Feed Advice

J

jenmac_85

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 September 2007
Messages
439
Location
Clyde Valley, Scotland
Visit site
I amjust looking for advice regarding feeding.

I own a 16.2hh 11 year old IDX gelding. He is used for hacking 2-4 times a week.

Currently, he is living out 24/7. He in the field for horses whihc can get a bit overweight (which he is a bit prone to). I have been giving him some 'Safe and Sound' with the addition of garlic (for flies) and a vit + min supplement. He is good condition wise. His hooves aren't great, hence the 'Safe and Sound' which also allows me to mix in his supplements.

During the winter I was planning to give him 'Safe and Sound', 'Speedibeet' and 'Hi-Fi Good Do'er'. THe garlic would stop as the flies will disappear, but I was wondering if this combination was correct or if it was too much. He will have his turnout reduced to a couple of hours a day, with the same level of work.

Thanks in advance
 
Why are you feeding safe and osund and a vit and min supplement. It already contains one...

also, I would continue garlic through out the year, it is not just a fly repellent.. its a parasit repellant and a generall conditioner.

I see no reason to feed the hifi as the safe and sound contains chaff.. and Speedibeet is horrible. I woul dbe tempted to use normal beet.

Lou x
 
My mare is prone to weight gain so I feed her Happy Hoof, just so she can have her supplements and she also has Speedibeet in Winter as I would not want to feed her normal Sugar Beet. The extra sugar wouldnt do her waistline (or her head) any good and she loves Speedibeet.. Feed Merchant said it was like us having Porridge as its good form of fibre. Would be careful how much you feed if you have restricted turnout.
 
Hi,

Nailed, when I contacted Dodson and Horrell regarding the amount of Safe and Sound I was required to feed to give Tyler his full vit and min requirement, it was quite large (can't remember exact amounts) and they suggested that it would be a bit easier to give a vit and min supplement.

I was under the impression Speedibeet was slightly better than Sugar beet. Although willing to be corrected
smile.gif
. Feeding is one area I find so confusing. Just when I think I understand it, something comes along to cancel out everything I previously knew!!!

I added the extra chaff last year as he was throwing the feed down his throat and the Hi-Fi slowed him right down.

I was also looking to add something that would help with joints Have looked at Cod Liver Oil, but it has mixed reviews. Superflex and Cortaflex are next on my list. He doesnt have joint problems as such, just a clicky joint which my vet has suggested may be helped by a joint supplement.

Thanks

Jen
x
 
You may find that if your horse has adlib hay or haylage during the winter, then you may not need to up his feed at all. Use a weigh tape once a week to give yourself an idea of whether he is losing, gaining or maintaining weight.

If you find he needs more, then adding some Speedibeet may be a good idea. It is a good source of digestible fibre and it's calorie content is 12.4 MJDE/kg, which is similar to some conditioning feeds (although you have to remember that is based on dry weight, not soaked weight). Speedibeet is 5% sugar whereas normal sugar beet is 20% sugar, so Speedibeet is better for laminitics and those who fizz up on high sugar feeds - but normal sugar beet works out a lot cheaper.
 
Dodson and horrell do a mollassis free speedy beet. Thats pretty good stuff.
If your horse is out 24/7 at the moment he will be getting all vits and minirals he needs from the grass and hedgerow. Is there any reason why he needs a feed in the summer if he is on easy work?
I'd start the vit and min suppliment in the winter when he wont have as much access to grass. If his joints are fine then you will be waisting your money with anything like superflex. If he's a bit clicky then go for cod liver oil or just a reg veg oil for extra goodies.
I agree with continuing with garlic all year as it aids their respiritory system (sorry for my spelling).
If his feet are bad then i would suggest taking out any mollasis and afalfa (alfa - a etc) as it posseses a substence that doesn't help there feet. Let me know for more info.
Go a bit careful with cereal based feeds as these have a very high content of starch which horses should have to much of and they are not able to degest cereals (not naturally meant for horses especially lamanitic ones) could have a bit to do with the bad feet. Go for a really easy feed (sarecens are really good but tricky to get hold of as nowhere seams to stock it).
 
D & H Kwikbeet; same as Speedi-beet; mollasses free.!
smile.gif


Studies have found there is a lack of certain vitamin and minerals in the grass this time of year. Also depends on what your grazing is like;

Mine are on a track system, very little grazing; hence why they all get fed.

In winter, its a different matter, they go on 4 acres of very very long grass, and I don't feed them anything!

You could ring D & H helpline, they are very helpful; btw not all mixes are high in starch. Pasture Mix is around 14%
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top