Can someone help with energy & diet please

J

jo.barr1

Member
Joined
27 April 2010
Messages
26
Visit site
Hi,

I'm usually just a lurker but really need some help with my overweight welsh x arab mare if anyone can please?
Basically I moved a year ago to different pasture which is really rich, she seemed to pile on weight overnight and became cresty. I've been working really hard with her and have managed to get her weight down quite a lot and she is looking much better.
I'm now riding her 6 days a week (around 10 hours) mostly hacking over hills with a little schooling/jumping. She is on a very small sectioned part of field without much grass and is out 24/7 for the summer. I only feed her 2 cups of Baileys low cal balancer. Since I've upped the work that she is doing the past few weeks she seems really lethargic. The bailey's website suggests adding oats but I'm worried that wont help the weight loss....any ideas would be really appreciated.
 
I used nupafeed staying power on my good doer a few years ago and that really helped with her energy levels. Google it as it has really good reviews!
 
She will be lethargic if she is carrying extra weight: it's a vicious circle! I wouldn't add oats until she's back at the weight you want her. I would now try a grazing muzzle. You would be surprised how much grass is coming through even if it does not look a lot. Grrenguard muzzles are the best but they are expensive, they're harder to get off and don't rub like the other ones. If you don't have a lot of funds(story of my life) try looking on eBay or just try a shires padded muzzle. Hope this helps :o)
 
Ali27 said:
I used nupafeed staying power on my good doer a few years ago and that really helped with her energy levels. Google it as it has really good reviews!
Click to expand...

Thanks for that, will google and try it as I really dont want to try a muzzle again...disaster the last time. She is normally a really lively horse even when carrying extra weight. Just think I've worn her out with all the hard work she's doing.

Thanks for your help x
 
I noticed this with my cob, I worked him so hard to try and get the weight off and he was on restricted grazing and soaked hay that he just became deficient and very low. I gave him red cell for 6 months (along with his normal balancer and hi fi) and he was came right again gave him the boost he needed, I am just aware now not to over do it with him, diet and exercise and make sure with a strict diet he gets all the vits and mins he needs.
 
jo.barr1 said:
Hi,

I'm usually just a lurker but really need some help with my overweight welsh x arab mare if anyone can please?
Basically I moved a year ago to different pasture which is really rich, she seemed to pile on weight overnight and became cresty. I've been working really hard with her and have managed to get her weight down quite a lot and she is looking much better.
I'm now riding her 6 days a week (around 10 hours) mostly hacking over hills with a little schooling/jumping. She is on a very small sectioned part of field without much grass and is out 24/7 for the summer. I only feed her 2 cups of Baileys low cal balancer. Since I've upped the work that she is doing the past few weeks she seems really lethargic. The bailey's website suggests adding oats but I'm worried that wont help the weight loss....any ideas would be really appreciated.
Click to expand...

I have a similiar problem with my horse photographed in my siggy. He is a 17.1hh 14 year old WB gelding who piles on weight very easily. I wanted to give him some 'sparkle' without 'fizz' as we compete every weekend and he was getting very tired/lethargic in between classes. I didn't want to pile him full of competition mix as the amount I'd need to give him would make him very fat and I'd be getting through a bag every 7/8 days or so. So I have been giving him oats and have found that naked oats work better than the bruised oats I started him on.

I am giving him the equivalent of 3/4 scoop per day of oats and also Rowan Barbarrys Ready Mash Extra which has maize in it but again not at the correct feed rate as he would be too fat.

i have noticed a slight difference in his work tolerance since feeding the naked oats. Someone also suggested Red Cell so you might like to try that.
 
Yes red cell worked wonders, my horse was so so much more lively and willing to work and it didnt put any weight on, but Im sure you can feed it all of the time. I found with the oats I was having to feed by the bucket load to see results which put the weight. But what one thing works for one horse may not for another. The past 6 months my horse has been on top spec comprehensive balancer which has been very very effective with energy, but it's Very much trail and error. Good luck!
 
vicksey said:
Yes red cell worked wonders, my horse was so so much more lively and willing to work and it didnt put any weight on, but Im sure you can feed it all of the time. I found with the oats I was having to feed by the bucket load to see results which put the weight. But what one thing works for one horse may not for another. The past 6 months my horse has been on top spec comprehensive balancer which has been very very effective with energy, but it's Very much trail and error. Good luck!
Click to expand...


Oh thanks for that will try a few out and see what helps.
Thank v much :)
 
sorry that should have been not sure if it can be fed all the time, i know some people have fed red cell for years then stopped but I would check it out first, it can be a bit like rocket fuel too and it did take 6 weeks for me to see results, worth a go though
 
I'm sure if he's on the right amounts of lo cal he won't be deficient in anything.
There will always be a period when you up their workload where they will be at the stage before they get fit enough to cope with it. I bet the fitter he gets the more energy he will get. He doesn't need any extra feed if he's still slightly overweight as energy is calories, it's the same thing! So I would keep working him, slowly building it up and as he gets leaner and fitter he will get sparkier, then once he's at target weight add a little hard feed to stop him loosing too much weight on the work or just drop the work slightly down again :)
 
i'd check the levels of vitamin b's in the low cal - i've just had my horses feed analysied and she's lacking in that for the level of worki have her on and the level of hard feed that i give her (below recommended levels) - so adding a performance vit and min supp and taking out her 'normal' one that is low vitamin b's so see if that helps - i also have to be careful with her weight so didn't want to increase feed :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top