feed for 5 year old?

[dottylottie]

for context, i backed diva march/april time and did very little with her to begin with, but am now stepping the work up over autumn/winter with a view to get her doing riddens next season. i took her off the balancer she was on as i honestly did not notice a difference since putting her on it, and for what she was doing (in hand shows 1/2 times a month, ridden maybe once a week at best) i didn’t see it necessary - she’s out most of the time and fed haylage when in. just on chaff and supplements at present.

now i’m asking more of her i really think i need to feed her for the work im asking of her, but i’m torn! she’s a nice weight, but definitely needs more condition/topline, which will of course come with the correct work. she’s very forward, but runs out of steam very quickly which is to be expected.

do i just go for a low calorie balancer? a normal balancer? comp/conditioning mix, just fed at reduced amounts?

i don’t want her fat, and i definitely don’t want her anymore excitable as she’s desperate to trot off the second i’m on

HHO hive mind, please help!

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Mine is currently fed just grass…

Come winter when she will be in over night and the grass drops off, she will have a handful of grass nuts, chop and the progressive earth balancer plus herbs.

I wouldn’t feed anymore now for stamina as it will come with fitness. If she drops weight then maybe, but I’m building stamina with fitness for mine right now.

Don’t want them over topped on young legs!

 

[dottylottie]

Mine is currently fed just grass…

Come winter when she will be in over night and the grass drops off, she will have a handful of grass nuts, chop and the progressive earth balancer plus herbs.

I wouldn’t feed anymore now for stamina as it will come with fitness. If she drops weight then maybe, but I’m building stamina with fitness for mine right now.

Don’t want them over topped on young legs!

maybe the low cal balancer is the way to go then! no i definitely don’t want her any fatter, im forever being told i like mine lean but i think people are so used to seeing fat welshies in the show ring, they can’t recognise one that’s a nice weight

 

[HufflyPuffly]

maybe the low cal balancer is the way to go then! no i definitely don’t want her any fatter, im forever being told i like mine lean but i think people are so used to seeing fat welshies in the show ring, they can’t recognise one that’s a nice weight

Honestly resist! Unless loosing weight, cost, skin, hooves looking poor, it will come with more fitness and strength!

Beryl was a sloth to back, as a four year old still way more woah than go! Come this year and more work, good Welsh hills and more schooling, she is so much stronger, fitter and her stamina and forwardness is 100% improved.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I feed Faran Baileys Lo cal balancer and HiFi lite. We do long hacks, jumping, dressage, Pole Clinics etc and he’s doing fine.

If he needs any more energy he gets a mash of grassnuts and alfalfa pellets the night and morning before we do what we are doing. Doesn’t blow his head but gives him a bit more gas in the tank