Before i stock up for winter... Feed advice!

[HairyCoblet]

Hi Guys,

Currently have a 3yr old cob gelding. We are starting to break him in very lightly, the most he will be doing over winter is a walk/trot in the school!

He is currently fed -

1 scoop Alfa A oil
1 scoop Course mix
1 scoop speedibeet (winter only)
and vit + min supplement (it was left over off old horse!)

hes been doing well on it, looking nice at the moment!
Ive noticed his feet are getting a bit chipped - he gets a trim every 4-6 weeks and the farrier said he has nice strong feet.

Shall i keep him on this or maybe think of a change?

 

[PolarSkye]

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I would either add oil to his feed or give him some micronized linseed . . . linseed is fab for improving hooves/joints and giving stamina/energy without being heating. I give it to my easily excitable lad (who is prone to gastric ulcers) and he totally thrives on it.

P

 

[HairyCoblet]

There's a few people recommended the linseed! Think I'll give it a try.

Thanks

 

[flintfootfilly]

I'd be more interested in what's in the vit/min supplement, and definitely worth making sure it includes 1mg of selenium (in the form of selenium yeast, aka Selplex or organic selenium). Some only have inorganic selenium (sodium selenite) and in my gang of ponies it's only been the selenium yeast which has helped their long term muscle problems.

If you are feeding a balancer that meets that requirement (for me, it's Blue Chip or Dengie Alfa A balancer), then I'd only put a handful of chaff in with it, and ditch the other feeds.

But I'd make the full daily ration of a suitable vit/min supplement or balancer an absolute priority.

Sarah

 

[Micky]

Ditto flintfootfilly, I'd personally drop the coarse mix, keep the alfa a oil and check your vits n mins supplement...tens supplement is a good one, all the correct balanced vits n mins your horse needs ( incl selenium) and yes add micronised linseed. He should only need the speedibeet if he is in work and needs a bit more ooomph..

 

[HairyCoblet]

He gets the 365 complete vitamins and minerals. So should I keep him on the Alfa oil and this supplement and add linseed?

To be honest I don't think he's got much oooomph in him haha! He likes life in the slow lane

 

[flintfootfilly]

Hmmm, I don't know what type of selenium is included in 365. It doesn't seem to give any details of any of the ingredients/analysis. Definitely worth checking which type it is.

If he gets a good amount of organic selenium, you may find he moves over to the fast lane!!!

Sarah

 

[Micky]

hehe...mine likes the life in the slow lane too...until another horse overtakes him TENS supplement is a very good supplement, keep the alfa a oil, add said supplement and add micronised linseed (from charnwoods) and see how he goes..

 

[HairyCoblet]

Which Tens supplement would you recommend?
There seems to be a awful lot of choice haha.

 

[Hedwards]

I'd recommend alltech lifeforce as a supplement, I'd also drop the coarse mix and add micronised linseed

 

[Micky]

haha yes ok make it easy for you, spillers lite or dengie vits n mins.....will ask my knowledgable friend which tens supplement though! They just have the correct amounts of minerals and vits for the horse.....thats why i recommend them...no need to add anything else bar maybe salt if sweated up after a sesh

 

[Alter ego]

I would drop the Alfa Oil as the oil used is Rapeseed oil.

I would use the unmolassed alfa with the micronised linseed.