Excitable, poor doer - What to feed him?

Go for as low starch as you can while maintaining a high DE (MJ/kg).

Starch is a source of fast release energy, so if you have a fizzy horse you should try and keep it to a minimum. Your primary energy sources should be fiber and oil.

You have ERS pellets, Re-Leve from Saracen, and Solution Mash from RB.

I have been using Solution Mash with a top up of Sumo Original and my horse has been keeping her weight.
 
According to saracen agricenter, trumour and i think one or two places in ryde do saracen feeds! But my anxious poor doer always thrives on baileys no 4 and showshine chaff!
 
You might want to ask Saracen for a sample. They are super helpful, but my horse wouldn't eat Re-leve or EquiJewel.
 
Fibre, fibre and more fibre! Forget all the processed feeds and get him on something like a Fiber Fresh product - not sure if they sell it in UK

http://www.equinetrader.co.nz/directory/fiber-fresh-feeds-ltd/

Scientific research, through Massey University in New Zealand, has shown that high energy moist [HNF Fiber®] provides important advantages for horses. It improves their hydration and provides high levels of slow release energy, which is critical for sustained performance. It also improves their recovery after exercise, enhances their digestion, and helps correct any digestive discomfort associated with high grain diets.

HNF Fiber® is contained in all Fiber Fresh brand horse feeds - FiberPro®, FiberEzy®, FiberMix® and FiberSure®, and is the foundation of Cornerstone Nutrition®.

The majority of processed feeds contain grains in some form and t=many others charge you the earth to feed your horse the waste husks from Soy and Rice manufacturing.
 
WelshD said:
Copra Coolstance is supposed to be very good
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Copra meal is very low in methionine and lysine, the two limiting amino-acids for muscle production. So if you are having a hard time putting weight on a horse, you should feed him stuff high on those two AA's - since you don't really want fat, you actually want muscle.

Beet pulp has more energy (MJ) per kg than copra, is cheaper, and has a much better amino-acid profile. Alfalfa is another feed high on lysine, so can be useful too (although it does have less MJ/kg).

Copra has one great thing though - a fabulous marketing strategy behind it.
 
Ihave a stressy gelding who is a fussy eater with a small stomach .... runs up light very quickly, changes his mind about what feed he likes as soon as I've bought the second bag of feed :-(

Best thing I've found to get him to eat is valerian. Doesn't make hom dopey but just relaxes him enough to eat

I know it's not competition legal but he doesn't compete. Doesn't affect him in any way, performance wise - just helps him maintain condition as I can then feed him just about anything :-)
 
SCMSL said:
Beet pulp has more energy (MJ) per kg than copra, is cheaper, and has a much better amino-acid profile.
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Not sure about that.

Copra 15mj per kg, Speedibeet 12 MJ per kg.

Unless you are talking about molassed beet in which case I wouldn't consider sugar to be a good source of energy for an excitable horse.

I have fed both unmolassed beet and Copra for various reasons and find both useful. I add Lysine to both as it is a difficult amino acid to get adequate levels from feed, I saw 6 kilos of Alfalfa quoted as needed to give necessary levels and none of mine get anything near that level of bucket feed.

I like beet pulp a lot as a base (can't use it at the moment as the calcium levels are too high for where I am :( ) and added to that extra calories, some protein and slow release energy, I would add Copra and 200g of linseed.

However with a very excitable horse I would probably start with unmolassed beet and slowly add to that.

ps not sure about your comments on Coolstance's marketing strategy as outside word of mouth (inc forums) I had never come across it and never see adverts and infomercial type articles like you do for Dengie and Top Spec etc.
 
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