16yr TB Mare - is it time to change her feed?

[Frances28]

Hi, wondered if anyone could advise me on whether I should change my horse's diet. Although she is entering her veteran years she is 16 going on 4!

She does fairly light work, probably ridden 4 times a week and out during the day.

I am feeding her high fibre livery nuts and sugar beet pulp at the moment. She is currently on one and half scoops morning and evening. She is still on winter turn out.

I am being advised left right and centre and not sure what the best option is for her.

There's plenty of life in her, and yes see is a bit excitable at times.

Anyone have any tips? Go easy, I am a novice at this!

 

[TGM]

How long has your horse been on this diet? What condition is she in, and does she seem to be maintaining, losing or gaining weight? Does she seem healthy and have a shiny coat? What sort of forage is she getting (hay/haylage/grazing) and what quantities of feed and forage does she get?

Can't really advise too much without knowing all the above!

 

[Frances28]

Hi thanks for the reply.

She has been on this diet for 2 years (since I have known her)

She maintains her weight, very healthy and shiny coat.

She gets 4x nets of hay per 24 hours, 1.5 scoops of Livery nuts and 1.5 scoops of sugar beet.

Someone said to put her on Baily's No.17 but its twice as expensive !

 

[TGM]

Well it sounds if her present diet is working well for her and if that is the case I see no reason to change it. Did the person who suggested changing her diet give any reason for it?

 

[Frances28]

Yes - they use Baily's No.17 and said it works well. They noticed my horse was quite fizzy - and she's 16 so maybe sugarbeet isnt great.

I am new to this and really don't know.

 

[TGM]

Some sugarbeets are highly molassed and some people feel that this can make horses fizzy. However, a lot of people find that feeds such as maize and barley can make horses fizzy and these are contained in Bailey's 17! So you could swap to the 17 and still have a fizziness problem!

You could try swapping the molassed sugarbeet for an unmolassed one like Speedibeet, or feeding a chaff instead of the beet.

 

[Shilasdair]

Agree with TGM (although it pains me

).
If your mare is maintaining a good weight, has enough energy to do the work you require, and appears shiney and in good condition, then don't change anything.
Speedibeet or other unmolassed beets are a good idea, especially if, like me, you forget to put beet on to soak overnight

.
When she starts to drop condition/muscle, that'll be the time to change her diet. I suspect the fizziness is partly because she's TB, and partly because she enjoys life - if you can handle her 'fizzy' I'd not worry too much about what your fellow liveries say.
S