Conditioning my 18yr old

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Claiired

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Yes, conditioning already! There has been lack of grass in the fields throughout the summer and it's took its toll on my veteran.

I've already took action and he's being fed on:
Dengie Alfa A Original
Baileys Conditioning Mix
Allen and Page Fast Fiber

Has anyone tried Allen and page Old faithful's Special blend? I've been told it's good, but haven't seen the results myself. As most condition feeds make my nag go loopy (Not that it particularly bothers me as he's a naturally fizzy horse anyway) but Allen and Page feeds don't contain barley or molasses...

Cooked Cereal Meal? I was exploring the baileys website and came across this. Has anyone tried this for conditioning?

I'm willing to try anything as long as its reasonably priced!

He needs fattening up, he's not really bad but I'd rather catch it now than wait until he really is skinny.

Please, suggest anything that you have tried and it worked (as long as it's fairly easy to get hold of). I'd prefer if the feed was non-heating though.

Thanks in advance, any advice helpful!!
 
What about feeding Alfa Oil-it really keeps the condition on.

You could maybe feed with the Baileys Topline cubes or something like that, as the cubes will weigh more than a mix.

Mine are on a combo of Alfa Oil and Spillers Slow Release cubes which seems to be a really good diet for condition and topline and they have Pink Powder too, which is fab stuff.

Re the Allen and Page Old Faithfulls Special Blend- have fed it in the past to my old horse and it smells absolutely gorgeous and she loved eating it, but it did have mollasses in, and also Barley I think....I do remember her feeling quite "well" on it!- in the end I put her on the same cubes as what my others are on above, and gave her conditioning fibre chaff as well, although Alfalfa would have the same effect.

Have not ever used the Baileys cereal meal stuff, sorry.

Another feed I have used on one of mine in the past was Falcon Oat and Barley free, which was nice, and he didn't go loopy on it either!
 
fast fibre will just add bulk to the feed = not really calories... so i'd be tempted to swap that with their calm and condition...

cooked ceral meal is good for conditioing but may send him loopy...

outshine is fabulous stuff for adding condition - but not cheap... if you can't afford that then add oil to his feed - or micronised linseed which is also high calorie - but - have a read of this to get the right levels of oil and vit E etc http://www.scottishhorse.co.uk/feeding-oil-to-horses-is-not-just-for-energy-1.936272

i'd prob also add something like pink powder

simple systems is also good but you'd need to change the whole diet then....
 
Agree that Fast Fibre is not hugely calorific (coming in at 8 MJDE/kg), so I would consider swapping that for something like Speedibeet (with a calorie count of 12.4 MJDE/kg but still very low in sugar/starch). Likewise, Alfa A Oil contains more calories than normal Alfa A, so would make sense to swap.

Oil sources are a good way to put weight on as oils are very dense in calories - some people just feed straight oil, whilst other prefer things like micronised linseed, Outshine, Equijewel etc.

Obviously, the most important thing for any poor doer is to ensure they have ad lib forage, so make sure that your horse gets plenty of hay/haylage to make up for the lack of grazing.
 
He's not too keen on Alfa A Oil, but have fed him it before and it did do wonders. So may have to change to that, even if he isn't keen.

I've asked for a sample of Calm and condition, So if he likes that I'll probably change the mix to this as its easier to chew too. He used to be on Speedi beet, but I'll consider changing him to that when my fast fibre runs out.

Thanks, keep the recommendations coming! :D
 
I use old faithfuls on my 19yo thoroughbred. It does wonders for her and she loves it :)
I really would reccommend it

It does i think have a little bit of molasses in it, not sure about the barley but its never sent her off her rocker which is odd since shes a barmy ex racer :) She cant have alfa a because that sends her loopy!
x
 
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I put my oldies, (18 and 20+) on Coolstance copra meal earlier in the year and they both bloomed in days. It is high protein and oil, low starch and sugar. It makes up into a mash so perfect for my old boy and his worn teeth, it doesn't send my sensitive mare off her rocker either.
 
Think I'm going to feed him on the Cooked cereal, I can put up with a bit of fizz if it makes him look better! I received a sample of Allen and Page Calm and Condition and he loved it when I fed him it and he chewed it lots better too.

Thanks for all your feedback, helped a lot!
 
Seems like you've decided but just to say - I feed my 21 year old Soya oil with his usual chaff and mix - have been doing this now for about 3 years and he has never looked better. Also is a slow release energy thing and helps with joints so what's not to like?!
 
I spoke to spillers yesterday and they told me about a range of feeds called Winergy Equilibrium. I did some research and there have been alot of posts on here about it too.

It sounds great and i am definitley going to give it a try!!
 
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