| The feed and forage may need to be made into a mash if
the horse's tooth condition is very poor.
Start grain feeding slowly. Re-member the horse has
not been fed grain for a long time, and its digestive system needs time
to adjust. Start out by feeding only one pound of grain twice daily.
Gradually increase the amount of grain by adding one pound per day until
feeding one half to one percent of the horse's body weight daily.
Feeding this amount of grain and plenty of hay will allow for the
gradual weight gain you're after.
Bringing a starved horse to normal body condition will
take three to six months, depending on the severity of weight loss. Keep
increasing the amount of hay and grain as the horse's weight increases,
feeding one half to one percent of body weight in grain and 1.5 percent
as good quality hay.
Once the horse has regained some strength and has
become familiar with its surroundings, check with your veterinarian
about health care. Your vet may advise you to only use a half-dose of
dewormer the first time you treat the horse for internal parasites. A
massive die-off of parasites in the horse triggered by a full dose of
dewormer could trigger a bout of colic. A dental checkup is also in
order, as this has likely not been done for a long time. Your
veterinarian may also discover other health problems that need
attention.
It's also important to contact your farrier about hoof
care, as the horse's hooves have probably been neglected, as well.
Marty Adams, Ph. D., is
publication director of The Mane Points.
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