Advice on feed

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Pilib

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I am considering moving yards in the near future. My current yard is assisted (bring in turn out, change rugs, feed) and I pay £55 a week for hay, Straw (which I can't use) and feed. There are no other facilities. My boy is fed a small amount of economy cubes (included in price) as well as a full spectrum balancer (Kick on, I buy myself.)

The yard I may be moving to is DIY costs £45 a week. (more facilities all weather menage, xc and sj jumps) This includes hay and straw.

My question is I don't feel my boy always has a much energy as I would like. If I move him I will have to buy my own feed. He is a TB - good doer. I ride him about 4 hours a week, mostly weekends. Mostly hacking with a few small competitions.

He has mostly hay but needs a bit more energy so I want to feed something, (also feed cod liver oil and superflex) just not sure what, I'd also like to feed something so I didn't need to feed the kick on too? Any ideas? I'd like to keep it simple!

Thanks in advance
X
 
I'd be inclided to keep the balancer, but intoduce either a competition mix or oats. My reasoning being, if he is a good doer, you are unlike to be feeding enough mix to meet his daily vit/min needs, so will need either a balancer or vit/min supplement. The trouble is whatever extra you feed, will be adding calories, so if he doesn't use them with exercise, they will be laid down as fat. Have you considered that is lack of energy is actually lack of fitness?
 
It could be, but even when he was super fit last year he was still lacking energy. I don't know if it is just his personality, he is a laid back chap. Also I don't want him going too much the other way and getting silly.
X
 
I have just put mine on alfa a -oil. he is quite a good doer but just got a bit lack lustre. It is not supposed to fizz them up but will improve their energy levels (allegedly). Mine has only been on it a few days but he definitely seems 'brighter' already and he has not got silly with it..
 
What about Blue Chip balancer?
If he is only having cubes and forage, then he may be missing vits/mins/trace elements. Blue chip won't put weight on, but it helps with condition(coat/hooves etc) and may give him a bit of oomph without fizzing him....i know it can be pricey but you will be saving on other supplements and feedstuff...i think its brilliant stuff.
 
If you want to continue with the balancer, then it would make sense to feed it with an unsupplemented feed, such as alfafa, beet, grass product or oats, rather than an already supplemented mix or cube. Alfafa (things like Alfa A etc) is a good complement to oats, so you could start with an alfafa product and slowly introduce some oats if you feel he needs more energy.
 
I would suggest just a standard H&P cube or a leisure type mix. Everyone will always have different opinions why not phone round a few companies and see what they suggest.
 
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