Anyone feed a ridden horse Allen & Page veteran vitality?

[Birker2020]

Just wondering how you got on with it, it seems to have done wonders with my horse who is struggling to keep on weight for the first time in his life. He lost 10lbs in ten days (according to the nutritionalists weighbridge and the vets weighbridge) and was really struggling to put any on. Since I started him on it about five weeks ago he has put on a little weight and is looking less ribby.

Someone suggested it can cause excitability but I have heard this about a lot of feeds that people claim their horse 'cant eat' and I think its the time of year, less riding and less time that makes horse more excitable, not necessarily feed.

I've also read its not as common as people think for horses to be intolerant to horse feeds.

How much do you feed and how do you feed it?

 

[AdorableAlice]

Yes I feed it at half the recommended rate on bag. It is a simple soaked feed which I run a handful of chop through and top the mineral balance up.

Assuming there is no un-diagnosed reason for weight loss, ie cushings disease, teeth issues or metabolic issues I would think the horse is just not getting enough grub. VV is excellent for keeping weight on and I have not had any temperament issues with it. Other feeds I use include linseed and Equi Jewel.

I don't bother with the so called veterman mixes, they are full of sugar. Oil and protein will keep weight on and mind settled.

 

[Birker2020]

Thanks AA, I am also feeding with chaff, and pink powder. It is Dengie Good Doer but then I feel I can give him a good amount of this without him getting fat and it helps to keep him warm in winter. He doesn't eat just plain Alf Alfa, at least the Good Doer has spearmint added. I didn't want to go down the route of the molassed chaff with apple or mint added as this would make him fat and I don't want him fat, just a little more weight gain. I give him two mugs of the A&P VV split in two feeds. He wolfs it down.

I assumed that he wasn't getting enough hay so I upped his hay and he's getting about 28lbs of hay per day which I think is a fair amount for a horse weighing in at 672KG and going on decent grazing for around four hours a day. He also has hi fibre cubes added to his feed and snackaball. He's had his teeth checked in April. He's ridden about four times a week comprising of not intensive schooling, more walk than anything for 30 mins max x 2 and 2 x hacks at the weekends for about an hour a time.

I know from experience with a previous horse that came to me a hack rack that its far easier to lose weight off a horse than it is to get weight on a horse and maintain it.

 

[Beausmate]

Good Doer is a mollassed chaff. Ingredients below:

Cereal straw, alfalfa, molasses, mould inhibitor, spearmint oil, lysine, zinc sulphate, magnesium sulphate, vitamin E, copper sulphate, sodium selenite.

If they don't specifically state it is unmollassed, then I would assume it is. I would also check the label too, just to be sure there isn't any hiding in there under a different name.

My normally chubby little horse, failed to get fat this summer for the first time ever. It was the only sign of him having Cushings.

My hatrack is scoffing copra, linseed, Topspec sport and ERS pellets. He wouldn't entertain VV. I think he is insulted by being considered a verteran!

Now I have two fatties, I'd much rather have the thin ones.