feed for energy not weight gain

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traceyjoanne

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hi i have 2 neds that are lacking energy one is an arab and the other a friesian
the arab gets fast fibre and handful happy hoof
friesian gets happy hoof conditioning cubes and sugar beet, seaweed and black sunflower seeds

both lack energy when being ridden after about half an hour of non hard work

what should i give just to give a little more energy but without the calories as both do not need weight gain
arab on hay friesian on haylage

they are both in non hard work the friesian has dressage lesson once every 2 weeks for an hour
the arab is just so lazy its untrue lol

any suggestions gratefully received
 
i've been feeding allan and page power and performance for the same reasons and its worked well - just 3/4 scoop am and pm
smile.gif
 
Someone recently mentioned some product with amino acids in it which doesn't put on weight but makes them sharper. He couldn't remember the name though (really helpful). I'm in the same position as my boy is a v good doer but not forward and so I can't feed him loads of carbohydrate as he balloons!
 
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what should i give just to give a little more energy but without the calories as both do not need weight gain


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There is no such thing. If you give more energy than the horse uses up in day to day living it will put on weight. Different energy sources are released at different rates, e.g. fibre and oil are slow release and starch from cereals is released more quickly. But energy is energy, you cant feed more energy and not expect your horse to put on weight because if it doesnt use the energy up it will get fatter.

So if your horses are currently ok weight wise then unless you increase their work or the weather is colder then feeding more energy will make them fatter.

Could they be lazy because they are overweight and/or unfit?
 
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both lack energy when being ridden after about half an hour of non hard work



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I agree with everything teddyt has said. it sounds like they are both a bit unfit if they're running out of energy after 30 mins - maybe work on gradually increasing the length of time you ride. It doesn't sound like this is a feed issue.
 
hi my arab is fitter than my friesian
my arab can be ridden/lunged every day and does not break into a sweat does not get out of puff etc just lazy when being ridden my friesian is getting fitter and yes she does sweat up when being worked but again goes flat after 20 mins or so
 
Make sure that your saddles arent restrictng the horses shoulders (or other problem) and agree with bex, could also be a schooling issue.
Lots of reasons basically, have to work by process of elmination with someone on the ground to help.
 
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