Posted 2008-03-17 2:51 PM (#79744) Subject: Getting a 4 yr old to bulk up
Regular
Posts: 81
My 4 yr old gelding is still getting taller but he just isn't filling out. What can I do or feed to help him along since he is still growing?? He is on pasture 24/7, get 1/2 scoop of SafeChoice once a day with 1/2 cup canola oil. Along with all the grass or hay he can eat. Should I be feeding him a growth formula type feed?? ETA: That he isn't worked hard. We only trail ride and he gets ridden a couple times a week. Or more when on a camp out/trail ride. He is holding his weight just fine.
Posted 2008-03-17 3:50 PM (#79745 - in reply to #79744) Subject: RE: Getting a 4 yr old to bulk up
Veteran
Posts: 214 Location: lyle,mn
He is probably still growing. My husband had a gelding that we got as long yearling and swear that it would never muscle up but when he 5-6 yrs old he finely put on muscle and weight and he has got a BIG butt now. Just give him time.
Posted 2008-03-18 9:15 AM (#79784 - in reply to #79744) Subject: RE: Getting a 4 yr old to bulk up
Veteran
Posts: 294 Location: Fort Worth, Tx
I would not worry too much about bulking him, he is still young and doing so can cause a lot of damage to his joints. He will fill out to what is genetically programmed for him.
Posted 2008-03-18 10:48 AM (#79795 - in reply to #79744) Subject: RE: Getting a 4 yr old to bulk up
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 350 Location: Newton, NJ
couple of things to consider...
Genetic makeup - what do his parents look like? Are they long and lean or stout and bulky?
Muscle building exercise - if you want to increase/develop his muscle mass, you must exercise him accordingly. Occassional trail rides will not get it done.
Hay/pasture 24/7 is good for digestion, but not necessarily for muscle building. Once you develop a more strenuous exercise program, you will need to increase his carbs, protein and vitamins.
Worming - make sure his worming schedule is up to date. He won't put on weight if he's fighting parasites.
Posted 2008-03-18 2:34 PM (#79815 - in reply to #79744) Subject: RE: Getting a 4 yr old to bulk up
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 350 Location: Newton, NJ
Good Catch! Pony Tammy...
I have both the wolf teeth from my gelding, plus two of his front baby teeth.
Wonder if they would make good jewelry??
He's 9 now, but really didn't fill out until about 6 yrs old. Just seemed to keep getting taller. He's a Hollywood Dunnit grandson and I never expected him to get so big, but he's close to 16 hands and pretty broad. He's a great trail horse and fun to ride in the ring as well.
Posted 2008-03-18 3:20 PM (#79823 - in reply to #79744) Subject: RE: Getting a 4 yr old to bulk up
Elite Veteran
Posts: 690 Location: missouri
We have quarter horses with Doc Bar breeding that were maybe late bloomers... thought they were gonna be smaller. My Dun gelding is 7 yrs old now and 16H/1250#.... We have a 3yr old foxtrotter mare who is already 16H but lean. We have her on Farnam weight gain and Omolene 200. She is filling out very nicely. I think Omolene 100 and 200 are excellent for putting weight on young horses. They also get alot of exercise to muscle them up.
Posted 2008-03-18 9:58 PM (#79850 - in reply to #79744) Subject: RE: Getting a 4 yr old to bulk up
Regular
Posts: 66 Location: Maryland
My twh was thin until he turned 5. My vet said it was because he wasn't done growing up, once that happened he would start filling out. At 4 years old I started using Ultimate Finish, which is high in fat. It is expensive, but it smells so good, like chocolate....lol. I also used corn oil. I think it did help him. I heard about this product when I worked at a feed store and other people had been using it and said it worked. Plus it helps their coat. He is now 12 and a gorgeous 16.3 hand spotted racking horse. He also knows he's handsome
Posted 2008-03-19 9:28 AM (#79880 - in reply to #79744) Subject: RE: Getting a 4 yr old to bulk up
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 350 Location: Newton, NJ
I also have had great results with a high fat feed. I use the Purina Horseman's Edge. Lots of studies have been done regarding the benefits of high fat feeds. A google search should return some interesting reading in that regard. I also have a 22 yr old App mare who is still fit and healthy on the Purina HE.
Posted 2008-03-20 10:46 PM (#80023 - in reply to #79744) Subject: RE: Getting a 4 yr old to bulk up
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 316 Location: Illinois
Time, good feed and regular exercise. Be glad most quarter horses are pretty well matured by 5 or 6. My grey thoroughbred, Zen, was nearly 8yo before he looked like a grownup. Like people, when he stops growing up, he'll start growing out.
Posted 2008-03-20 11:59 PM (#80024 - in reply to #79744) Subject: RE: Getting a 4 yr old to bulk up
Elite Veteran
Posts: 714 Location: Minnesota
Looking at he breeding I see that he is really line bred to Oklahoma Star through Noweta Star. I read in Working Horse magazine that both of these stallion were late bloomers. If I remember correctly, they almost gelded Oklahoma Star as a 4 year old because he looked so scrawny. Have patience.
Posted 2008-03-21 9:54 PM (#80100 - in reply to #79744) Subject: RE: Getting a 4 yr old to bulk up
Veteran
Posts: 209 Location: pensacola, fl
I have a 5 year old gelding that was the same way, He was growing up but not out. I also feed Safechoice, but I bumped him up to 1 and a half scoops twice a day (under vet advice) and he looks awesome, he is filling out nicely!! My scoops are 4 lbs of feed so my guy is getting 12lbs of safechoice a day with nothing else!! I was worried this was too much but my vet said that just like people some horses have to eat more to weigh the same as others who eat much less, also think of it in terms of kids, teenagers need way more food than the rest of us because they are growing.
Good Luck!!
Getting a 4 yr old to bulk up
