Feed ideas? Is it worth changing?

Sol

Sol

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Sorry, lots of questions recently - trying to get as much sorted so we can actually make PROGRESS over the summer (which will be a novelty!)

Dan is currently on just 2 feeds a day of pony nuts & chaff, with some garlic, parsley & linseed oil + show coat (?) something like that, which is just generally for coat/skin etc and is basically just being run down 'til it's gone...
He also gets plenty of haylage at night - and i mean plenty! And is turned out in the day with plenty of grass but it's still quite rough grazing, so not too much.

But:
- I've found he seems to run out of energy very quickly when schooling. By the time it's taken 10mins to settle him, 10mins of good work, and then he starts to go downhill again and feel heavy & tired...
- I know part of the above is going to be down to fitness (but he DOES work at least 5 days a week, for a minimum of half an hour, 1 hack, jumping etc.) so I think also some of it is simply down to him needing to gain muscle... but surely he needs something to turn into muscle? Is it worth feeding something higher in protein? I'm not really sure about this...
- Overall, I've got to be careful because he CAN be very sharp in the school, and will take to being silly rather than working. So he needs something, but not too much!

That or I can just leave well alone :D

*hands out cookies*
 
You can not turn fat into muscle by providing more calories in his diet. By feeding him high calorie feeds for energy then you are providing him with fuel for his work. Providing these calories are used. If these calories are not used then they will be laid down as fat.

Are you feeding the recommeded levels of feed in order for your horse to receive all of his nutritional requirements? If you are not then I would add a balancer. A balancer will also provide a good level of protein which is essential for helping the body to increase muscle mass.

Fat is laid on top of muscle so if your horse is of a good body conditioning score now then I would continue on the diet your horse is on and add the balancer. If his work increases, only then may your horse need more calories. Oil is a good and safe way of providing this

If you imagine that muscle is like a deflated balloon on the horse. With work and a correct diet, that balloon inflates. If you do not work your horse much and his diet is high in calories then fat will be laid down on top of these balloons. Changing the diet to a lower calorie one and increasing work will then remove the fat but this fat has to be used by the body before the balloon (muscle) can inflate.

I hope that makes sense? That is how I think of it :)
 
I already understand about not being able to turn fat into muscle (biology at school taught me something! xD Makes a change!) and he is nicely covered anyway - certainly not fat! I'd do anything before I allowed him to get fat ;) It's one of those things that really, really bugs me... His work is likely to go up in the summer though but I doubt this will make a huge difference.

I think the balancer is the best idea, any ideas which are best? I don't know much about them.

Thanks! :D
 
Ive used Top Spec and Blue Chip and Loc Cal, all with results. I would perhaps give the companies a call to see what they suggest.

Top Spec do a Leisure Time balancer which may be suitable, that or perhaps Lo Cal is worth a try?

For cost effectiveness, I would check the rations you should give against price. I was advised to feed 2 mugs of Lo Cal at £22 a bag but only 1 cup of Top Spec at £40 per bag. so roughly the same price.

There is a good comparison on this website which someone kindly created. Have a look and see which one would most suit your horse.

http://www.freewebs.com/higgyleiko/
 
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