Feed for a young tb

[GypsyGirl]

Hi everyone,

I was just wondering on what you all suggest really, I bought my 5year old tb in the middle of august. When I bought her she was very skinny.

She used to be on build up mix when she was with her previous owner.

We spoke to a feed expert about what diet we should give her gradually to help build up her weight etc.

So now she is on Allen and Page Calm and Condition, Hi fi origional and Alfa beet, garlic and carrots. The horses are going through a bale of hay every day (there are 10 horses) and Maisie is on two feeds a day.

Do you think that we should ad a mix or something of some kind to help build her up more over the winter. The diet that she is on really suits her and she is putting on weight gradually as we didnt want her to put it on too quickly.

We have tried her with barley I think it was and some other feeds but they gave her loose droppings, even when we start it gradually.

She has also been wormed etc she has no health issues, its just trying to help her gain weight.

When I ride out we do a lot of hill work to help build up the muscles on her bum and neck.

Thank you in advance!

 

[TGM]

So now she is on Allen and Page Calm and Condition, Hi fi origional and Alfa beet, garlic and carrots. The horses are going through a bale of hay every day (there are 10 horses) and Maisie is on two feeds a day.

Do you mean one big round bale of hay or one small one? Does she live in or out?

 

[GypsyGirl]

One big bale, they live out 24/7 and the grass isnt great at the moment, we have one field resting. They eat it on and off during the night, although last night we put a new bale in there and tonight there still eating it so its lasted longer then one day lol. It sounds a lot.

 

[GypsyGirl]

I forgot to say that she is rugged well and shes unclipped and she is putting on weight, but im just wondering if there is anything else that I can add to her dinner

 

[TGM]

If she is still gaining weight then I wouldn't worry too much. However, if she stops gaining then you could try swapping the HiFi (which is low calorie) for a higher calorie chaff such as Alfa A Oil or Readigrass and the Alfabeet for Speedibeet, as it contains more calories than Alfabeet. If she still needs more after that then you could either add some micronised linseed (high oil content so very dense in calories), or you could swap the Calm & Condition for a higher calorie conditioning cube such as Baileys No. 4.

 

[GypsyGirl]

If she is still gaining weight then I wouldn't worry too much. However, if she stops gaining then you could try swapping the HiFi (which is low calorie) for a higher calorie chaff such as Alfa A Oil or Readigrass and the Alfabeet for Speedibeet, as it contains more calories than Alfabeet. If she still needs more after that then you could either add some micronised linseed (high oil content so very dense in calories), or you could swap the Calm & Condition for a higher calorie conditioning cube such as Baileys No. 4.

Excellent, thank you very much
Im trying to work up her neck muscles and her top line aswell and her bum muscles. Its hard but she is gaining gradually which is what we wanted. Im just hoping that she doesnt start dropping it, shes not and fingers crossed she doesnt! If she stops putting on weight then I will swap the Hifi over and then see how she goes and then if she still stops then I will try her with something else that you have mentioned.

Thank you

 

[Tnavas]

As you are putting out large rounds of hay have you considered doing the same with a large round haylage bale. Haylage has more feed value than hay. I wintered my lot on it one year - including several TB's - uncovered and they came through winter like little porkies.