Feed ideas for 5yr old warmblood

S

Sprat

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 September 2015
Messages
1,167
Visit site
I'm hoping to pick some of your brains regarding feed...

I have previously had very good doers to feed, and so a small handful of happy hoof has sufficed so I'm a bit of a dunce when it comes to feed options.

I've recently bought a 5yr old warmblood mare. She had been fed on fibrebeet and chaff, which I have kept her on in order to keep the same routine while she settles in, however I'm wondering if this is going to be the best feed choice on going?

I understand that fibrebeet is good for weight gain, however she is a fairly good doer as far as warmbloods go, so will this be a good idea to stick with?

Currently she isn't in hard work. Due to some sore back issues, she is hacking a couple of times a week and doing lunge work with raised poles to build up some strength. I'll likely be continuing with this for the next month or so.

Energy levels wise, she is happier to drop off your leg than sit in front of it, so would a different feed help at all? I do realise this is a schooling issue in the first part, however if a feed could help give her a bit more energy? Though I don't want to send her loopy by any means!

Any ideas?
 
I had good results with A&P Calm & Condition on my warmblood - he is 13 and SJs most weekends - he loses condition in winter so tried C&C for the first time this year and it def helped get condition on and give him energy to jump without going barmy. Friend is now giving it to her recently acquired 5yr old to get some weight and condition on him (nearing 17hh already but like a hatrack!) He is on half a scoop twice a day and he already looks healthier/glossier after a couple of weeks so with the work should get some muscle condition on as well.
 
Hiya, my rising 5yo, currently in light work (30 mins - 1h 6 days a week), is fed nothing but Baileys Lo Cal balancer and hay. His natural tendency is to be a bit lazy (which is good for me!), but is currently quite fit, and is doing quite a lot of canter work. Technically he is a native rather than a WB though ;)

Blitz%2020%20May%202016.jpg
 
_EVS_ said:
I had good results with A&P Calm & Condition on my warmblood - he is 13 and SJs most weekends - he loses condition in winter so tried C&C for the first time this year and it def helped get condition on and give him energy to jump without going barmy. Friend is now giving it to her recently acquired 5yr old to get some weight and condition on him (nearing 17hh already but like a hatrack!) He is on half a scoop twice a day and he already looks healthier/glossier after a couple of weeks so with the work should get some muscle condition on as well.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I had thought that C&C may be a good option as well. She isn't hatrack like, but definitely needs some topline and a bit more condition. I think I'll look into that. Glad to hear of the glossy looking coat as well, as Jelly isn't particularly glossy looking, and I do like a shiny healthy looking horse!
 
Just stalking your threads like I do best ha!

Don't know what you think about balancers but I had Harry on calm and condition for years (as well as various other things that never worked) and then we had a TopSpec visit at the yard where they recommend I tried him on the Topspec Comprehensive balancer. It can be fed to all horses of all ages and it has everything they need. It has given old Harold some fabulous condition and it has really helped build his top line up. It's given him good energy without him being naughty (like he is on most feeds) and it's worked wonders for his coat and feet. It isn't cheap at £35 a bag but that last me 6 weeks and I save so much money not buying him loads of other feeds.

He kept his condition all winter just on a balancer and a scoop of alfa a twice a day and then for the last couple of weeks of winter I added the topspec conditioning cubes to it as he was just starting to loose a little!

If you ring top spec they actually send you a full feeding plan (for free!) as well as loads of advice leaflets and money off vouchers.

Can't recommend it enough!
 
Harry after a winter on the balancer when normally he is a skinny mess who looks neglected. Not only that he's calm but has bags of productive energy! woo!
attachment.php
 
Trakehner92 said:
Harry after a winter on the balancer when normally he is a skinny mess who looks neglected. Not only that he's calm but has bags of productive energy! woo!
attachment.php
Click to expand...

Aha, it seems we stalk each others threads!

One of the girls at the yard absolutely swears by Top Spec stuff - I was planning on giving them a call to discuss options. I think the thing that had initially put me off was the price, but if a bag is going to last 6 weeks or so, actually it works out fairly cost effective in comparison to others.

Lovely picture of Harry - I have that lunging aid as well - great minds and all that! Though I did have a terrifying moment with it the other day... I hadn't done it up quite tight enough and was popping madam over some raised poles, she got very enthusiastic with her front legs and picked one up so high that it got caught! I expected her to flip out but bless her she did stand good as gold to let me untangle her.

Have you found it's useful? I've only been using it on Jels for a week or so
 
I feed my 13 year old warmblood mare 1/2 scoop hi fi molasses free, 1 small mug micronised linseed, 1/4 scoop baileys fibre plus nuggets with 8-10 equibites a day. Same feed but twice a day in winter. She is fed hay/haylage adlib alongside and always looks great on this :-)
 
I wouldn't be too stuck on any particular brand. By all means, get their advice, but I wouldn't rush to buy their products right away. Have a look at what's in the balancer (levels of micronutrients per dose) either on the company webpage, or (if unavailable) take a photograph of the white tag on the label at your local feed store. Then compare brands to see what you are getting for your money. Spillers do a Lite Balancer for £20/20kg bag. That's the cheapest one I'm aware of at the moment. Before paying more than that, I'd compare labels and see if you're really getting more bang for your buck from a more expensive brand.

In principle, I think a balancer (or equivalent complete vit, min & amino acid supplement) plus forage is always a good starting point no matter the breed, and particularly if the horse is more of a good doer.
 
Sprat said:
Aha, it seems we stalk each others threads!

One of the girls at the yard absolutely swears by Top Spec stuff - I was planning on giving them a call to discuss options. I think the thing that had initially put me off was the price, but if a bag is going to last 6 weeks or so, actually it works out fairly cost effective in comparison to others.

Lovely picture of Harry - I have that lunging aid as well - great minds and all that! Though I did have a terrifying moment with it the other day... I hadn't done it up quite tight enough and was popping madam over some raised poles, she got very enthusiastic with her front legs and picked one up so high that it got caught! I expected her to flip out but bless her she did stand good as gold to let me untangle her.

Have you found it's useful? I've only been using it on Jels for a week or so
Click to expand...

Yeah I honestly cant recommend them enough. It only works out at about £6 a week really and then usually all you need to feed is a bit of chop with it. I just feed Harry Alfa A and that lasts me ages as well. The other good thing is if you collect the little tokens off of the bag you can send them off when you've got a few and they send you a full sized bag of balancer for free!

Harry loves his lunging aid. I find it very useful. He goes in a pessoa but needs no encouragement with his bum so the HO works better as it encourages him to stretch long and low. He gets a fairly stiff back and this as well as regular physio works wonders!!
 
supsup said:
I wouldn't be too stuck on any particular brand. By all means, get their advice, but I wouldn't rush to buy their products right away. Have a look at what's in the balancer (levels of micronutrients per dose) either on the company webpage, or (if unavailable) take a photograph of the white tag on the label at your local feed store. Then compare brands to see what you are getting for your money. Spillers do a Lite Balancer for £20/20kg bag. That's the cheapest one I'm aware of at the moment. Before paying more than that, I'd compare labels and see if you're really getting more bang for your buck from a more expensive brand.

In principle, I think a balancer (or equivalent complete vit, min & amino acid supplement) plus forage is always a good starting point no matter the breed, and particularly if the horse is more of a good doer.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I hadn't really considered cross referencing what each supplier has to offer so I'll certainly be doing that
 
Trakehner92 said:
Yeah I honestly cant recommend them enough. It only works out at about £6 a week really and then usually all you need to feed is a bit of chop with it. I just feed Harry Alfa A and that lasts me ages as well. The other good thing is if you collect the little tokens off of the bag you can send them off when you've got a few and they send you a full sized bag of balancer for free!

Harry loves his lunging aid. I find it very useful. He goes in a pessoa but needs no encouragement with his bum so the HO works better as it encourages him to stretch long and low. He gets a fairly stiff back and this as well as regular physio works wonders!!
Click to expand...

I really like it so far, I find it's a lot more fluid than the Pessoa, the Pessoa I found was quite rigid whereas this is nice and loose fitting. Though not ideal if it's too loose clearly!

I had a chat with top spec earlier and they advised their lite balancer so I'll have a look into what's in it :)

I don't want anything to heat her up too much - went hacking today and had a bit of a moment when I could have done with an 'oh ****' strap! :lol: so certainly don't need much more loopy
 
Sprat said:
I really like it so far, I find it's a lot more fluid than the Pessoa, the Pessoa I found was quite rigid whereas this is nice and loose fitting. Though not ideal if it's too loose clearly!

I had a chat with top spec earlier and they advised their lite balancer so I'll have a look into what's in it :)

I don't want anything to heat her up too much - went hacking today and had a bit of a moment when I could have done with an 'oh ****' strap! :lol: so certainly don't need much more loopy
Click to expand...

Yeah I love mine. Great for building up top line. Really makes a difference. Well haha... I haven't attempted poles with it on as they are pretty exciting for Harry anyway lol !

Yeah deffo weigh up your options! I've had good results with top spec and a great service so I've never tried anything else really. Hopefully you'll find something that helps !
 
My 5 year old is on Happy hoof, micronised linseed and brewers yeast. She is out all day on ok grazing but I do want to up her hay as she is a big girl and growing. If I still want a bit more weight I'll stick her on haylage.
She looks well and has plenty of energy, she is the sort to drop behind your leg but we have been working on that rather than changing the feed. She can also be spooky but I put that down to be only being 5.
 
My boy has wintered out on a hill and has had 3 level scoop a day or scaracen conditioning cubes. He's poorer do-er, I bought him home last week to bring him back into work and he's looking fab.

How on earth do I post a picture :S
 
Sprat said:
I had a chat with top spec earlier and they advised their lite balancer so I'll have a look into what's in it :)

I don't want anything to heat her up too much - went hacking today and had a bit of a moment when I could have done with an 'oh ****' strap! :lol: so certainly don't need much more loopy
Click to expand...

My 6yr old warmblood is on the top spec lite. He looks at food and puts on weight but has been on box rest so just gets a cup of this whilst the others are fed. For a horse who has just come out of 6 months box rest he looks fantastic. Shiny coat, good weight and hasnt been silly/ over energetic on his hand walks. Really recommend it. I dont need to feed it with anything else!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top