Dengie Alfa-A molasses free

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Hi

I have a lovely cob, who is looking very well and is lovely and calm and sensible on his current feed of Fast Fibre and Equifeast Cool, Calm and Collected. But I feel like he needs a bit more oomph, and sustained energy, but without getting silly, or putting on weight, which he does very easily.

He is worked 5-6 times a week, and is out competing most weekends, anything from dressage to low level eventing.

I have spoken to Dengie, who have suggested their Alfa-A Molasses Free with their Performance Vitamins and Minerals to supplement and make sure he is getting everything he needs.

The thing that is concerning me is that Fast Fibre has 8MJ Digestible Energy, whereas the Dengie has 11.5! I'm worried it will send him silly.

Does anyone have any opinions or thoughts?
 
[deleted user] said:
Hi

I have a lovely cob, who is looking very well and is lovely and calm and sensible on his current feed of Fast Fibre and Equifeast Cool, Calm and Collected. But I feel like he needs a bit more oomph, and sustained energy, but without getting silly, or putting on weight, which he does very easily.

He is worked 5-6 times a week, and is out competing most weekends, anything from dressage to low level eventing.

I have spoken to Dengie, who have suggested their Alfa-A Molasses Free with their Performance Vitamins and Minerals to supplement and make sure he is getting everything he needs.

The thing that is concerning me is that Fast Fibre has 8MJ Digestible Energy, whereas the Dengie has 11.5! I'm worried it will send him silly.

Does anyone have any opinions or thoughts?
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I always feed a lower weight of Alfa-A (I use the Oil version at I believe 13MJ/kg?) than I do of my hard feed. So the higher DE only makes a difference if you are feeding the same weight as your FF. Plus you've said you are aiming to feed higher energy so I'm struggling to understand how a higher energy feed is then concerning?

Also, just be careful, as any increase in energy is an increase in calories, so if he is prone to putting on weight he may well do that. For horses needing sparkle I normally say some kind of balancer is better than increasing calories as they obviously dont need it, and gaining weight will only make him more lethargic.
 
Hi

Thanks for your reply. I think you have phrased it better than me - I want extra sparkle and sustained energy rather than explosive silliness.

That's a really good point about the amounts making a difference.

My understanding is that as the Alfa-A is a direct replacement for the FF, and is higher energy, that should provide the boost I am looking for, and the Vits and Mins is taking the place of what would be a balancer...

I am going to keep a very close eye on his weight, as he is very prone to putting it on.
 
You could try cool and collected which is the next one up from fast fibre, I used it on my mare last winter for a bit more energy & it didn't seem to send her loopy! I don't think its a massively higher engery level if my memory served me rightly
 
Dengie will obv tell u to swap to their brand, call Allen and page and see their suggestions I would guess it would be cool and collected, or ride and relax?
 
I want to switch to Dengie! I spoke to a dentist who said that soaked feeds are a very abnormal thing to feed a horse, and it doesn't come off their teeth properly. They are meant to eat dry foods that assist in wearing down their teeth.
 
To be honest, it might not be a feeding issue and could be a schooling issue. If he is getting all his vits and mins and is still laid back that might just be him. You could feed my ID rocket fuel and he'd still be the same so with him I just work on pepping him up in the school and getting him responsive to my aids. Just a thought that feeding might not actually do that much!
 
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Nell that is also a really good point, and one that I agree with. I just feel like he's not able to sustain work for as long as I would like, and struggles past a certain point. I've worked on getting him fitter but just feel like maybe he's not getting enough. But I worry that this might be too much!

I am going over and over if I would be better off just changing the FF to a similar energy chaff and leaving it at that.

Maybe I should try that first and see how it goes.....
 
Hi i also feed fast fibre but i feed pony nuts alongside and a balancer, i to wanted more ommph without silliness or weight.

I started my lad on the Dengie Alfa-a molasses free as suggested by local feed place a few weeks ago alongside his ff and nuts and he has been so much better. He has much more energy and a spring in his step but isnt silly and hasnt piled weight on!

So far im happy :) x
 
Thanks sn1 I am really hoping that will be the effect it will have on my lad too!

Maybe I am just worrying too much - I think it's because I do kind of ilke how laid back he is, but I am getting fed up with having to work so hard to get him going!!
 
[deleted user] said:
Thanks sn1 I am really hoping that will be the effect it will have on my lad too!

Maybe I am just worrying too much - I think it's because I do kind of ilke how laid back he is, but I am getting fed up with having to work so hard to get him going!!
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i was having the same issue but was also worried about it turning him insane but so far so good! His energy levels have improved and he is more forward off the leg but not stupid!!

Hope it works out for you to :)
 
Alfa A molasses free is alfalfa and soya with herbs added to make it tasty I think it would be perfect for what you describe .
 
I had a similar problem.

'Dengie told me to up the Alfa A to 4 stubbs scoops a day, that's nearly 2kg (without her other feeds), it made her feeds massive and she wasn't eating it all, most went to waste.

Aside from riding her everyday and getting her fit which gave her plenty of sparkle, i found a small scoop of endurance mix or Spillers instance response into her normal sized straight feeds worked well.

But then i do have a ex racing mare who you can pump full high energy feeds and it has no insane impact on her little brain!
 
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Be careful what you wish for - my hat-rack TB who never kept weight on and was a donkey to ride (irritatingly slow of the leg!) became a muscular, sensitive, talented by sharp monster once sorting his feeding out. Love him dearly but he's harder work now!!

Just to add Dengie do a feed balancer too, the Alfa-A one, which will balance that diet well, plus balance proteins etc like a powder supplement doesn't.
 
I have my horses on this, one is a very laid back (bomb could go off under his feet and wouldn't care) kind of pony, and he has the energy to work with enthusiasm but stays calm.

The other is a bit higher strung and he is actually better behaved since taking him off the Bailey's low cal and putting him on this (think baileys is high in starch). Both of them also have happy hoof and to give them a little extra I now add a mug of Dodson and Horrell Staypower cubes-brilliant stuff as they have remained calm but my younger laid back pony can now manage the all day fast/jumping hacks. I would very much recommend the cubes as mine have gone very well on them.
 
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