Conditioning feed for a native...

Tiarella

Tiarella

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Is this just a big no go?

My nf doesn't look poor poor, but doesn't look in fabulous condition either. He is lacking muscle is places but does have a cresty neck (from being cut late). I'm currently feeding him 2 mugs of lo cal balancer and 1 scoop of molasses free alfa a. Would adding a bit of conditioning feed improve him? Or is there anything else I can use? He has never had a history of lami etc. Thanks.
 
Sorry! Forgot to state the obvious - too early in the morning!

9, 14hh, gets ridden everyday schooling/hacking/competing for an hourish, limited grazing but not bare - good quality organic grass
 
Building muscle and tone is really down to work rather than feed. There are low cal conditioning cubes, and AMW is right that not all natives survive on thin air. But you might also want to increase work specifically targetted at the areas you want to build.
 
with the work and turnout you have stated i would be inclined just toincrease forage so up the hay, he is not working particularly hard, isnot older/younger, but agree they all vary but increasing hay would be my starting point
 
i would try some pink powder for that little added bit. I find it rounds them off without making them tubby...and to add my sec d gets fed 1 scoop of mix, 1 scoop of chaff, 1 scoop of sugar beet, topped with readi grass with a mug of sure grow in the morning and he's far from flabby......he is kept stabled and works 5 days out of 7
 
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sounds like more forage is needed - ad lib. My lad is doing really well on topspec, having tried a lot of balancers. In fact, that is all he gets, plus ad lib good hay.

Another suggestion is to check the teeth ?
 
Limited grass will be the reason he is lacking a bit of weight. I would hay, as much as he wants to eat, if he comes in at night, I would probably mix haylage and hay 50/50 to get a bit more protein into him.
 
I give my mare a scoop of extra care mix, which my gelding has normally, now she's hunting at the weekends :)

Long as they're getting the calories needed to replace what they're doing instead of excesses extra on top they don't use, I don't think of it as a huge problem, unless obviously history of lami etc.
 
try a mug of micronised linseed, my sed d is doing well with it. Also have a look at forageplus winter balancer as well as an alternative to the baileys. It really targets what might be lacking in your grazing. If you still need ‘more’ ive had success with speedibeet in the past.
 
Reading through the answers on here, I feel like I am starving Donovan!!! he gets a full haynet at night, out during the day on not too bad grass, handful of hi fi lite with somes apple and carrots, with some garlic powder and benevit put in it. thats it. He is 12.2hh sec b.
 
benson21 said:
Reading through the answers on here, I feel like I am starving Donovan!!! he gets a full haynet at night, out during the day on not too bad grass, handful of hi fi lite with somes apple and carrots, with some garlic powder and benevit put in it. thats it. He is 12.2hh sec b.
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but if he looks well there is no problem.Most natives dont or barely need a feed but the OP’s horse is one who does need a bit more condition, that’s all.
 
seems fine Donovan :)
our sect Bs who are living out get Happy Hoof and some speedibeet & their grass isnt great, all look well. When they need it they will get hay and a wee bit extra in their bucket. When my sect C is in work she gets as above but with a lirrle extra 'hard feed; usually tiger oats
I feed according to the eye & the way they go not the feed bag ;)
 
I have four ponies at home and the worst is our section a. She is a hard working games pony and the weight just seems to disappear. she is out during the day on long grass and in at night with plenty of hay. She is having a small scoop of basic ration nuts in the evening which we are adding a bit of oil to. She has had a small amount of coat clipped off as she is getting pretty sweaty and then rugged as necessary . i think we might have to clip a bit more off and start feeding her twice a day aswell.
 
Thanks for the replies :)

Would you advise to increase hay or increase grass? He can have as much/little as he likes as I can move the fence as I please. Even though he has had no history of lami will increasing grass make him more prone or are the grass levels okay this time of year?

He is due his teeth next month, but they're normally fine.
 
rachaelstar said:
Thanks for the replies :)

Would you advise to increase hay or increase grass? He can have as much/little as he likes as I can move the fence as I please. Even though he has had no history of lami will increasing grass make him more prone or are the grass levels okay this time of year?

He is due his teeth next month, but they're normally fine.
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personally i would be iclined to increase hay as the grass is so wet it may just go through him
 
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