Does this sound about right? (feed)

S

Sci

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 September 2009
Messages
52
Location
North Lincolnshire
Visit site
My new horse is underweight so Im planning on giving her 3 small feeds a day. She will also be turned out in a field with a decent amount of grass and have hay.
Im thinking of giving her 6 x stubbs scoops of Alfalfa A Oil, 1 x stubbs scoop No 4 Topline cubes and 1/2 stubbs scoop of speedi-beet. That will be over 3 meals. Does that sound ok?

also in stableyard
 
How big is your horse?

Horses stomachs are only fairly small (roughly rugby ball sized), so if you feed too much in one meal they won't digest it properly and it can lead to colic, laminitis etc. I'd be wary of feeding her this much in each meal, bear in mind that the cubes will swell up a bit in her stomach so will be quite filling. Personally I'd reduce it to one scoop alfalfa a meal along with up to one scoop topline and then a bit of speedibeet and make sure you dampen the feed well. I don't like to feed more than 2 scoops per meal to small horses, and even very large horses shouldn't have more than 3.

Also was she on much hard feed before you got her? Make sure you always introduce new feeds gradually as the horses gut will take awhile to adapt to it and won't digest it properly until it does. Generally aim to introduce the feed over two weeks, starting with minimal amounts and gradually building up to the amount you want her to be on.

Spreading the feed over 3 meals is a great idea
laugh.gif


Also if she's not used to much grass be a bit carefull when first turning her out, make sure she's only out for short periods if the grass is very rich until she gets used to it.
 
Shes a warmblood X, 16hh, 9 years old, underweight due to not really been bothered with in last year (owner had baby and basically forgot about horse). Will just be used for hacking and schooling 9will probably only be lunging for first week or so. Unsure of weight as dont get her 'til Saturday.
 
PaintedLucky - She been having chaff and topline cubes at her old home.
She's been used to 24 hour turnout but there wasnt a great deal of grass. Her new field is looking quite green but the grass isnt overly long maybe a couple of inches high.
 
I would cut the Alfa A Down to 4 scoops otherwise it is a massive volume to feed, even divided by 3. I think you will find that would be the recommended amount for the type of horse anyway.

The rest sounds ok. Make sure you find out what she is on at the moment and implement changes slowly by a handful a day.

Your grass sounds better than she is used to and we are also expecting the Autumn flush so I'm guessing she will pick up on that. I would also provide ad lib hay if she does come into the stable.

Weigh tape her and keep a record as soon as you get her and it helps to take a weekly pic IMO It would be worth finding out when she was last wormed and doing that if need be too.

I take it from your post that she is just a bit poor rather than seriously underweight? If she is markedly underweight the work will have to weight IMO.

Good Luck, hope you have fun with her. Make sure you post some pics!
x
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top