Extra 'umph!' - need a bit of help.

[Haflinger]

Blu is being a bit *meh* with her work at the moment, not going fowards enough and being a bit lacking in energy. She had a weeks holiday and quite a few days off work with physio/injury/weather etc. and a few weeks off jumping/shows. Last weekend she jumped really fowards and pulling me to the fences, but today she was being quite sticky and holding back, she did get better when I really pushed her into them in the last few in the jump off, but I noticed on the videos she was cantering quite long and stretched out - not bouncy enough really.

Vet and trainer suggest we try adding something to her feeds, whether it be a supplement/mix/whatever. What would you recommend?
At the moment she has 1 scoop of hi-fi lite, garlic and 1 1/2 mugs of local-balancer + carrots and 2 scoops of baileys pony nuts in her football.

And also has anyone got any good exercises for on the flat to really get her *up* and bouncing in the canter?

 

[Lulup]

There is not a lot of energy giving feed there - is she prone to carrying too much weight? I would try adding a good quality working/competition mix as it could be that the increase in work combined with the colder weather means the energy she is using exceeds the energy you are supplying via her feed. If you phone one of the reputable feed companys they have nutritionalists who can recommend a feed programme based on your exact situation - I've always found Dengie or Dodson & Horrell to be very helpful.

 

[Haflinger]

Thank you for the reply - nope, she's fine weightwise, has been all year. When the vet came out for her injury, she said what good condition she was in

She also gave us the number for the Baileys representitive who Mum rang, who gave a few suggestions. Cannot remember exactly what she said, and can't ask mum as she is out.

May try her on a mix though

 

[flyingfeet]

Try some competition mix or cubes of some sorts, but will provide extra calories

On another note november is a good time to worm for encysted red worms, and sometimes a course of panacur guard can perk them up.

Granted its december tomorrow!

 

[Haflinger]

I will try her on a competition mix I think

For the amount of work she does (usually 6 days a week consisting of jumping at a show - discovery/1.05m level at the moment, schooling and hacking), I don't think the extra calories would make too much difference to her weight?

They were recently wormed on Panacur, before they moved fields.

 

[CSYMolly]

My horse is on almost exactly the same feed. She is a very good doer, poor thing is always on diet! She is worked around 6 times a week and is at medium level dressage with shows and or lessons most weekends. I had the same trouble as you about a year ago and started adding oats which worked really well. Now her work load is harder and requires more stamina I found the oats only really gave her instant energy so after emailing a few feed companies I have added a small amount of D&H Staypower cubes in her ball and its seems to have helped.
A good gallop often helps blow the cob webs away too!