Feeding a good doer

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Kelly2016

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I know this has probably been done to death but reading previous threads I haven’t really found the answers I’m looking for.

I have a 15 year old sport horse who is a very good doer. He is currently muzzled when turned out and has soaked hay when he is in. We are working on losing some kilos.

In his work he has become a bit lethargic and I am worried about him getting the needed vits and mins since he’s muzzled and hay soaked.

He’s currently only getting a small handful of chaff daily to get his joint supplement in to him, and a tiny bit of fast fibre added when he’s been worked.

What would you advise to feed in this scenario to get the vits and mins in, as well as have a bit of oomph in his work?
 
I would feed him Equimins Advance complete balancer, my mare looks fantastic on it and it’s a small amount either powder or pellets. You could also start feeding natural Vitamin E, which might help with energy.

My mare gets it, I also feed her pea protein because she’s muzzled (also a sports horse) but doing quite a bit. Pea protein might help with energy as well.
 
I personally think we worry way too much about balancing diets. Doubt the expensive balancers do much more than provide basic vitamins and minerals. Also doubt we need to worry as much as we do about specific vitamins unless the animal in question has been tested and found to be deficient. Just my opinion. Hay and some grass is probably all your horse needs to do low to medium work. Just my experience.
 
My good doer just gets a handful of molasses free chaff wetted with water with her supplements in it. She eats it happily.

FWIW that’s twice now I have stopped my vits and mins and her feet started chipping. (It wasn’t intentional ) she’s on restricted grazing and obviously needs a bit extra so some do need a bit more than grass and hay.
 
Pinkvboots said:
Have you tested him for cushings lethargy and weight gain can be symptoms.
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No concerns of cushings. Weight gain is following a move to a yard with very rich grass and hay, and lethargy due to carrying the extra weight. A lot of others have the same struggle at the yard unfortunately
 
Peglo said:
My good doer just gets a handful of molasses free chaff wetted with water with her supplements in it. She eats it happily.

FWIW that’s twice now I have stopped my vits and mins and her feet started chipping. (It wasn’t intentional ) she’s on restricted grazing and obviously needs a bit extra so some do need a bit more than grass and hay.
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What vits and mins does she get?
 
If he's overweight, how fit is he? What kind of work is in? Mine isn't the most forward of rides when un-fit but once fit (and doing stuff he enjoys) is forward & whizzy. He wouldn't be the first I've met to err on the quiet, lethargic side & perk up substantially when in more work.

He's worked 6 days a week & has Progressive Earth Pro Balance, vitamin E, magnesium oxide & salt added to a small amount of feed.
 
MuddyMonster said:
If he's overweight, how fit is he? What kind of work is in? Mine isn't the most forward of rides when un-fit but once fit (and doing stuff he enjoys) is forward & whizzy. He wouldn't be the first I've met to err on the quiet, lethargic side & perk up substantially when in more work.

He's worked 6 days a week & has Progressive Earth Pro Balance, vitamin E, magnesium oxide & salt added to a small amount of feed.
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He’s not the fittest he’s ever been but he’s not too bad

Worked 5 days a week, mainly hacking with the odd school inbetween
 
I would try a bit and min powder. I use the mole valley one as it is almost the same formula as the naf general one but cheaper and seems to meet levels
 
I think horses on diets often respond well to supplementation .
This is especially so if you are soaking hay as soaking depletes the vets and minerals in the hay .
I would be sure to give him a source of good quality protein daily a balancer might be the easiest way .
 
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