Feed help please

[Gina_Little]

My horse is currently on Dodson and Horrell competition cubes (a whole scoop), she does quite a lot (eventing, PC stuff etc) and I'm thinking about changing her off of that as I don't feel that it gives her enough energy. Has anyone got any good energy feeds that are none fattening as well! Thank you

 

[Shay]

You might want to look again at the manufacturers recommended amounts. The website suggests the correct amount for a 500KG horse (which is an average 14.3 - 15.3hh ish depending on build is 3 scoops per day - not one.

The D&H you are feeding is 11.5Mj/Kg which is very high energy. You are going to struggle to get feed higher than that without also sending her loopy. Plus - just like humans if she takes in more calories than she spends then she will get fat. So no higher energy feed is going to be non fattening - unless she is doing the work.

My daughter's PC eventers are in what is usually considered medium / hard work. Just so you can compare routines and see if what you are doing is a lot or perhaps a bit less. They are ridden 6 days a week. Competed one or two days per week - usually SJ or eventing - but we do the odd bits of dressage. They hunt once to twice a week in season. (They do have a week turned away every 6 - 8 weeks depending on the horse). One is a cob type, the other an ISH. Neither are on feed as high in energy as yours. One is on 10.2Mj/Kg then other on 9Mj/Kg (the cob is the higher...)

So - first things first. Why do you feel she is lacking in energy? What does your instructor say? Sometimes a lack of fitness can translate as a lack of energy. As can advancing age - you don't say how old she is!

Then - check you are feeding to correct amount and over the correct number of feeds. Horse's stomachs can't hold that much so if your feed is too big some will just go through without being digested. The same amount split over 3 feeds a day rather than two might solve the problem. If you don't feed as much as the manufacturers want you to she won't get the vits & mins she needs. So you could either drop the energy level of the feed and feed more, or add in a vit & min supplement or balencer.

You could also think about your roughage. If she is on plain or light chaff perhaps up it to Alfalfa or oil? Or switch hay to haylage.

Don't make any quick changes. Make a small chnage, wait a couple of weeks to see the effect, change again if needed. Speak to your instructor and get their advice too.

 

[NOISYGIRL]

Good advice above, you could try low sugar/starch Saracen Releve

Give a few manufacturers a call before making any changes and if and when you do make sure you do this over a week or so

 

[Morgan123]

Fab advice from Shay!

I ride an advanced endurance horse who has two scoops a day of a chaff based complete feed split into two - that's all (well, that and grass and haylage) and it's enough for her to compete up to at least 65km rides, no problem at all - in fact she is looking a little too well (I mean fat!) on it. In my experience with various horses doing endurance, it's generally not that you need a more energy rich feed, it's generally that you need to get your horse fitter!! Once they're fitter they have more energy.

 

[HBB]

Good advice above, you could try low sugar/starch Saracen Releve

This is a fantastic feed, low sugar - 6%, low starch - 8% and cereal free. It has a high slow release DE of 12.9 MJ/kg, which is from oil and fibre. Smells amazing and is very appetising.