FEED QUESTION PLEASE

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Emshad

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I wonder if someone could help me regarding my horses feed. At the moment he is on Dodson & Horrell Pasture mix and Dengi Hi Fi Orginal and is fed three times a day. He isnt loosing weight at all and is in good condition adlib hay, good grazing during the day etc etc (sorry i dont have any pics on my work comp) but at the moment i feel that this feed is doing nothing for him at all. I want him to have a bit more energy without going overboard as some mixes blow his brains! He is a 16.1 ISH.
But then i rememeber the saying 'if it aint broke dont fix it'.

Any help or info would be much appriciated, I have already contacted D&H but to be honest they wernt much help.

Thank you
 
You need to consider that the way your horse is at the moment is actually his natural personality. By trying to add extra fizz for no specific reason is IMO asking for problems.

Have you had the horse a while....could it be that you are now in need of a different partner?
 
Is he having any veg such as carrots, beet?

Also you don't say how much, e.g. an average normal scoop contains around 2lb of coarse mix, how much is he having of the pasture mix, because that can be quite heating.

You are quite right in that you say "if it aint broke..."

I have had experience of an animal being the other way, sometimes exploding for no apparent reason, because of the fact that he was on a bit too much feed, my trainer had advised me to give him up to 5lb of rolled oats per day and keep him in, so we could do good dressage, what was she trying to do, kill me? She nearly succeeded.

So, if you're quite sure and if you ride him every day, when he gets a day off you cut the feed the day before, and don't leave him in that day, then you could give him a tiny bit of raw rolled or unrolled oats. straight. Just start with a cupful per day and see how you go.

But most of what we get, if the horse is healthy and in good condition, is trained in to them. If he isn't exactly lethargic and still offers you a spook, or a bounce at the end of a ride, then perhaps it could be getting him off the aids quicker, get after him a bit and see how you go that way?
 
If you like the dodson and horrel feed I would recommend you phone the company and ask to speak to one of their advisors. They know their feeds the best and will be able to either alter your quantities or which one of their feeds you should give.
 
Thank you guys, spaniel thats what i think, i love the way he goes dont get me wrong but im undecided wether feed should be fed just to keep horses alive or give them some sort of suppliment/nutrition? But i am like you i dont want to ask for more fizz and ruin what I have and love. He has no beet at the moment and sometimes carrots but not always.

Thank you Armhole, some days he can give me a right bounce! so like you said maybe if i get after him a bit he may wake up. I dont think the winter and not having an indoor school helps either. 5lb of rolled oats and in! your alot braver than me lol
 
i feed cool mix which gives energy but isnt heating
smile.gif
 
I was in a similar position to you a couple of months ago. When I telephoned the nutritionist at Top spec and Allen & Page I found them very helpul. So have switched them to Topspec hi fibre cubes and A&P Ride and Relax. My younger horse has put on weight, is a lot calmer and my old cob has kept weight and is no longer scouring and has his old twinkle back in his eye.

With the price of feeds soaring I decided to pay a bit more for less, i.e. found I haven't need to give them so much. My younger horse competes in dressage and showing so needs sensible energy which I have found these feeds give him.
 
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