Barefoot feeding advice please!

[hatters]

Hello, after reading lots of these so called "barefoot taliban" posts about a barefoot diet, I thought I would ask for some advice what to feed my TB gelding.

Currently gets one scoop of Alfa-a molasses free, and 2 cups of topspec balancer, once a day. In the winter I usually swop to the Alfa-A oil, and add a scoop of the topspec cool condition cubes.

He lives out 24/7 - his feet are good, but does still feel sharp stones when hacking. In the summer he can be prone to cracking when the weather is dry.

Are my current feed choices ok? I try to avoid too much sugar/molasses! Anything else I could consider?

 

[TwoStroke]

I've heard many with barefoot horses say that they've had problems with the TopSpec. Some have issues with alfalfa, too, but by no means all.

Feeding mineral balanced to your forage/grazing seems to help, either by having a grazing analysis done, or by feeding one of the pre-mixed supplements balanced to the average uk grazing.

Linseed is good for condition and for supplying the omega oils.

 

[Miss L Toe]

A lot of horses are sensitive to Alfalfa, so I would go for a plainer diet. No molasses at all, means most bagged feeds are out.
Hi fibre, no cereals, and use oil for energy not starch.
Per feed. one feed in summer, two from September to spring.
I feed 50gms micronised linseed meal
500gms Fast Fibre
Scoop of mins and vits: Equimins or Benefit Advance or pro hoof
Magnesium. .... I feed a small scoop of Steady up which is a magnesium calmer.
Handfull of Dengie non molased lo alfa chaff
2- feeds in winter when I add non molassed sb pulp for a variety of fibre sources.

 

[cptrayes]

Both the things you are feeding, alfalfa and Top Spec, anecdotally cause problems in a lot of barefoot horses. I would stop them both, just in case.

I would add yeast to MLT's recipe above, as I have horses that are footie if they do not get it and fine if they do.

 

[hatters]

Any tips on where to get this? Will my usual feed shop have them, or is online better? Is it brewers yeast you recommend? Many thanks for the replies!