Feed advice needed for good doer with little energy

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Sharonr

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Hi,

I am looking for advice as to what to feed my 14.2 Welsh C. She is out 24/7 at the moment and I don't feed the recommended amounts as only give her a handful of D&H High Fibre cubes and a handful of Hi-Fi lite. Have just recently started her on Pink Powder.

She does tend to hold her weight very easily hence why only handful of feed but I do feel that she lacks a bit of sparkle and that she appears to tire easily and not be as forward going as I would like.

With so many different feeds on the market I'm unsure as to what to feed her to try make her less lethargic. She is ridden 5 days a week. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.
 
You could try a balancer but we found the equilibrium high energy really good. My sister's cob is a very good doer but also gets fizzy easily, we found a handful, literally, gave him good energy levels without calories and without fizzing him up :-)
 
What sort of work do you do? Getting her fitter would add some sparkle, but it's hard work when it's dark and cold!
 
I have the exact same problem!! Said it to my riding partner this morning. He is out 24/7 good grass but muzzled as always carrys weight so currently gets the smallest amount of dengie hi lite to absorb his supps/garlic in but has lost his sparkle!

We are doing alot of hacking admittedly but have lots of exciting things coming up this & next month so I want some pzazz without the fizz. Asking too much?!
 
I have a haffie that sounds very similar. So long as your pony is getting the required vitamins and minerals Im not sure I would be feeding for 'sparkle' as you may regret it! Ours is pretty dull until he is fit and then he is nicely forward going without being 'fizzed' up...alot nicer to ride!
 
Can I ask....the equilibrium high energy (balancer?) ...is it ok to feed along with his vits/supps or instead of?

What is the pink powder?

My boy, whilst the hacks are at least 2 hours, is currently only ridden 3-4 times a week.

Sorry to hi-jack OP!
 
That's ok TChamp!! Would be interested to know also if the feed can be given without the addition of supplements as may work out cheaper.

Pink Powder is made by NAF and supplies all the required vits and mins whether your feeding as a balancer or a concentrate.

I mostly hack too, in fact, can't remember the last time I was in the school. Only really go in if I decide to do some jumping.
 
I have a cob who is the same.

She is only 5 so I'#m not doing a huge amount with her - but we do hack lots so she is pretty fit.

She just has a handful of happy hoof and pink powder. I tried adding rolled oats for 'sparkle' which didn't really do anything apart from make her grumpier to handle. Didn't hot her up at all.

I need to find something to give her a bit more energy so will be following this post!
 
OATS!

Start by adding a cupful, three days later you can increase, increase by the cupful every few days until you have the fizz level you want.

Remember that increase in work = Fitter and often more energetic.

Too much feed and/or insufficient work = fat or too much energy

To get the right fizz - feed the right amount of food and give the right amount of exercise.

Even the fatties can eat oats if you give them the work.

My Clydesdale gets oats when she is working hard as they are the least likely to put excess weight on her than any other feed.

If feed doesn't pep her up a bit then maybe get the vet to check bloods for anaemia.
 
What are you doing on your hacks? 2 hours in just walk, with little bits of trot will get a horse to a level, but you need to mix it up too.

Mine hack out for a couple of hours once or twice a week, covering a huge amount of ground, trotting & cantering plenty.
 
My lad was exactly the same, and my Instructor told me try feed oats - they made no difference at all. i think the horses that get fizzed up must have a different chemistry to my lad !

What i have noticed is that since starting on Topspec Light (one mug a day) he has been much brighter in himself and more forward going. I wasn't feeding the RDA of Healthy Hooves to give the vits/mins he needs, so tried a few balancers before settling on this one.
 
TChamp said:
Oats with his usual chaff or instead of? Liking the sound of the naf n rgy supplement...
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Add the oats to his chaff.

Getting fit does definately have an effect on the general attitude. Most horses will need up to an hours steady trotting daily to achieve a good level of fitness that makes them chirpier to ride.
 
I feed mine Safe and Sound with a mug of Spillers Lite balancer and a handfull of oats, then when I have something coming up like xc or jumping where we need more oomph I just increase the oats a few days before.

Don't ever feed a balancer with a vits and mins supplement though as they do the same thing.
 
bitlessbill said:
I feed mine Safe and Sound with a mug of Spillers Lite balancer and a handfull of oats, then when I have something coming up like xc or jumping where we need more oomph I just increase the oats a few days before.

Don't ever feed a balancer with a vits and mins supplement though as they do the same thing.
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This would only apply if you were feeding the full recommended amount which few people do.
 
Swap to Alpha A litle instead of hi-fi, and add a hanfull of tiger oats (more nutritionally balanced than normal oats and gives them heaps of energy without the crazy).
If she should be fit and is working enough but still seems abit tired she might be abit anaemic, mine gets anaemic through the winter its quite common and just has a maintainance dose of red cell, however if she isnt in hard work i'd get a blood test before the vet recommends an iron supplement.
 
Certainly no lack of work on our hacks...today was over 1hr30mins of trot with a bit of canter! I don't know who was more tired haha.

Hmmm oats was going to be the purchase of the day except I was in the smart car not the trooper. Typical!!
 
TChamp said:
Certainly no lack of work on our hacks...today was over 1hr30mins of trot with a bit of canter! I don't know who was more tired haha.

Hmmm oats was going to be the purchase of the day except I was in the smart car not the trooper. Typical!!
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They come in a bag - the smart car won't mind! I've given up keeping my car smart! I have a Honda City which is very old and tiny and I get given heaps by my feed merchant because I carry so much horse feed in it.
 
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