Any ideas, feed supplements for energy???

C

competitiondiva

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 September 2008
Messages
3,832
Visit site
I have a very laid back mare, after bringing her back into work after a year off maternity! She was off my leg, forwards and lovely to ride! She's now going back to being incredibly laid back and slow off the leg. She gains weight easily but I have her weight almost right, still a little over but not bad for saying she had a foal last year!! Her fitness is pretty good, you have to work her pretty damn hard and/or for long periods to get her to blow or sweat! Her workload is now increasing (lighter evenings!) so need to provide more energy to her.

Other point is that could this lack of enthusiasm have anything to do with coat changes, normally come spring she gets spring'itis' but at the moment her coat is changing and not as soft as it usually is.

Feed wise she is on soaked hay (very mild COPD) and free access to a horslyx, with oats morning and evening with her respiratory herbs, mixed in.

The oats have no affect in giving her more energy, what feed or supplement would you suggest? I can't be piling the feed into her otherwise she will just put on weight! So need something that is fed in small amounts but offers lots of energy! (gunpowder!!!)
 
I have a laid back pony (or rather, extremely lazy!!), who is also prone to putting on weight and have come to the conclusion that feed is never going to be the answer. Spurs, whip, and riding very positively and firmly seem to be the only things that make a difference I'm afraid!! I'd go for working at getting her listening to your leg before changing her feed if I were you :) I am going through this at the moment and it is hard work!
 
Wow - your mare sounds identical to mine (with the exception of mine not having a foal)! - Oats do nothing for mine either. I have had some success with Allen and Page's Power and Performance cubes - but even then I've found that she's needed more after a time. I like these as they appear bulky (soaked) so the horse thinks they are getting more than they are (mine's prone to being greedy and fat if she had her own way - a typical good doer).

I've also used red cell with some success - but I'm really interested to read answers to this post to see what others suggest!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top