Calorie boost for my old boy

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JessnGeorge

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Does anyone have any ideas for a calorie boost for my 20 something? I reckon he could do with a bit extra - currently on ad lib lovely grass (and hay when in) 2 scoops nuts, one scoop beet and large double handful chaff twice a day (plus Pink Powder), in very light work. Could I add Veg oil? I am about two and a half hours from nearest feed shop and when I last went they had no conditioning cubes.

Any ideas welcome, thank you
 
Why not move to a specific older horse feed? They have more calories, and feed alongside something like Alfa Oil??

And also look at feeding smaller rations more frequently?
 
The best thing for oldies is fibre, fibre and more fibre:). Hay and some chaffs can be too much for their teeth so oil is a good addition. :D

The oldie here made it to 40 and his diet was basically Mollichaff veteran - lovely soft chaff with all sorts of goodies including linseed added, high fibre cubes, speedibeet and Equi Jewel.:)

If you are going to add oil I would look at adding micronized linseed - you can buy in bulk and just add a cupful a day so it lasts.

Our oldie used to have a trug in his field with his 'hay replacer' ie nuts, chaff, beet well soaked to eat ad lib - it would just be topped up when necessary.:)
 
Sounds like his feeds are pretty big, I would get a higher calories oldie feed for him - then you would be able to cut out pink powder as well so would prob save you £. Being such a long way from a feed shop is a pain though, where are you in the country? There are quite a few places that deliver. In the short term until you can get a more suitable feed sorted then yes I would add some veg oil. Just add it in slowly and then gradually build up. Sure you have already had him checked, but have his teeth been done recently? A couple of sharp edges can really affect the amount of calories they can get from the grass and hay.
 
I can recommend mollychaff herbal for oldies. Mine both seem to think it's delicious and it's easy to eat plus has lots of great beneficial herbs in it. I have also had good success with Baileys Outshine which is expensive but worked for my poor doer very well. However, have recently heard that linseed is just as good so am planning on trying that this winter.
 
Topspec, senior balancer and conditioning cubes - buy online direct from topspec and get them delivered to your door. Also if you go down the micronised linseed route you can again buy online from Charnwoods.
 
My old lad (27) 17.3hh is a nightmare to keep weight on. He is also not a "foody" He is on ad lib (soft) hay - still has all own teeth. Hard feed, he has 3/4 scoop of A&P Fast Fibre or Fibregest (added oil),1 Alfalfa (top chop - oil, no molasses) 1 cup Equijewel and Pink Powder. All soaked into a nice warm mash. If he is not in a food mood I can drop the bigger ingredients and keep the Equijewel.

I make sure he doesn't have cereals in his diet as these can be quite hard for them to digest. Some of these "Senior" feeds do have them. If you do, be careful with the mixes. I have found some incredibly hard pieces in them and really heard the "crunch". Def not what you need with "mature" teeth!

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