Best Supplement for Yearling?

[Twinkletoes]

Hi all
Thanks to those of you who put such thoughtful comments on my last post. Wondered if you could help suggest what to offer my colt supplement wise if any. He is on Hifi (Original), and a small half scoop of Spillers Youngstock mix. He is starting to show more interest in food, (after we got over the 'yukkk there is Panacur in my dindins so Im never going to eat again' issue). He is on extremely good quality haylage, but again doesnt get through a lot. There are lots of vits&mins in the mix so dont want to go overboard, but do you suggest a good supp for him? He is poor, and quite dull atm. He has been wormed & de-liced, the little chap has a huge way to go, but, I am going to help him get there. You've never seen such a big kind eye, and I know that if we put the work in we can help him come good. x

 

[Sarahgema]

milk pellets - they are fab! They are especially good for youngsters but I put my lad on them when he was 2 and they made such a differance - not really a supplement of such but will add all the ingrediants youngsters need - hope this helps! If you try them - let me know!

 

[Faithkat]

If you've got him on a Youngstock mix, I wouldn't feed any supplements. He will get all he needs from the mix and overdosing vitamins and minerals is not a good plan. I would change the Hi-Fi to Alfa-A though, lots of calcium in that, good for youngsters.

 

[Spyda]

I'd recommend switching to Bailey's Stud Balancer or D&H Sure Grow. I feed my yearlings this, they all look fabulous and have grown really well, plus it takes the mystery out of feeding youngsters and you wont need to feed anything else except chaff (if you want to) and ad lib forage. You only feed about 1Kg per day, depending on how big your boy is going to mature.

If you're only feeding 1/2 scoop of Youngstock Mix at the moment, he wont be getting the full amount of vit and mins he needs since you're likely to be feeding below the recommended daily amount of the mix.

 

[Theresa_F]

I fed my cob SS green gold and equimins youngstock supplement at first - he did very well on it and grew just as he should - slowly but surely.

 

[_jetset_]

I simply feed my yearling (although he will be 2 in March) Dengie Healthy Hoof and full quantities for his weight of TopSpec Balancer. I tried him on the Baileys stud Balancer, but I simply couldn't get it all into him, whereas the TopSpec is 3/4 cup at the moment twice a day

It has everything he needs, although I have been putting TopSpec 10:10 (joint supplement) in since he decided to become a three legged pony as the MSM helps reduce swelling too apparently and he has sort of stayed on it ever since

 

[Archie07]

My yearling is only on good hay at the moment as he's not been interested in his breakfast! Very weird for a pony! But he was on Suregrow with a bit of Hi Fi Lite but I switched the Suregrow for Surelimb powder supplement which has been very good.

 

[Maesfen]

I'm another that would recommend D & H Suregrow for him!
It has everything he needs so takes out all the guesswork and you don't end up unbalancing the feed either. That and good quality forage should see a huge difference in a very short time.
Up until this year I have always been a Baileys stud diet fan but was introduced to Suregrow this year and wouldn't go back now; they look fabulous, have shiny healthy coats and hooves and have grown evenly, not in spurts; I honestly couldn't ask for a better feed for youngsters than Suregrow - and I don't have shares in them!

 

[kellyeaton]

i would put him on sure grow. but if he is getting the recomened amount of the young stock mix dont supplement it any further otherwise you will over in toxicate the system with vits/mins witch some in large quaintys are not good for horses!

 

[ever_hopeful]

If he's the Shire cross you mention in your earlier post - he's presumably going to be a fairly big boy and you want to encourage even growth. I am another who'd recommend Sure Grow or Stud Balancer pellets for him. At most, you'd be needing to feed him about a level round-scoop of the tiny pellets per day, which isn't a lot for him to consume once he's become settled and gotten his appetite up. Even less so if you are able to divide it into 2 feeds per day. Honestly, it's worth using these well balanced feeds rather than trying to mix your own from straights or only using a little of the proprietory mixes. I am astonished at the quantity of Stud Mix my youngsters would be expected to consume by following the guide on the rear of the sack! It would cost me a fortune too. But feeding less than this leads to vit and minerals being deficient from what the manufacturer planned.