A horse in light work *feed buffs*

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Ranyhyn

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Does it need any more than a good alfalfa chaff with added vits and mins? Getting 24/7 turnout.

Light work up to an hours hacking a day, in walk, whilst being brought into work slowly? Once the workload rises I'll up his feed - any suggestions what to add too?
 
would go for a chaff and balancer myself as even though chaff is a good base they will still need a top up of some vits and mins and the balancers are generally low in calories and energy so won't promote any unwanted behaviour!
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I wouldn't be feeding anymore than chaff unless it was losing condition. In fact neither of mine would get anything in that amount of work other than good hay
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Thats good then Lizzie, Im unable to feed my horse hay as he is field kept (am looking into this mind) so the chaff is probably just replacing what I take out of him through riding.
 
One of mine is on his holidays just now - he's turned out 24/7 and is the perfect weight (so doesnt need any extra's), he gets Greengold with a high spec vit & min supplement and soya oil twice a day. Once he starts coming back into work and competing I start adding a competition mix. Id always give all mine feed of some kind maninly so they get their vits added since no grazing etc. has the right amount of nutrients especially in winter.
 
Is it a good doer or poor doer?
If poor then obv you need to feed more.

If it is in good condition then that will be fine, but if it starts to drop condition then I would add some kind of hard feed in, or feed ad lib hay in the field.
 
The basis of my feeding regime for all my horses in the winter is plenty of good quality hay - whatever you feed in a bucket is secondary to that. You say that you will not be able to feed hay, so I am hoping that you have access to excellent winter grazing and/or you are getting a good doer, otherwise you may struggle to get the horse/pony to maintain condition.

An alfafa chaff with added vit/mins is a good place to start, and I would suggest you weigh tape weekly to check whether the horse is gaining, losing or maintaining weight and adjust feed accordingly.

If the horse does start losing weight, then the most economical and healthy way to supplement the diet will be to feed hay or haylage. If you cannot feed hay in the field (which would be the ideal scenario), then try and give the horse a big pile of hay or a large haynet when you bring him out of the field for his twice daily checkover/groom/feed.

If you find he needs more than the alfafa chaff and vit/mins to maintain condition and/or energy levels, then you could try upgrading to an oil-enriched chaff and/or adding some unmolassed beet. Alternatively you could feed a high fibre cube - if you are feeding to the recommended levels then you won't need the vit/min supplement.

As it sounds like this is a new horse to you, then I would suggest you keep the feed quite high in fibre and low in cereals to start with as you don't want to run the risk of unexpected explosions while you are establishing your relationship! Whilst a lot of horses are fine on cereals, some do react to them and get rather fizzy, so better safe than sorry!
 
Thanks TGM.

He is out 24/7 on a 14acre field of moderate grazing. I need to check with my YO wether the field can/will be supplemented with hay and if so when.

At present he is on countrywides finest
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high fibre alfalfa chaff with equibites added in - for the exact reason you say - its a good idea to start on something basic and move up once Im satisfied he isn't going to kill me!! He has two scoops with a few biscuits chucked in for good measure.

I am able to feed him hay while he is in the yard being groomed and before and after being ridden.

He has a good thick shiny coat so has been alternating between a full neck LW and today, due to frost a medium weight full neck - trying to strike the ideal balance between shivering weight off and sweating it off!!
 
my 5 yo TBx is in light-med work- shes fed happy hoof in small amounts, bss, baileys stud balancer.
when my ISh was in full work (prob med- competing every weekend or every other, ridden once or twice a day- 1-2 hours hacking or 45min schooling and 20mins hack.) she was fed grazing, hifi and a broad spec suppliment.
if they arent dropping weight and lok well they are obviously ok and dont need the feed upping
 
If your horse is a good doer and you just need something to supply the bits missing from forage then you could always try dodson and horrell equibites. They are really cheap and they seem to be keeping my horse in good condition through winter.
 
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