Louisex
Well-Known Member
is there any feed that is low in fat and at a resienable price??
feed.
- Thread starter Louisex
- Start date
TGM
Well-Known Member
Do you mean fat or do you mean calories? Lots of horse foods are fat-free - will just be things like oil, oil-enhanced chaffs, oil-rich supplements and seeds such as linseed and sunflower seeds that will contain fat.
If you mean calories, then hay is normally the cheapest feed apart from grazing, and if you soak it for a while you can remove a lot of the soluble carbohydrate and reduce its calorie count.
If you mean calories, then hay is normally the cheapest feed apart from grazing, and if you soak it for a while you can remove a lot of the soluble carbohydrate and reduce its calorie count.
Louisex
Well-Known Member
yeah sorry i ment calories
LankyDoodle
Well-Known Member
Louise, I replied to your thread on New Lounge.
I do not think your horse needs a feed if you are trying to get herto lose weight. If you don't overrug (only lightly rug if clipped) then she will drop weight naturally over winter.
If you are giving her vits and mins and feel the need to mix it with something, then a handful of hifi will suffice. You can give speedibeet if you want but she doesn't need it yet most probably.
Do not feed mixes/cubes/oil as she does not need it. Speedibeet will give her the slow release energy she needs if she's in work, but I'd always say feed adlib hay alongside the grazing and not much else if they are natives.
I do not think your horse needs a feed if you are trying to get herto lose weight. If you don't overrug (only lightly rug if clipped) then she will drop weight naturally over winter.
If you are giving her vits and mins and feel the need to mix it with something, then a handful of hifi will suffice. You can give speedibeet if you want but she doesn't need it yet most probably.
Do not feed mixes/cubes/oil as she does not need it. Speedibeet will give her the slow release energy she needs if she's in work, but I'd always say feed adlib hay alongside the grazing and not much else if they are natives.
Louisex
Well-Known Member
ok thanks
CBAnglo
Well-Known Member
I would just add, make sure that your pony does genuinely need to lose weight. If it is the one in your pics and you are schooling/hacking/jumping it, I would say that it needs some source of energy and I wouldnt call her overweight for her type.
We are going into winter now - a lot of horses and ponies can drop off a bit in winter.
We are going into winter now - a lot of horses and ponies can drop off a bit in winter.
CVSHotShot
Well-Known Member
spillars H&P cubes-£6.50
TGM
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I would just add, make sure that your pony does genuinely need to lose weight. If it is the one in your pics and you are schooling/hacking/jumping it, I would say that it needs some source of energy and I wouldnt call her overweight for her type.
[/ QUOTE ] Agree! Just because a horse has a round belly doesn't mean it is overweight - the belly tends to fluctuate according to the amount of fibre in it. If your pony is the correct condition, you should be able to feel her ribs easily, but not see them.
I would just add, make sure that your pony does genuinely need to lose weight. If it is the one in your pics and you are schooling/hacking/jumping it, I would say that it needs some source of energy and I wouldnt call her overweight for her type.
[/ QUOTE ] Agree! Just because a horse has a round belly doesn't mean it is overweight - the belly tends to fluctuate according to the amount of fibre in it. If your pony is the correct condition, you should be able to feel her ribs easily, but not see them.
Louisex
Well-Known Member
she is a fit pony, but is tubby, you cant see nor feel her ribs hence overweight pony... so would you say it would be betta to leave her till after the winter, because during winter she will be on little work as it gets to dark, to soon ie, 30mins/1hr every other day??
Scarlett1980
Well-Known Member
I still think you need to feed her something, especially if she is in work. they need protein to build and repair muscle, need vits and mins to relace what is lost in the grass. Unless she is on exceptional quality haylage (which i wouldn't advise as she's a bit tubby anyway) she will need something. Either lo cal balancer and hifi light/cool fibre or even winergy low energy.
TGM
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Either lo cal balancer and hifi light/cool fibre or even winergy low energy.
[/ QUOTE ] I had a look at the Winergy Low Energy in my feed shop the other day - main ingredients seem to be straw and grass, with some vit/mins added, at a rather exorbitant cost! I think plenty of hay and a vit/min supplement seems much better value myself!
My daughter's pony in my sig is a good doer too and does very well on a mainly hay and grass diet - only getting hard feed when she is working extremely hard (ie at PC camp where they doing several hours work each day). If they maintain their weight and have the energy for the job in hand, then there is no need to give much in the way of bucket feed. Obviously, the feed companies would like us to think differently as it is good for their profits!
Either lo cal balancer and hifi light/cool fibre or even winergy low energy.
[/ QUOTE ] I had a look at the Winergy Low Energy in my feed shop the other day - main ingredients seem to be straw and grass, with some vit/mins added, at a rather exorbitant cost! I think plenty of hay and a vit/min supplement seems much better value myself!
My daughter's pony in my sig is a good doer too and does very well on a mainly hay and grass diet - only getting hard feed when she is working extremely hard (ie at PC camp where they doing several hours work each day). If they maintain their weight and have the energy for the job in hand, then there is no need to give much in the way of bucket feed. Obviously, the feed companies would like us to think differently as it is good for their profits!
Scarlett1980
Well-Known Member
Oh how ignorance is bliss!! That extortionate blend is actually a blend of fibres that ferment at different rates to give better hind gut health. My mare was on coligone before she went onto winergy as she was so loose. my vet is so impressed by how much better she is now.
worth every penning in my opinion but OP, you know your pony best and there are lots of options availible to you. i can only comment on/recommend ones i have actually used, not ones i have read about in shops.
worth every penning in my opinion but OP, you know your pony best and there are lots of options availible to you. i can only comment on/recommend ones i have actually used, not ones i have read about in shops.
TGM
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Oh how ignorance is bliss!! That extortionate blend is actually a blend of fibres that ferment at different rates to give better hind gut health.
[/ QUOTE ] PMSL! Manufacturer's speak to persuade people that they are not really buying over-priced chopped straw and grass!
Hay is actually a fabulous feed for maintaining hind gut health, but hasn't had the benefit of the copy-writer's expertise to hype it up!
[ QUOTE ]
My mare was on coligone before she went onto winergy as she was so loose. my vet is so impressed by how much better she is now.
[/ QUOTE ] But this poster hasn't said their horse is 'loose' or has any special needs - she just asked for a reasonably-priced low calorie feed!
Oh how ignorance is bliss!! That extortionate blend is actually a blend of fibres that ferment at different rates to give better hind gut health.
[/ QUOTE ] PMSL! Manufacturer's speak to persuade people that they are not really buying over-priced chopped straw and grass!
[ QUOTE ]
My mare was on coligone before she went onto winergy as she was so loose. my vet is so impressed by how much better she is now.
[/ QUOTE ] But this poster hasn't said their horse is 'loose' or has any special needs - she just asked for a reasonably-priced low calorie feed!
SirenaXVI
Well-Known Member
Have to say TGM, I wholeheartedly agree with you, the Winergy feeds ARE exhorbitantly expensive, have looked closely at them and they appear to be a combination of fibres and mix. The hype that has gone out with them makes my blood boil and people have bought into it hook, line and sinker!
As for the poster whose mare was 'loose', she is more than likely better because she is being fed more fibre in her diet.
As for the poster whose mare was 'loose', she is more than likely better because she is being fed more fibre in her diet.
SirenaXVI
Well-Known Member
There are several good ones on the market. Those with a really low energy content (i.e., 8-9 DE)are:
Spillers: Happy Hoof
Dengie: Healthy Hoof
Badminton: Easy Rider
All of these contain vit/mins and the Dengie and Badminton ones have a hoof supplement as well.
Most Hi-Fibre cubes are low DE, my personal favourite are Badminton Hi Fibre Complete, they are larger than normal cubes and the horses just love them.
Pure Fibre with no vits/mins:
Allen & Page Fast Fibre
Top Spec Fibre Plus
With both of the above you would have to feed vit/mins
There are others but these are off the top of my head.
Spillers: Happy Hoof
Dengie: Healthy Hoof
Badminton: Easy Rider
All of these contain vit/mins and the Dengie and Badminton ones have a hoof supplement as well.
Most Hi-Fibre cubes are low DE, my personal favourite are Badminton Hi Fibre Complete, they are larger than normal cubes and the horses just love them.
Pure Fibre with no vits/mins:
Allen & Page Fast Fibre
Top Spec Fibre Plus
With both of the above you would have to feed vit/mins
There are others but these are off the top of my head.
LankyDoodle
Well-Known Member
Sorry, but I agree with TGM. Those poor ponies on the moors missing out on their daily blend of fibres that ferment at different rates
Who's looking out for them?
A balancer, grass and hay is all this horse needs. Even if the hay is good quality, over the winter if the horse is not over-rugged then it will drop off naturally.
A balancer, grass and hay is all this horse needs. Even if the hay is good quality, over the winter if the horse is not over-rugged then it will drop off naturally.
CVSHotShot
Well-Known Member
SirenaXVI-
<font color="purple"> </font> Just read your signature thing:
"I will NOT buy any more rugs, I will NOT buy any more horses, I will NOT buy any more rugs, I will NOT buy any more horses, I will NOT buy any more rugs, I will NOT buy any more horses"
PMSL ...That is Very funny! lol
<font color="purple"> </font> Just read your signature thing:
"I will NOT buy any more rugs, I will NOT buy any more horses, I will NOT buy any more rugs, I will NOT buy any more horses, I will NOT buy any more rugs, I will NOT buy any more horses"
PMSL ...That is Very funny! lol
Chex
Well-Known Member
I'm pretty sure A&P Fast Fibre has vits and mins
. I might be getting confused though, it happens often
L
lilym
Guest
[ QUOTE ]
I'm pretty sure A&P Fast Fibre has vits and mins
. I might be getting confused though, it happens often
[/ QUOTE ]
you are right , it does contain vits/mins!! so you are not confused!
I'm pretty sure A&P Fast Fibre has vits and mins
[/ QUOTE ]
you are right , it does contain vits/mins!! so you are not confused!
TGM
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
she is a fit pony, but is tubby, you cant see nor feel her ribs hence overweight pony... so would you say it would be betta to leave her till after the winter, because during winter she will be on little work as it gets to dark, to soon ie, 30mins/1hr every other day??
[/ QUOTE ]
If she was my pony then I would just have her on hay only perhaps with a vit/min supplement or low cal balancer if necessary, until you get her to the stage where you can feel her ribs. Then, if you feel she needs a bucket feed to maintain her weight, or because her workload has increased, you could look at feeds that supply about 7 or 8 MJDE/kg, as these are quite low calorie feeds.
To give you an idea, I have listed some of the ones suggested in the thread, plus a few more, with an idea of price and the 'calorie count' expressed in MJDE/kg. I have arranged them by 'calorie count' the ones with the lowest calories are at the top:
Dengie HiFi Good Doer £9.70 for 20kg (7 MJDE/kg)
Allen & Page Fast Fibre £7.70 for 20kgs (8 MJDE/kg)
Dodson & Horrell Safe & Sound £10.61 for 20kgs (8 MJDE/kg)
Winergy Equilibrium Low Energy £14 for 20 kg (8.3 MJDE/kg)
Spiller's High Fibre Cubes £7.75 for 20 kg (8.4 MJDE/kg)
Baileys Everyday High Fibre Cubes (formerly Economy Cubes) £6.60 for 20kg (8.5 MJDE/kg)
Allen & Page Quiet Cubes £6.99 for 20kgs (8.5 MJDE/kg)
Dengie Healthy Hooves £10.25 for 20kg (8.5 MJDE/kg)
Spiller's Happy Hoof £9.25 for 20 kg (8.8 MJDE/kg)
Spiller's Horse & Pony Cubes £6.90 for 20kg (8.9 MJDE/kg)
Dodson & Horrell High Fibre Nuts £7.25 for 20kgs (9.5 MJDE/kg)
I got all these prices from a feedstore with an online catalogue - your own feedstore may be cheaper or dearer but hopefully this will give you a feel for relative prices. The majority of feeds are sold in 20kg sacks, where they are sold in smaller quantities, I have multiplied the price to give a price for 20kg, so you are comparing like with like.
I have included the D&H Fibre Nuts, even though they have a lot more calories than the others, because it illustrates that similar sounding products from different manufacturers vary in their make-up, so always check the feed label!
Hope this helps and isn't too confusing!
she is a fit pony, but is tubby, you cant see nor feel her ribs hence overweight pony... so would you say it would be betta to leave her till after the winter, because during winter she will be on little work as it gets to dark, to soon ie, 30mins/1hr every other day??
[/ QUOTE ]
If she was my pony then I would just have her on hay only perhaps with a vit/min supplement or low cal balancer if necessary, until you get her to the stage where you can feel her ribs. Then, if you feel she needs a bucket feed to maintain her weight, or because her workload has increased, you could look at feeds that supply about 7 or 8 MJDE/kg, as these are quite low calorie feeds.
To give you an idea, I have listed some of the ones suggested in the thread, plus a few more, with an idea of price and the 'calorie count' expressed in MJDE/kg. I have arranged them by 'calorie count' the ones with the lowest calories are at the top:
Dengie HiFi Good Doer £9.70 for 20kg (7 MJDE/kg)
Allen & Page Fast Fibre £7.70 for 20kgs (8 MJDE/kg)
Dodson & Horrell Safe & Sound £10.61 for 20kgs (8 MJDE/kg)
Winergy Equilibrium Low Energy £14 for 20 kg (8.3 MJDE/kg)
Spiller's High Fibre Cubes £7.75 for 20 kg (8.4 MJDE/kg)
Baileys Everyday High Fibre Cubes (formerly Economy Cubes) £6.60 for 20kg (8.5 MJDE/kg)
Allen & Page Quiet Cubes £6.99 for 20kgs (8.5 MJDE/kg)
Dengie Healthy Hooves £10.25 for 20kg (8.5 MJDE/kg)
Spiller's Happy Hoof £9.25 for 20 kg (8.8 MJDE/kg)
Spiller's Horse & Pony Cubes £6.90 for 20kg (8.9 MJDE/kg)
Dodson & Horrell High Fibre Nuts £7.25 for 20kgs (9.5 MJDE/kg)
I got all these prices from a feedstore with an online catalogue - your own feedstore may be cheaper or dearer but hopefully this will give you a feel for relative prices. The majority of feeds are sold in 20kg sacks, where they are sold in smaller quantities, I have multiplied the price to give a price for 20kg, so you are comparing like with like.
I have included the D&H Fibre Nuts, even though they have a lot more calories than the others, because it illustrates that similar sounding products from different manufacturers vary in their make-up, so always check the feed label!
Hope this helps and isn't too confusing!
Louisex
Well-Known Member
thanks for all your help x