blue chip

G

guiness8

Member
Joined
26 March 2008
Messages
24
Visit site
i have bought some blue chip to feed to my horse to help with condition etc over the winter after seeking some advice on here. just a quick question it recommends 3 cup fulls a day to a 16hh horse. does this seem a bit excessive? i was going to start with maybe half a cup and try this out.

what do you feed an 16 hh horse. it recommends the bag should last approx 5 weeks but at them sorts of values i doubt it would last that long.

i dont know if im completely off the mark here and my horse really does need that much but he is only just being fed once a day at the moment but obviously is now starting to drop condition etc now the cold is setting in and i will be looking to increase feed and start with haylage by the end of the month but do i take the instructions as gospel or introduce gradually and assess to my horse.

i have never used a balancer like this before and after many recomendations here and elsewhere thought i had better try it as my horse now loses a lot of condition over winter. on another note he will be in very light work over winter with only being ridden at weekends when weather/circumstances permit. he lives out and cannot ride in the fields in the winter months and roads are pretty dangerous in heavy frost/ice from his field.

sorry i am going on now thinking out aloud as usual. well done if you got this far and recomendations greatly appreciated
smile.gif
 
You need to feed what they tell yout o feed, 3 mugs is about right for a 16hh. my 14.2hh has a mug and a half a day and looks fab. As with all new feeds introduce slowley.
 
Well it rather depends on what size mug you are using
tongue.gif


Balancers aren't like mixes or cubes. If you want to get the benefits then you have to feed the right amount for the size of the horse, which is recommended on the bag. I think that cups are too vague when it comes to such measures, and so I keep some old kitchen scales in my feedroom for the job.

A 16hher on Blue chip should be getting 600gms a day, which means the bag will last you 33 days
smile.gif
However, if you want to put some condition on your horse I recommend you start feeding haylage now, rather than wait till the end of the month or upping hard feed
smile.gif
 
thanks guys your a great help. not used it before so was a little unsure. i will stick to what the bag says and see how it goes. he hasnt dropped much condition yet (just from reducing work) but i know come jan is when it really hits him and hes not getting any younger is when I need to be ahead of the game and make sure i have prepared him well enough in advance.

once again thanks for the info

also i will measure until i am sure how much the mug is. mine are pretty big!!
laugh.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
i dont know if im completely off the mark here and my horse really does need that much but he is only just being fed once a day at the moment but obviously is now starting to drop condition etc now the cold is setting in and i will be looking to increase feed and start with haylage by the end of the month

[/ QUOTE ]

If your horse is starting to drop condition now, then you should be starting with haylage now and not the end of the month! Balancers are very useful, but should be used to complement plenty of forage, not to make up for lack of it! Balancers provide vit/mins, quality protein and probiotics/prebiotics that can help a horse digest its food well and make the most of it, but are not hugely high in calories in themselves. So you need to feed ad lib hay/haylage alongside the balancer if your horse is a poor doer, and you may find you need to feed some additional bucket feed as well, such as Alfa A Oil, beet, grass products, oil products or even barley/oats if they suit your horse.
 
Definitely start haylage before you start much more hard feed. My older mare is only on one scoop of mix a day atm (plus balancer), but has just started on haylage as I think that's far more effective and beneficial to her condition than upping her to two feeds
smile.gif


[ QUOTE ]
i know come jan is when it really hits him and hes not getting any younger is when I need to be ahead of the game and make sure i have prepared him well enough in advance.

[/ QUOTE ]

How old is he? Only he if he's getting on a bit, then next time you buy a bag you may want to opt for topspec senior as a balancer - it's identical in cost, but more suited to the older horse
smile.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top