Feed for b/f fatty?

[Surbie]

I am looking to swap feeds for my 16yo heavy cob - help.

He's on 1/2 scoop Honeychop Lite&Healthy (TopChopZero makes me gag), with either a handful of speedibeet soaked in 5-600ml water or a similar amount of Agrobs wiesencobs to take forageplus powders, salt and boswellia.

Whatever I use could do with having fewer calories if possible. He's turning his nose up at speedibeet now unless it's laced with micronised linseed and is starting to not bother with the wiesencob offering either.

A&P Fast Fibre or Veteran Lite look like good options to me, with the added plus of minimal soaking time. Is there anything else I might look at?

(and I fell for the line that cobs are low maintenance!)

 

[meleeka]

I feed Veteran Light. Mine all look well on it. I think Fast Fibre is even lower in calories. I wouldn’t add linseed, i’ve just put my oldie on it who needs to gain a bit and I can see the weight coming on her already.

 

[Birker2020]

I am looking to swap feeds for my 16yo heavy cob - help.

He's on 1/2 scoop Honeychop Lite&Healthy (TopChopZero makes me gag), with either a handful of speedibeet soaked in 5-600ml water or a similar amount of Agrobs wiesencobs to take forageplus powders, salt and boswellia.

Whatever I use could do with having fewer calories if possible. He's turning his nose up at speedibeet now unless it's laced with micronised linseed and is starting to not bother with the wiesencob offering either.

A&P Fast Fibre or Veteran Lite look like good options to me, with the added plus of minimal soaking time. Is there anything else I might look at?

(and I fell for the line that cobs are low maintenance!)

Veteran vitality is very palatable, the low fat variety not so.
Last horse wouldn't eat the latter but found the full fat version very yummy.

 

[TGM]

If he is going off the Speedibeet he may not be too keen on the Fast Fibre either. I've had several that haven't been keen on Fast Fibre but have eaten Speedibeet OK. I'd try and get a sample rather than buying a whole bag at first. One of the main ingredients in Fast Fibre is ground straw, which makes it filling and low calorie for fatties, but also makes it rather unexciting to eat if you have a fussy equine. I suppose it is the equine equivalent of plain rice cakes!

 

[ester]

pink mash?

I agree that my fusspot was better with beet than with FF, but weisencobs always been good for him

 

[TPO]

Fat Cob was getting Pink Mash and progressive earth. Made the mistake of swapping to spillers lite and kean pellet balancer, somehow he put in weight with that? Put him back to pink Mash and minerals and he wouldn't touch his feed.

So Pink Mash was running low so got some Fast and Fibre. Still in the process of swapping over but he's getting a single handful of dry FF (soaked before feeding) and he's licking his bucket clean. He also goes a single handful of top chop zero and still has some Pink Mash while it swaps over.

 

[MuddyMonster]

My fussy native has just been moved onto Thunderbrooks Muesli & so far, so good.

I know TB isn't popular on here (and for good reason) & wouldn't be my first choice but I do need him to eat his supplements/meds. He'll probably go off this soon & my guilt will be absolved!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

My fatties have a handful of spillers speedy mash soaked it takes 3 minutes with 2 handfuls of grass chaff for there supplements they only get one feed a day, the mash smells of apple and they love it I have tried pink mash but after a few months one refused to eat it so I have stuck with this.

 

[SEL]

How about soaking a few grass pellets? Emerald green or simple systems do lower sugar ones but if you aren't feeding much then it won't matter if they're a bit higher sugar

 

[ester]

Mine thinks the EG ones are not as tasty as weisencobs tho

 

[SO1]

My fatty new forest is on blue chip native balancer and small handful of dengie mollasses free chaff.

Allen and Page L Mix is very low DE and has herbs and other tasty stuff in and might work better than fast fibre it has a lower DE as well.

 

[Surbie]

How about soaking a few grass pellets? Emerald green or simple systems do lower sugar ones but if you aren't feeding much then it won't matter if they're a bit higher sugar

It's definitely an idea if the lower options don't work, thanks. He really needs to have fewer calories in. I've not been able to ride since last summer after a fall, and have only recently been able to get help with riding him. Clipping and under-rugging has helped but hasn't done as much as I'd hoped. (Weighbridge last weekend)

Thanks all, that's really helpful and I really appreciate it. Lots of options to try to make a small, essentially straw-based feed more exciting. I love the rice cakes analogy! If only Forageplus powders tasted nicer...

 

[Ownedby4horses]

I would also try a few soaked grass pellets thrown in, just To make it a bit more tempting to him. Mine went of speedibeet and I swopped onto a few soaked grass pellets and it definitly tempted the most fussiest.

 

[Surbie]

I would also try a few soaked grass pellets thrown in, just To make it a bit more tempting to him. Mine went of speedibeet and I swopped onto a few soaked grass pellets and it definitly tempted the most fussiest.

Thanks, both you and @SEL - a friend has them, so I am sure I can borrow some if need be.

Mine thinks the EG ones are not as tasty as weisencobs tho

I think it's more that he doesn't get much wiesencob mix, it's sloppy and he has always eaten forageplus under protest. FP seems to work for his feet so he's staying on the nasty powders!

My fatty new forest is on blue chip native balancer and small handful of dengie mollasses free chaff.

Allen and Page L Mix is very low DE and has herbs and other tasty stuff in and might work better than fast fibre it has a lower DE as well.

The L Mix looks good too, thanks for that. I didn't know that existed. I do really appreciate the HHO hivemind!

eta: pink mash and veteran light samples on their way. Fingers crossed!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

We just feed Wiesencobs to our good doers, who are also b/f, they carry their ForagePlus supplement with no problem. Be careful with grassnuts. We gave ours a few before Christmas and cob's resultant dermatitis is still troubling her occasionally.

 

[chaps89]

If you want to do a better trial of A&P. Veteran light, I have almost a full bag, of which mine gets around 20g a day if that so I can spare a good few scoops if you’d like - I’m seeing L (with the horsebox transport and RDA connection) on Saturday so could always leave some with her if you’re seeing her soon to collect it?

 

[Surbie]

If you want to do a better trial of A&P. Veteran light, I have almost a full bag, of which mine gets around 20g a day if that so I can spare a good few scoops if you’d like - I’m seeing L (with the horsebox transport and RDA connection) on Saturday so could always leave some with her if you’re seeing her soon to collect it?

That is so kind of you - thank you and yes please!