Feeding a 19 year old horse .....

[Piglet]

Any advice appreciated peeps. I have an 18 year old rather "plump" but not overweight cob type gelding, he is out 24/7 in the summer months and I strip graze him, my dilemma is that he is still in work, competing at low level dressage etc but he can be very fizzy but then runs out of steam and is lazy. I obviously need him to have the energy to work but not the calories so he gets even more plumper, would a vit and mineral supplements better or a feed balancer?

 

[Carlosmum]

I feed my 18 yo lammi prone native gelding Baileys lo-cal balancer, Dengie sugar free hi-fi, and speedibeet. He also gets micronised linseed for extra energy.
However he is not over weight is in at night & has soaked hay, but he is in fine fettle!

 

[Gentle_Warrior]

Mine is a good doer but is lacking his normal spark. I changed his feed about 1 year ago. I have just returned to it. Baileys lo cal and Dengie hi fi lite. Worked a treat for him. He is 22 now. Lives out 24 7. Watched closely with grazing.

 

[wkiwi]

It might also pay to check that he is fit enough for the work he is doing. If only doing low level work, then grass should be sufficient (use a balancer or supplement if the soil/grass is insufficient).
Not sure what you mean by plump but not overweight?
Perhaps get someone more experienced to assess the grazing quality and why he runs out of steam?

 

[Katie :)]

I began giving my cob type gelding (who was 18 and still going strong when I sold him a year or so ago) big dashes of cod liver oil, sprinkle of garlic, and mineral mixes with any feeds I gave him, plus we'd put a mineral block out in the field. They did him the world of good, had a fab coat, seemed heathier and fitter and cured him of his 'clicky' knees and hocks! I swear by natural minerals and suppliments, I use them now on my 10yr TBx because I reckon they'll keep him going for longer! But have nothing against balancers, just never used them as from farming background(always using mineral blocks), plus never really had enough money! I'd also suggest getting him assesed as to why he's losing energy, just to be on the safe side.