Diet change (Sugar free) but fussy eater not eating!

[Dirty_D]

Hi everyone

Got some great advice on here with regards to changing the boys diet to improve hoof health so I gradually took away the feed he was on, (by adding less and less to the new diet of Fast Fibre, Mirco Linseed & Pro Balance) and I've now removed all the old feed and he is just on this new diet.

Only thing is, he's not eating it without the old sugary chop in (Molichop condition)!!!
I cant really afford for him to not eat it (i mean weight wise not money!) as he's a nice round TB at the minute and although he has ad lib haylage as soon as he stops the hard feed he drops off.

When i've tried getting him to eat things in the past ive added a little no added sugar apple juice to the water i wet the feed with. Would this be ok to add some to the water I'm mixing the Fast Fibre in? It wouldnt be a huge volume of apple juice but i dont want to add it if i'm just adding to much sugar back in his diet as this might defeat the point of me changing it! (I know its no added sugar juice but they have natural sugars).

Does anyone know if i can add this without upsetting the balance of the diet or has anyone any other suggestions?

 

[Pinkvboots]

You could try dried mint I can hide all different things they are not keen on disguised with mint, its really cheap too and you can put quite a bit in.
I would be inclined not to put sugary fruit juice in his feed as its the sugar taste you want to wean him off, as his had mollichaff it will take a while for him to eat feed without mollasses or sugar but I am sure in time he will eat it.

Mine also have fast fibre and I also give them hifi no mollasses its not fenugreek and little pellets added and they love it and will eat that on its own, you could try it with the mint.

 

[pines of rome]

Mint and herbs works for mine, he scoffs it all then, but if I leave them out he turns his nose up at it!
It takes them a little while to adapt to a sugar free diet my boy had a proper grump about it to start with!

 

[Dirty_D]

The only thing is . . . he hates mint! Always has done! He's the only horse on the yard that won't touch then (we even put them in his mouth and he just spits them out!) I can only guess he either hates mint or that he has had the anti-inflammatorys that taste of mint alot when he raced and was injured!

Maybe i should phaze out the mollichop over a longer period if he's used to the taste of it, putting less an less each time. I assume its a bit like us and our tastebuds and he is just wanting the sugary taste because he is used to it?

 

[pines of rome]

Yes , phase out the chaff gradually, I did this over a few weeks, got it down to a small handfull before stopping it!
You don,t have to add mint, some horses prefer savoury things like curry powder!
My boy likes the celery in mobility herbs and also chamomile in placid!