energy for the good-doer

[nfpony]

i was planning on feeding my good-doer new forest pony an energy supplement as he needs a bit more oomph but have been told these iron based supplements such as NAF enerG or equine america propel plus can be toxic because of the iron overload. does anyone have anyone opinions and suggestions please?

 

[Equi]

I asked this a while back. I was told the same thing im going to advise you (cause it worked) firstly make sure nothing is wrong (ems/cushings) second, get the weight off them. STRICT diet as in bare ground and lots of slow feeder haynets. Give a balancer like topspec or similar, it has everything needed. Fitten up properly, and ASK for more oomph. A good doer should have all the energy they need in their own fat reserves.

In my mares case, the onset of the lethargy co in-sided with the onset of lameness, she was not lame but lethargic as all hell. Then one day she couldn't walk. Not saying at all this is what is happening, but just what happened to me.

 

[supsup]

It is very rare for horses to lack iron unless they've suffered e.g. from massive blood loss. Even if a horse is anaemic (not enough red blood cells to carry oxygen around), this is more likely the case because some other "building block" is missing to convert dietary iron into red blood cells. Low copper of vitamin B levels can contribute, for example. Most "blood builder" type products contain not just iron, but also high doses of B vitamins and copper. IMO, it's more likely the extra copper of B vits did the job if the horse responds well than the extra iron. I would make sure to feed a vit&min supplement or balancer that provides at least the minimum daily requirement of copper/zinc and is reasonably balanced, instead of adding blood builder type product.

Here's a good link:
http://www.equinenutritionist.co.uk/anaemia-and-lethargy…-feed-related-problems-or-not

 

[ester]

oats.

I have never had weight gain on them as always found that the extra energy put into life balances it out.

Most UK grazing is high in iron, which is why the barefooters like no iron supplements.