Best feed advisors + anyone used Sumo?

[Chumsmum]

Pony is looking a bit rough and lacking energy ATM - he is usually a good doer but I think he needs a bit more feed-wise - who are the best companies for advice?

Also my Instructor (who is usually spot on) has recommended Sumo (but just realised there are two types she could mean - Muscle Builder or Original - will have to check) - has anyone used these and have any comments? However, I have been told by someone else that they are mainly used to build up horses for showing and it might be too much for my native type

Background to pony:
14hh, 16yo native type pony - recently diagnosed with Bone Spavin but doing well on treatment. No topline at all and muscle wastage due to previous ill-fitting saddles and looks quite rough ATM with coat changing etc. Laid back and lazy by nature.

On vet's instructions we are doing more work than ever now - ridden 5 times a week, this includes at least one lesson, a couple of long hacks (2 hours) and a couple of shorter hacks (30 mins - 1 hour) - hacks include small amounts of schooling, some trotting and cantering. Hoping this work will improve his shape.

He is currently on a large scoop of Happy Hoof with Synequin (and NAF Respirator if required) with an apple or carrot in the morning and small token feed/treat if ridden. He is on restricted grazing topped up with hay if required - he just seems to bloat out in the summer if unrestricted and looks even worse. Currently out 24/7 and will be out 24/7 for the first time this winter.

Any advice gratefully received

 

[TGM]

I've used the advice lines for Spillers, Dengie and Dodson & Horrell before, and have found all to be helpful.

The advice you get from each will vary according to the products they produce, for example, with Spillers and Dodson & Horrell they are likely to suggest the traditional cubes and mixes, Dengie's suggestions are likely to be alfafa/fibre-based, whereas companies like TopSpec and BlueChip will probably advise a ration based around a balancer of some sort.

Personally, if it was my pony, I would start with swapping the Happy Hoof for a higher energy fibre food - perhaps Alfa A Oil, Spiller's Conditioning Fibre, AlfaBeet or FibreBeet, combined with a broad spectrum vitamin/mineral supplement (such as Equivite Original or TopSpec Comprehensive). The advantage of feeding like this, as opposed to feeding a supplemented complete cube or mix, is that you can vary the amount of fibre food according to the pony's condition, whilst ensuring that he gets the same amount of vit/mins. With complete feeds, if you decrease the feed you decrease the amount of vit/mins you are supplying.

 

[1alex1moose]

Sumo is 50 per cent fat!!! You could feed him bars of lard and it would have a very similar effect! Perhaps try a top line conditioning feed? Most feed companies do one and if you have a brand you like then stick with it and try out their version. Baileys Outshine is also supposed to be very good. Oil can be great for adding calories but not whizz too.

 

[HBII]

Not heard of Sumo ??? I would only go with well known brands to be fair. Give Baileys a ring they are very helpful. I would suggest the Lo Cal balancer No14, and top line conditioning cubes, then some chaff and beet to keep the fibre levels up. If he is getting the required level of vit/mins you can then ditch the happy hoof.

Hb

PS is £40 ok for the prolite??

 

[AutumnRose]

I've used Dodson and Horrell before and they were very helpful. They obviously all recommend their own brand but she did tell me that everyone does something simalr to what she suggested so seemed very genuine.

 

[K27]

Spillers are ever so helpful to speak to over the phone and their feeds really do seem to work well and make the horses look good. Maybe you could try a conditioning chaff and a low starch high oil cube or some H &P Cubes with conditioning cubes and alfalfa/ chaff.

Also Lizzie Drury at Saracen is v helpful too.

 

[Chumsmum]

Thanks for help everyone

Spoken to Dengie and Baileys, both helpful (I'm waiting for others to call me back).

I found Bailey's really good and explained things well to someone like me

, she said it sounds like he lacks protein to help build up the muscle. She recommended their No14 low cal balancer that would contain all his vits/minerals + protein. If I wanted to bulk out the feed she suggested alfalfa, such as the Alfa-A Lite (suggested by Dengie) or maybe the Oil. She said that if he still needed a bit more energy to try adding their Economy Cubes or try a sprinkling of oats everyday, upping it when he had a lesson or hard work.

I had heard of Sumo before but sounds like no-one has used it on here. Looking at the website the Muscle Builder is 20% protein so sort of makes sense why instructor recommended it but would still be interested if anyone else had used it.