western branded and cow ropening trained stallion. Bred old Dollie before dad had him gelded. More to story but on tablet is slow going.
 
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