Could anyone give advice on what to feed my boy?

[TaliGirl]

Hello,

My horse, a 15.1hh Welsh Sec D, is a lazy sod! He is in medium work at the minute, picking up again after we've been on holiday. Any ideas what to feed him to get a little bit more oomph? I was thinking either A&P Sustain or D&H Staypower. One other problem is he puts on weight very easily, so would like to avoid that!

 

[TGM]

What is he being fed at the moment, and what is his management routine (in/out or mixture)? Has he always been lazy? And what is your definition of medium work?

 

[TaliGirl]

TGM, Currently he's been bought down to Alpha A Lite and a mix of oats and pasture mix, depending on how much work he's doing. We've switched him round to winter routine, so out during the day and then comes in again at six or so. I was thinking of mixing whatever we do use with the pasture and just gradually switching him over. He has always been lazy, yes! and currently working up to competition fit again, so schooling/lessons 3/4 times a week, fitness hacking/going out 2/3 days a week, and lunging him on his 'day off'. He has been on competition mix on the past, and did well on that, however I don't think he needs that much quite yet!

 

[TGM]

I presume that if he is prone to putting on weight that he is not getting the full amount of mix, so not getting the full RDA of vit/mins. One solution would be to get rid of the mix, and change to a balancer which will ensure his gets his daily requirements in a concentrated amount of feed. You can continue to feed the oats alongside it and up the amount depending on workload, energy levels and condition.