Feed to encourage more energy without weight gain

[lcrichardson]

Looking for some advice on potentially suitable feeds to give my Dutch warmblood more energy without promoting weight gain. I know a lot say this is extremely hard to find in a feed due to the calorie content however he is worked 4/5 a week and is of a good weight so it is not that he is overweight or unfit. He is currently on pure easy which is providing all the vits and minerals he needs while not providing to may calories, the energy content nhs to isn’t providing enough for him? Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I could give him?
Thanks

 

[PapaverFollis]

Calories for energy and calories for fat are unfortunately the same thing!

If he doesn't have energy in work then adding some more feed calories and working him with more energy will probably burn the extra feed calories. But you'd need to keep a close eye out for weight gain.

You may need to consider the intensity of his work and whether some higher intensity work would provide a fitness boost and give him more energy overall. The overwhelmingly most likely cause for 'lack of energy' in work is lack of fitness rather than lack of calories. It may not be the case for you but it is the most likely thing in the grand scheme of people asking this question. In my experience (I worked for a number of years in a feed store so have met a LOT of people asking this question!)

There are of course feeds that provide fast burn, starchy energy that might help. But they should be used with great caution. Not just in terms of weight gain but in terms of their potentially damaging effects on the gut.

How about stepping up one feed "level" in the Pure feeds and seeing how he gets on? That would seem the most sensible approach.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Calories for energy and calories for fat are unfortunately the same thing!

If he doesn't have energy in work then adding some more feed calories and working him with more energy will probably burn the extra feed calories. But you'd need to keep a close eye out for weight gain.

You may need to consider the intensity of his work and whether some higher intensity work would provide a fitness boost and give him more energy overall. The overwhelmingly most likely cause for 'lack of energy' in work is lack of fitness rather than lack of calories. It may not be the case for you but it is the most likely thing in the grand scheme of people asking this question. In my experience (I worked for a number of years in a feed store so have met a LOT of people asking this question!)

There are of course feeds that provide fast burn, starchy energy that might help. But they should be used with great caution. Not just in terms of weight gain but in terms of their potentially damaging effects on the gut.

How about stepping up one feed "level" in the Pure feeds and seeing how he gets on? That would seem the most sensible approach.

This. I would expect it to be a lack of fitness, rather than a lack of energy. I am afraid that feeding more calories, will simply put on weight. You say he is worked 4/5 times per week. How long for and what type of work is he doing? Could it be more a lack of enthusiasm than a lack of energy?