FEED ADVISE PLEASE - what would you recomend?

[pipper]

After having him 2 years i have never fed him anything other that hay, grass, apples, carrots and a handful of chaff in wintertime. He has a salt lick and mineral lick. He is a good doer and although ridden everyday he is not what i would call in anything other than light work. 20 mins schooling (very light i do more work than him!

) 1 x 20 minute lesson a week in which i would say he does medium work. and hacking a couple of times a week mostly walk bit of trot for 1 - 1 1/2 hours.
He is a very spooky pony, but i really feel now that i would like a bit more omph from him in the school. What would you recomend i feed please bearing in mind that he has 24/7 grazing and is at the moment slightly well covered, but more importantly, something that whilst giving him a bit more energy will not make him more spooky? Just to add that in winter i gave him some soya oil in his chaff and he turned into a hooligan! So something without too much oil please......
thankyou

 

[kerilli]

i'd ring Baileys or one of the other big feed companies and ask to speak to their feed advisors. i've found Baileys to be really helpful.
i like feeding alfalfa, it has high energy levels but is slow release so doesn't usually send them nuts - i've heard of one or two it had that effect on though.
why not try a medium-energy coarse mix? you could raise or lower the amount you give according to how he feels.

 

[amycov]

I feed A&P hacking mix with a handful of oats to my mare who needed a bit more oomph. Wouldn't recommend the oats for your boy but the hacking mix is medium energy and as kerilli said you can alter the amount depending on how it suits him. I'd feed alongside something like hi-fi lite so you're not pumping him with calories.

 

[MagicMelon]

Lol, I was just about to suggest soya oil until I read the last bit! I also agree with alfalfa, its great stuff. And Id probably do away with the mineral lick and give him a high-spec vit & min supplement with added B vitamins (which not all contain) as this can help boost energy if they're lacking. Also make sure electrolytes are topped up.

 

[kellyeaton]

oats!