Best feed to supplement poor grazing?

[Cliqmo]

Hi Guys,

I have recently moved my horse from the lush pasture of a dairy farm to a livery yard where the grazing is short and seems pretty poor

Previously he was given hay when stabled overnight and was being fed a scoop of Spillers Happy Hoof twice day, really just as a means of giving him his vits and mins supplements.

Naturally I have now increased the amount of hay he is being fed (my hay costs have more than doubled!) and I have marginally increased the amount of hard feed, but I was hoping to find out any feed recommendations from any of you that have experience contending with poor grazing quality?! Should I switch onto Alfa oil for example?

His weight is pretty good at the moment, and I appreciate the grass will be coming through shortly, but he will also be coming into work again and I would hate for his condition to slip.

Thank you for your help

 

[Jericho]

It sounds like you are doing everything right by upping the hay quota only at this stage. I dont think there is much goodness in the grass over winter even if it is fairly lush - it would perhaps just be like hay in terms of quality / vits / etc (if not worse). As long as he is getting the right amount of Happy Hoof to provide his vits / mins then I would keep it the same. I think a lot of horses who are good doers actually are fine on fibre plus a good vit / min supplement diet. Cereals etc can cause a problem. If you up his workload and think he needs more oomph then maybe think about another complete food such as Winergy Low or medium energy.

Actually thinking about it my mare is on poor grazing (24/7) and is feed one stubbs scoop of Happy Hoof and 1 of speedibeet plus added vits and mins once a day plus ad lib hay (about 1/3 to 1/2 bale of hay a day) so not too dissimilar to the situation you would be in. She is however only in light work (ridden once or twice a week) and tbh she could do with losing a few pounds!

 

[TGM]

I have poor grazing but have found supplementing with good quality haylage keeps them looking great.

 

[YorksG]

We use grass nuts as an alternative to hard feed, they have kept the elderly retired cob in excellent fettle all winter. She has one soaked scoop in a morning and one at night, she has held her weight well through this very hard winter.

 

[Whizz105]

if you don't want to go onto haylege, could feed fastfibre from allen & page or lucerne from simple systems?