Becki1802
Well-Known Member
Hi,
I bought T a 10 year old, KWPN in Apr 10. I have been struggling with his feed since I got him as I have had one issue after another. When I first got T he was fed twice a day:
1/2 x Scp Alfa-A, 1/2 x Scp Spiller Coolmix, Adlib Haylage. He was out in days and in at night. He was in light to medium work and there was no real change in behaviour when he wasn't ridden. He was then off the haylage and out 24/7 and only fed when worked (1hr, 5-6 times/week). No change in his behaviour on days he didn't work.
However, he came up in very bad itchy hives which turned out to be an intolerance to his feed. We had the vet out and they recommended a feed intolerance diet and keeping a feed diary.
We then started him on Allen & Page Calm & Condition (1 scp / day) which the main difference is that it is barley free. His skin improved but was suffering from all his itching - he had damaged the skin with his teeth. He was on this alone for 2-3 weeks whilst we confirmed improvement (or not).
I have since added Freemark Equidermis and within 7-10 days he is 90% better. He was then on once per day:
1 Scp - A&P C&C, 1/2 Scp - Alfa-A, Equidermis, Garlic
He has electrolytes when he is competing/SJ training on Saturdays.
My instructor felt he was lacking energy though and his weight had dropped whilst we'd been working out his feed allergy! So we increased his feed to a breakfast and dinner:
3/4 scp - A&P C&C, 1/2 Scp - Alfa-A, Equidermis, Garlic.
He was fine for the first week and his energy levels were better albeit a bit fresh and he went really well at training! I was working so he then had 2 days off consecutively. He has now turned into a spooky loonatic!! He flattened me in the field on Tues spooking at a lorry horn. I have whiplash and very bad bruises on both legs - they are very swollen. I now can't ride until they heal. I have still been handling him but he is jumping about all over the place like a lunatic and he is verging on dangerous as he spooks at every noise. I lunged him in the field today and he seems a bit better for it but then as I led him back to the stable, he spooked again and tried to shoot off!
He is a big lad (16.2hh) and I feel he is getting too much to handled with the feed. But he is a little underweight and loses energy on only one feed a day.
HELP?!
Shall I just feed less on his days off - drop to one feed a day maybe? Wind his feed right back & risk loss of energy/weight? Or change it totally again?!
I've started adding Steady Up now too but he has only been on that since Weds!
I bought T a 10 year old, KWPN in Apr 10. I have been struggling with his feed since I got him as I have had one issue after another. When I first got T he was fed twice a day:
1/2 x Scp Alfa-A, 1/2 x Scp Spiller Coolmix, Adlib Haylage. He was out in days and in at night. He was in light to medium work and there was no real change in behaviour when he wasn't ridden. He was then off the haylage and out 24/7 and only fed when worked (1hr, 5-6 times/week). No change in his behaviour on days he didn't work.
However, he came up in very bad itchy hives which turned out to be an intolerance to his feed. We had the vet out and they recommended a feed intolerance diet and keeping a feed diary.
We then started him on Allen & Page Calm & Condition (1 scp / day) which the main difference is that it is barley free. His skin improved but was suffering from all his itching - he had damaged the skin with his teeth. He was on this alone for 2-3 weeks whilst we confirmed improvement (or not).
I have since added Freemark Equidermis and within 7-10 days he is 90% better. He was then on once per day:
1 Scp - A&P C&C, 1/2 Scp - Alfa-A, Equidermis, Garlic
He has electrolytes when he is competing/SJ training on Saturdays.
My instructor felt he was lacking energy though and his weight had dropped whilst we'd been working out his feed allergy! So we increased his feed to a breakfast and dinner:
3/4 scp - A&P C&C, 1/2 Scp - Alfa-A, Equidermis, Garlic.
He was fine for the first week and his energy levels were better albeit a bit fresh and he went really well at training! I was working so he then had 2 days off consecutively. He has now turned into a spooky loonatic!! He flattened me in the field on Tues spooking at a lorry horn. I have whiplash and very bad bruises on both legs - they are very swollen. I now can't ride until they heal. I have still been handling him but he is jumping about all over the place like a lunatic and he is verging on dangerous as he spooks at every noise. I lunged him in the field today and he seems a bit better for it but then as I led him back to the stable, he spooked again and tried to shoot off!
He is a big lad (16.2hh) and I feel he is getting too much to handled with the feed. But he is a little underweight and loses energy on only one feed a day.
HELP?!
Shall I just feed less on his days off - drop to one feed a day maybe? Wind his feed right back & risk loss of energy/weight? Or change it totally again?!I've started adding Steady Up now too but he has only been on that since Weds!