Feeding a cob.

Damnation

Damnation

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I am currently riding a 15hh medium/heavyweight cob. He has NO energy and I am really starting to get fustrated. He is unfit and on the porky side but that is being dealt with via everyday exercise and the starvation paddock and is almost down to an ideal weight. He is ridden in spurs and a schooling whip to try and get more of a response (Along side other exercises in the school like transitions to try and get more impulsion) but it just isn't happening! His owners have said that he has always been lazy even at the peak of fitness but when he was put on oats it just made him silly i.e spooky and nappy, but did nothing for impulsion in the school. Does anyone know of a feed that will give him energy to work in the school but without making him silly?
Any help appriciated!
Izzi xx
 
I use either Spillers or D&H Slow Release Energy feed.....one is called Performance Concentrate, but I forget which!

It is very good ime. My mare is now fit enough that I have cut the feed right down, but she is very lazy when she isnt fit, and it becomes a vicious circle!

She is a little more spooky now, but in a fun way, not dangerous at all!

...oh, and I feed haylage too!
 
If hes in a starvations paddock, not being fed and being worked then I would be seriously worried by the lack of nutrients being supplied compared to the amount being used. I would highly recommend Baileys Lo-Cal, it will provide all the nutrients and can be used for horses in hard work, without putting weight gain on. At the end of the day, a horse can't work if it can't maintain its self, so nutrients are more important than anything else
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If hes in a starvations paddock, not being fed and being worked then I would be seriously worried by the lack of nutrients being supplied compared to the amount being used. I would highly recommend Baileys Lo-Cal, it will provide all the nutrients and can be used for horses in hard work, without putting weight gain on. At the end of the day, a horse can't work if it can't maintain its self, so nutrients are more important than anything else
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I forgot to mention that he stands in during the day and gets an amount of hayledge in a small holed net, just enough to see him through the day. He is fed on a small amount of Happy Hoof with Garlic and a multi vitamin and mineral suppliment because I am aware of the fact that he will be getting little nutrients from the grass, and I must say its brought up his coat beautifully but has done nothing for his energy!!
 
A lot of horses hate the school, and in my experience, cobs most of all. Our old clydie will work in the school, but it obvious that he would far prefer to be out hacking or doing something else more exciting.

My gypsy cobs have been fine in the school, but I also school on hacks and only school in the school a couple of times a week.

Try putting up a few jump poles and make it as interesting as possible, do a little schooling, pop a pole and then school again.

Try schooling on a hack and vary his work as much as possible.

Feed - I found Cairo had more energy and stamina when I changed him to simple systems and off molassed chaff and mix. I feed lucie stalks and green gold and their total eclipse supplement is recommended for vits and mins.
 
My mare is a complete fat bat and also fairly idle. I feed her Lo-cal and it has helped with her energy requirements. I agree with everything said so far, but how about a different sort of work! Hacking somewhere new, gallop on beach or riding out with a load of horses. It all helps to make life a bit more interesting for them.
 
I ride out with differant horses, he gets schooled in various arena's and I go around the offroad hacking route. I can't hack on the roads until after TT because it just gets dangerous with all of the bikes out. He used to be a trekking horse and was hacked everywhere, but has always just been plain lazy! Even XC the other day he needed alot of encouragement to the jumps. I just wanted to find a feed that will give him a boost energy wise because oats just make him spooky. Alot of people seem to be recommending Lo-Cal so I might ask about that when I next go to buy feed,
 
My cob is the opposite and I put him on Spillers slow release energy mix and it worked brilliantly he chilled out a lot more and really started working and had the energy he had before but started using it more productively and not just for trying to jump out the sandschool while cantering circles. So for yours I would def be tempted by their instant release mix or nuts. As long as he gets worked enough so that the energy doesn't just turn into fat if unused!!
 
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