Feeding a Good doer for energy !!

[Tishiemumble]

I'm really struggling with choosing a new feed for my good doer coming into summer !

We will be doing quite a lot of competing and I want to make sure she Isn't going to be flat but at the same time not over weight . She is very fit but still sometimes needs a bit of a boost.

I did have her on D&H pasture mix which made no difference what so ever (not much to her weight either which was good).

Preferably I need a high energy Low calorie feed but I know theres no such thing really.

Have been considering trying another mix like power and performance or baileys everyday mix but I know being cereals these are high in calories which is what I am trying to avoid.
Then I considered trying grass nuts which would be a completely new experience for me as I have never fed them before !
Lastly I have been thinking of adding Propell Plus , NAF EnerG or redcell to try and avoid calories but I know you have to be careful feeding Iron supplements !
I have also heard good things about Winergy medium energy chaff but I was a bit put off but the high Starch levels compared to other chaffs !

So Basically my head is a mess !
She is Currently on a handful of Dengie good doer and a scoop of pink powder twice a day (morning and evening).
All I need to know is what you would consider the best option and if a Mix , Grass nuts, chaff or supplement which brand/make would be the best to feed !

p.s I would love to hear any Opinions on winergy medium energy as it sounded very appealing apart from the starch levels.

 

[TGM]

If you are worried about her getting fat, then I would just give her a low cal or lite balancer. I have a good doer pony who hunts, and she does just fine on Spiller's Lite Balancer, alongside her haylage.

 

[Cortez]

I would suggest that you only feed extra when/if she does get "flat". Most horses don't need extra feed (as in a hard feed) at all. I have NEVER had to add a feed for mine, and they do work quite hard in the summer.

 

[AdorableAlice]

When the hunters got tired towards the end of the season I found a handful of flaked peas put the sparkle back in. Very old fashioned and no idea if you can still buy them.

I think I would be tempted to blood test if a fit and well horse was flat before I tried supplements or diet changes.

 

[KVH]

I would be very hesitant to add extra feed to a good doer's diet, especially given the time of year.
Also be aware that Dengie Good Doer contains more sugar than Hi Fi Lite, if you must feed any 'hard feed' at all.

 

[ester]

my semi-good doer (welsh) gets oats all year round to keep his energy levels up as he is not a 'hot' horse and gets a bit flat otherwise however fit. I have always found that he doesn't put on weight on them because he is expending extra energy in his general work. He doesn't get free access to grass though, was previously on a track system and now muzzled.

 

[Justturnedfifty]

I'm really struggling with choosing a new feed for my good doer coming into summer !

We will be doing quite a lot of competing and I want to make sure she Isn't going to be flat but at the same time not over weight . She is very fit but still sometimes needs a bit of a boost.

I did have her on D&H pasture mix which made no difference what so ever (not much to her weight either which was good).

Preferably I need a high energy Low calorie feed but I know theres no such thing really.

Have been considering trying another mix like power and performance or baileys everyday mix but I know being cereals these are high in calories which is what I am trying to avoid.
Then I considered trying grass nuts which would be a completely new experience for me as I have never fed them before !
Lastly I have been thinking of adding Propell Plus , NAF EnerG or redcell to try and avoid calories but I know you have to be careful feeding Iron supplements !
I have also heard good things about Winergy medium energy chaff but I was a bit put off but the high Starch levels compared to other chaffs !

So Basically my head is a mess !
She is Currently on a handful of Dengie good doer and a scoop of pink powder twice a day (morning and evening).
All I need to know is what you would consider the best option and if a Mix , Grass nuts, chaff or supplement which brand/make would be the best to feed !

p.s I would love to hear any Opinions on winergy medium energy as it sounded very appealing apart from the starch levels.

Hi, I had a similar problem with a good doer native pony who had had a bout of laminitis, and had a poor hind gut function which resulted in him having occasional colic bouts. After a lot of research I put him on a cup full of Saracens Re-Leve which is low sugar and cereal free. Specifically designed to release energy slowly. I fed this with micronised linseed, Allan & Page Fast Fibre and Dengie Healthy Tummy. He has not had a colic episode now for over 2 years and alongside restrictive grazing has not had any problems with laminitis. We upped Saracens Re-Leve prior to a competition and reduced it if only hacking out for a couple of days or was in lighter work. It definitely gave him more energy and no fizz what so ever. Would highly recommend.

 

[KVH]

Hi, I had a similar problem with a good doer native pony who had had a bout of laminitis, and had a poor hind gut function which resulted in him having occasional colic bouts. After a lot of research I put him on a cup full of Saracens Re-Leve which is low sugar and cereal free. Specifically designed to release energy slowly. I fed this with micronised linseed, Allan & Page Fast Fibre and Dengie Healthy Tummy. He has not had a colic episode now for over 2 years and alongside restrictive grazing has not had any problems with laminitis. We upped Saracens Re-Leve prior to a competition and reduced it if only hacking out for a couple of days or was in lighter work. It definitely gave him more energy and no fizz what so ever. Would highly recommend.

I would always recommend Saracen Re Leve as a great product for weight gain without the fizz, (especially for ulcer prone horses) and would recommend it as such, however I would never advise using it on a good doer.