Sandstone1
Well-Known Member
my 8 year old is a good doer but could do with a little more energy. Currently on Fast fibre and a handful of high fibre cubes. Any suggestions for a feed that might be ok for him? No alfalfa.
Feed for a good doer that needs energy
- Thread starter Sandstone1
- Start date
Gloi
Too little time, too much to read.
Don't try and get the extra energy from feed it will only go to fat. Get the extra energy from fitness.
Work work work and the energy will come. Might take a while if he is an idle type but it will come as he gets fitter.
I am telling myself this too at the moment as both pony and myself have both got a bit fat and idle over lockdown.
Work work work and the energy will come. Might take a while if he is an idle type but it will come as he gets fitter.
I am telling myself this too at the moment as both pony and myself have both got a bit fat and idle over lockdown.
NinjaPony
Well-Known Member
Stick him on a vitamin and mineral supplement. I always recommend the Equimins powder. Then you know he is getting everything he needs, and you don't need to add any calories. I agree with the above though, it's the fitness that will really make a difference.
PapaverFollis
Well-Known Member
This. Unless he's slim and fit already more energy comes from more fitness and less weight. Calories are calories you can't feed "energy" without feeding extra calories. And for a good doer that's not needed.
ester
Not slacking multitasking
I fed Frank (welsh d) oats (+ grass chaff+ linseed+ balancer+ beet sometimes).
It definitely didn't go to fat - always a concerns if anyone has seen the state he was in when we bought him. It seemed that because I'd put more energy in he put more energy into life in general and was a much nicer ride in the summer as a result. Wish I'd done it sooner!
It took me a long time to figure out that feeding him for the work he was doing was better than feeding for what his wastline looked like.
It definitely didn't go to fat - always a concerns if anyone has seen the state he was in when we bought him. It seemed that because I'd put more energy in he put more energy into life in general and was a much nicer ride in the summer as a result. Wish I'd done it sooner!
It took me a long time to figure out that feeding him for the work he was doing was better than feeding for what his wastline looked like.
Tarragon
Well-Known Member
A quick look on the internet and I came across this advice (From The Scottish Farmer!) which i thought was good advice... based on "feed for work done"
The good doer
This horse has probably come out of the winter with varying degrees of too much condition. The winter so far has not been conducive to weight loss in this type.
To start with, a balancer pellet or mineral supplement and chaff will be plenty and in some cases may be all that the animal ever needs, dependent on the level of work required.
Balancer pellets provide all the vitamins and minerals that your horse requires plus quality protein, which is required to replenish muscle lost due to lack of work.
These types usually require more time to fitten to faster work than their more athletic counterparts.
Those being fittened to a light-medium level and beyond may begin to feel like they need a little more energy or 'oomph'.
Energy and 'oomph'
Stepping up to a light-medium work feed will be unlikely to have the desired effect on this type and the extra calories are likely to be laid down as fat.
Instead, add a small quantity of oats (whole oats, tiger oats), or competition mix, to the feed to give a rapid release energy source.
It is surprising how small an amount is needed to have an effect. Start with a small handful in each feed and increase slowly until the desired effect is achieved, giving it a few days at each new level.
Small amounts of oil can also be fed to provide some slow release energy. Never do this unless your horse has already reached its ideal body condition.
You don't want to increase weight again. Experience shows that the best way of feeding this type of animal is to use a balancer type product and chaff as a year round base ration with the flexibility of adjusting the amount of oats, oil and chaff type (Hi-Fi, Graze-on, Alfa-A etc) depending on work level, body condition and temperament.
Strict dieting
An easy mistake is to panic that your horse has too much condition a month before its first competition (in particular eventing) and cut back its feed drastically.
This means the poor animal goes into competition with low energy reserves and feeling terrible.
Think how terrible and low in energy a strict diet can make you feel! The desired body condition should be achieved, as far as possible, in the early stages of fittening and then maintained, this means that the horse can be fed according to its work load in the latter stages of fittening.
The good doer
This horse has probably come out of the winter with varying degrees of too much condition. The winter so far has not been conducive to weight loss in this type.
To start with, a balancer pellet or mineral supplement and chaff will be plenty and in some cases may be all that the animal ever needs, dependent on the level of work required.
Balancer pellets provide all the vitamins and minerals that your horse requires plus quality protein, which is required to replenish muscle lost due to lack of work.
These types usually require more time to fitten to faster work than their more athletic counterparts.
Those being fittened to a light-medium level and beyond may begin to feel like they need a little more energy or 'oomph'.
Energy and 'oomph'
Stepping up to a light-medium work feed will be unlikely to have the desired effect on this type and the extra calories are likely to be laid down as fat.
Instead, add a small quantity of oats (whole oats, tiger oats), or competition mix, to the feed to give a rapid release energy source.
It is surprising how small an amount is needed to have an effect. Start with a small handful in each feed and increase slowly until the desired effect is achieved, giving it a few days at each new level.
Small amounts of oil can also be fed to provide some slow release energy. Never do this unless your horse has already reached its ideal body condition.
You don't want to increase weight again. Experience shows that the best way of feeding this type of animal is to use a balancer type product and chaff as a year round base ration with the flexibility of adjusting the amount of oats, oil and chaff type (Hi-Fi, Graze-on, Alfa-A etc) depending on work level, body condition and temperament.
Strict dieting
An easy mistake is to panic that your horse has too much condition a month before its first competition (in particular eventing) and cut back its feed drastically.
This means the poor animal goes into competition with low energy reserves and feeling terrible.
Think how terrible and low in energy a strict diet can make you feel! The desired body condition should be achieved, as far as possible, in the early stages of fittening and then maintained, this means that the horse can be fed according to its work load in the latter stages of fittening.
ester
Not slacking multitasking
why will the good doer come out of winter with too much condition though? It's the best time for them not to be.
Tarragon
Well-Known Member
I agree, but often not the case. The article was written in 2015; not sure if the winter then was a particularly mild one!
If you replace that sentence with "if you are starting with an unfit horse ... " it still works.
If you replace that sentence with "if you are starting with an unfit horse ... " it still works.
milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
yup
my good doer has plenty of go when fed like this. i give linseed in the winter, rest of the year grass nuts or chaff and balancer, and I top her up with Topspec Turbo which is oats and soya. she's like a little rocket then
Fitness is key with these types too, but even super fit they still need fuelling
Dexter
Well-Known Member
I saw Topspec turbo mentioned on here and gave it a go. He only gets a handful on the days he's worked and its made a noticeable difference. Oats on there own didn't seem to do anything much though.
RHM
Well-Known Member
If your horse is in good nick and in a decent amount of work then I would also add oats. My ponies breeder always said to me that if you need to use a whip on a fell pony you need another bucket of oats!
P.forpony
Well-Known Member
‘You only get out what you put in.’
Most obvious and sensible thing a nutritionist ever said to me.
If everything is low low energy you can’t expect a high energy output. My mare had gone from dangerously obese to very very fit over a slow period of 18 months.
She felt dreadful!
Switched to a competition balancer instead of a good doer one and a cup of competition mix give or take a cup each way depending on workload.
She didn’t get fat just much more fun ?
Most obvious and sensible thing a nutritionist ever said to me.
If everything is low low energy you can’t expect a high energy output. My mare had gone from dangerously obese to very very fit over a slow period of 18 months.
She felt dreadful!
Switched to a competition balancer instead of a good doer one and a cup of competition mix give or take a cup each way depending on workload.
She didn’t get fat just much more fun ?
m1stify
Well-Known Member
This is really interesting thank you I too have a good doer and she is on low cal everything & is lacking in energy!
Daniel_Jack
Well-Known Member
I used to find Kossolian blood salts helped my previous cob - just gave him a bit more oomph.
Unfortunately they don't work with the current horse who despite having restricted grazing and being exercised 6 days a week is still a lazy toad!
Unfortunately they don't work with the current horse who despite having restricted grazing and being exercised 6 days a week is still a lazy toad!
sbloom
Well-Known Member
I would be really wary with these, IIRC chock full of iron and not balanced at all, though I hear you, they do pep some horses up. Nutrition knowledge has come a long way since they were introduced.
CanteringCarrot
Well-Known Member
My good doer eats a bit of oats. I know they are high in starch, but he does fine with them. He's in enough work that I feel ok with this in addition to his alfalfa pellets. I also give him electrolytes because he is a heavy sweater, no matter how fit. This proves to be enough for him.
I will say that I did have blood pulled and forage/feed analyzed, because sometimes there is a deficiency that can cause a lack of energy.
I will say that I did have blood pulled and forage/feed analyzed, because sometimes there is a deficiency that can cause a lack of energy.
Daniel_Jack
Well-Known Member
Thats interesting. They'd come highly recommended by some very experienced friends. Apparently it was what they fed the hunters & race horses to boost energy.
I was going to stop feeding them anyway as the tub is nearly done and they haven't made a damn bit of difference with my mare!
Might try oats but its more stamina I'm looking for than just energy.
Bernster
Well-Known Member
Had a nutritionist out who really doesn’t rate oats, not good for the guts, and only give very quick release energy (so you need to ride shortly after feeding). I have to say, they did seem to give my boy a bit of extra stamina. I added a balancer as that seemed to be recommended.
He’s now only on speedi beet with a vit and min supplement.
He’s never that different even when fitter tbh, he’s just naturally laid back and conserves his energy!
He’s now only on speedi beet with a vit and min supplement.
He’s never that different even when fitter tbh, he’s just naturally laid back and conserves his energy!
ester
Not slacking multitasking
Sometimes you need quick release energy.
I figured with that and the linseed I had the quick and slow covered.
I figured with that and the linseed I had the quick and slow covered
.
Bernster
Well-Known Member
Sometimes you need quick release energy.
I figured with that and the linseed I had the quick and slow covered
is linseed good for longer burn energy? But Not conditioning? I do wonder if we are missing a bit of oomph with the diet change but he needs to lose a bit of weight and get fitter, so I’ll work on that and ask her on the next visit what she recommends for more fizz.
CanteringCarrot
Well-Known Member
Keep in mind it takes some horses long to build fitness than others. Or at least in my experience anyway. My TB used to fit up fairly quick. My PRE is a fat man in a horse suit so it took him awhile to get fit. Even if his weight was good, just took longer for him to gain the strength and endurance.
TotalMadgeness
Well-Known Member
My good doer has his weight managed carefully and successfully but his energy levels are low so he can be exhausting to ride. I may have to try a handful of TopSpec Turbo and see how he goes...