A bit of Pep required

[HappyHackerK8]

My mare is out of action after having a foal so I’m pinching our riding school pony to have a bit of fun with! The problem is that he could do with a rocket up his backside!!

He’s a decent little pop and safe as houses - but just a bit lazy. He’s relatively fit and gets lots of schooling in the arena. But we can’t really feed him too heating feed as his primary job is to be steady and safe!

So the question is - is there a product that’s like the opposite of calming cookies? Something to give him a bit of a pep up but won’t blow his little brains out for the rest of the week?

I think I know the answer is “No” and of course “horses for courses” of which competing isn’t his! But thought it was worth an ask!

I don’t need lots of training advice, we are doing that, just wondered if I’m missing a trick, hints, tips for a bit of a temporary rocket up said

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

My friend used to use power and performance on days she was riding her daughters pony I think she just gave him a feed of it in the morning, she seemed to think it just gave him a bit of spark when she ride him that day.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I accidentally fed it to one of my Arab once he was a complete idiot to rude that day so didn't make that mistake again

 

[JackFrost]

Oats ?- it's what they used in the olden days

 

[HappyHackerK8]

Oats ?- it's what they used in the olden days

I was trying to avoid significantly changing his feed as usually changes like this would be done gradually and I can’t build up slowly due to him being in the school…oats or other quick release grain would be great if I could keep him on it…

 

[HappyHackerK8]

My friend used to use power and performance on days she was riding her daughters pony I think she just gave him a feed of it in the morning, she seemed to think it just gave him a bit of spark when she ride him that day.

I wouldn’t like the idea of a complete feed change suddenly - especially before a comp or long ride. I just thought as I was loading him up today; if only calming cookies had an opposite

 

[splashgirl45]

A few carrots? My mare used to go more bonkers if she had more than 1 carrot a day. Friend had a RS and replaced one of the ponies feeds with carrots as she had loads of them, the ponies were very lively and a couple of them bucked their riders off so it worked for them. Needless to say friend didn’t do that again , luckily no one was hurt

 

[HappyHackerK8]

A few carrots? My mare used to go more bonkers if she had more than 1 carrot a day. Friend had a RS and replaced one of the ponies feeds with carrots as she had loads of them, the ponies were very lively and a couple of them bucked their riders off so it worked for them. Needless to say friend didn’t do that again , luckily no one was hurt

Worth a try - they are high in sugar so could be something in this! Could these be my veggie viagra as opposed to calming cookies

 

[rara007]

Energex

 

[HappyHackerK8]

Energex

This is exactly what I was after! Thank you! Ordered a couple of syringes x

 

[Gloi]

Whenever I have thought of feeding a very quiet pony to give more energy it hasn't caused anymore forwardness just made them spooky.
I'd try some speedy hacks in company of others, he's probably a bit school sick.

 

[HappyHackerK8]

Whenever I have thought of feeding a very quiet pony to give more energy it hasn't caused anymore forwardness just made them spooky.
I'd try some speedy hacks in company of others, he's probably a bit school sick.

As mentioned in OP, this is not a training request - we are doing all of this! We are an established riding school so know which way is up! Just wanted a bit of extra umpfff as all the above is not working - non of our ponies are “school sick” they hunt, go on beach rides, woodland rides, XC hires and most are part loaned so have a balance of their job and some good old fun with two days off riding a week entirely. They probably have a life most home owned horses would be enviable of

 

[HappyHackerK8]

Ordered energy cookies and Energex for a little trial - will let you know how it goes for anyone following!

Tonight he had a 50p bag of carrots before our XC hire. Jury’s out…he was def forward, but was it just the cooler temp?? I’ll try again as 50pm vs £10 is way more appealing

 

[SEL]

A few carrots? My mare used to go more bonkers if she had more than 1 carrot a day. Friend had a RS and replaced one of the ponies feeds with carrots as she had loads of them, the ponies were very lively and a couple of them bucked their riders off so it worked for them. Needless to say friend didn’t do that again , luckily no one was hurt

We made that mistake with some boxes of free pears once. They were on the turn so were donated - I think they were turning into alcohol!

By 11am two of us liveries had been asked to trot laps on 13h ponies who had gone from sane to bonkers. We had to put little kids up on the big horses and I nearly got ditched by the 20+ yo Sec C schoolmaster.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I remember someone at our Riding Club who had given rather slimy going off carrots to their pony. Poor thing was quite obviously drunk.

 

[HappyHackerK8]

I remember someone at our Riding Club who had given rather slimy going off carrots to their pony. Poor thing was quite obviously drunk.

I’ll avoid the slimy ones only one of the pair should be drunk whilst riding! JK obvs…

 

[Gloi]

I used to keep my ponies at a place where the owner delivered lorry loads of stock feed carrots from producers to farms.
All the horses had 3 builders buckets of carrots a day with the occasional swede, beetroot or parsnip in there. No other feed except hay for most. They all looked well on them and it didn't send them loopy. The Shires out in the field got a lorry load tipped in there for them to eat ad lib.

 

[HappyHackerK8]

I used to keep my ponies at a place where the owner delivered lorry loads of stock feed carrots from producers to farms.
All the horses had 3 builders buckets of carrots a day with the occasional swede, beetroot or parsnip in there. No other feed except hay for most. They all looked well on them and it didn't send them loopy. The Shires out in the field got a lorry load tipped in there for them to eat ad lib.

That’s a whole load of sugar?!? I’d be scared of laminitis in that volume…and excessive weight gain

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Ordered energy cookies and Energex for a little trial - will let you know how it goes for anyone following!

Tonight he had a 50p bag of carrots before our XC hire. Jury’s out…he was def forward, but was it just the cooler temp?? I’ll try again as 50pm vs £10 is way more appealing

I always used to give mine some guinness in his feed before a show!! Not really sure if it worked but he loved it!!

 

[HappyHackerK8]

I always used to give mine some guinness in his feed before a show!! Not really sure if it worked but he loved it!!

The jury is def out on the carrots - but for 50p and a happy pony what harm can it do once every couple of weeks! Got the hard stuff arriving today lol! It had better be brilliant for £10 as if not the carrots are here to stay!

 

[Gloi]

I found this which was interesting.

Q&A: Carrots: Too Much of a Good Thing? - Kentucky Equine Research

Did you know that carrots used to make up a significant portion of cavalry horses' diets? What happens if a horse eats that many carrots now?

ker.com

Most of the ones at the stud in was at were half bred breeding stock and showjumpers.

 

[HappyHackerK8]

Interesting - last sentence kind of sums it up “nutritionally balanced diet”