Feed for a TB who has been on nothing!

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Hannah530

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Hi everyone,
Just looking for people's advice/opinions really!
My new TB arrived two days ago, she is a 12yp mare who has been turned out on no feed or anything for past two years.
She is not in great condition (full grass belly but no muscle!) and her hooves are an absolute state, however good temperament, nice and calm, what would you all recommend as a good starting point for food for her?

She is also lame at the moment (a whole other story!) and on restricted turnout, so don't want to add anything that will heat her up and will obviously be introducing it all very gradually with some good quality hay aswell.
Thank you all!

Oh and I plan on adding biotin for her hooves but please make other recommendations aswell! 😊
 
I'm in almost exactly the same position with a horse I've just got :) I'm feeding him Happy Hoof Molasses Free and Spillers' Condition Mix. I started on very little and have now built him up to a tiny bit more, and aim to have him on a "normal" size feed by end of November ready for the colder weather. There are various topline mixes and condition mixes available. If the horse isn't in work yet though do you need a hard feed or is it just to get supplements into her? In terms of supplements I'd recommend 365 Complete by Equine Answers as a balancer as I've seen horses do fantastic on this and it helps with topline development (obviously alongside work!). Make sure you're feeding something low-sugar to help her feet. Good luck, it'll be so rewarding to see the difference in her :)
 
Aww thanks, to be honest I'm not in a major rush to get on hard feed, but it's more to be able to get supplements in. I'm now slowly introducing hay but She's on bute at the moment for her lameness and so I'm giving that to her in apple sauce, but I need to start something for her hooves and some general supplements as she's it great, however how do I get them in her when she's not having a feed? 😂 Why do we do it to ourselves?! Bloody horse! X
 
Bless her! You'lll probably get away with something like Happy Hoof to add the supplements/bute into, it won't fizz her up and she'll probably enjoy being in a routine with it, then you could gradually start her on some kind of mix when she's coming into work to help build muscle. Hay shouldn't cause problems at least. Like I say I'd recommend 365 Complete as an all-round multi-vitamin (it does contain a tiny bit of biotin and its just a powder) but there are loads of other options, and perhaps oil and a salt lick, and when you get to know her individual needs better you'll be able to know exactly what supplements she needs (ie something for joint support maybe). She sounds lovely, good luck!! X
 
TopChop lite chaff, Speedibeet, micronised linseed and a good quality Vit & Min supplement. All low sugar; all low starch. The micronised linseed will also help her hooves and coat.
 
As her feet are bad you are best avoiding any mixes that are full of sugar and starch which will not help matters, give her as much hay as you can, good forage should be the base of her diet, for her feet a really good supplement such as pro hoof would give her all the vits and mins she requires, with some unmolassed chop/ speedibeet/ grass nuts or fast fibre any of which will be suitable as a carrier, plus some micronised linseed which should help with her condition generally as well as being very good for the feet.
 
I would avoid the temptation to start pumping feed down her if she is currently out of work. I would ensure she has good quality ad-lib hay and then simply feed her a balancer to ensure she is getting the correct vitamins and minerals.

I would wait until you have got her back into some level of light work before you start introducing anything else.
 
When in work would highly recommend Copra and Linseed through winter. My ex racer is on this and doing very well at the moment!
 
be positive said:
As her feet are bad you are best avoiding any mixes that are full of sugar and starch which will not help matters, give her as much hay as you can, good forage should be the base of her diet, for her feet a really good supplement such as pro hoof would give her all the vits and mins she requires, with some unmolassed chop/ speedibeet/ grass nuts or fast fibre any of which will be suitable as a carrier, plus some micronised linseed which should help with her condition generally as well as being very good for the feet.
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I agree with this I have Arabs and with them also being hot blood's I keep the feed low starch, sugar and no molasses, they get graze on chaff which is just chopped grass fast fibre and micronised linseed and I just adjust it according to how they look, I find they hold weight well without getting fizzy when ridden.
 
Danilon instead of bute,so she will take in her feed. I would feed almost any TB from now on as they don't take to living on fresh air.
Make sure the farrier comes every four weeks, so he is not tempted to do it all at once.
 
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