Feeding a TB

B

Bananarama

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 December 2007
Messages
1,395
Location
Scotland
Visit site
A TB in very light work,(sometimes none, definatly no more than two, hacks a week, mostly walk with a bit of trot and sometimes canter, total hacking for about an hour at a time, so no more than two hours light work a week)
The mare is fed, 4scoops of cherry chaff, 2scoops ecomony mix, two spades of sugar beet, a pinch of salt and 50g of garlic, in multiple feeds throughout the day. Also around two leafs of haylage and constant turnout. She has a full neck M/W turnout rug and a field shelter.
Is this feeding ok?
 
Age? Current condition score?

For a horse in light work, I'd reduce the hard feed and feed more hay/haylage. If underweight, I'd feeding a conditioning cube, rather than a mix, oil and unmolassed sugar beet. I wouldn't feed the salt with that work load, there should be enough from the feed. Probably wouldn't feed the garlic either, but that's my own personal opinion.
 
I would feed a good feed balancer as well as that amount of feed will not meet full levels of vits and mins required and this is so important for TB's with their feet. Top Spec balancer should do it.
 
When you say two leaves of haylage - do you mean from a small bale? If so I would definitely give her more - if she is slightly underweight then I would feed hay or haylage adlib. Adlib hay/haylage is definitely the cheapest way to boost weight gain, has the advantage of giving the horse plenty of fibre to chew on and is less likely to fizz a horse up than feeding concentrates.

For bucket feed I would definitely cut out the cherry chaff. You could either feed:

1. A combination of alfafa and beet with a vitamin/mineral supplement or balancer (ie Alfa A Original and speedibeet, or AlfaBeet/Fibrebeet plus something like Benevit, Equivite or TopSpec). You can add extra oil to this if horse still needs more condition, or add a high oil supplement like Bailey's Outshine.

2. A conditioning cube or mix - a cube would be better if horse is prone to excitability.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I would feed a good feed balancer as well as that amount of feed will not meet full levels of vits and mins required and this is so important for TB's with their feet. Top Spec balancer should do it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Depending on the nutritional content of the base feed, grass and hay quality. There are much cheaper and more suitable supplements than Top Spec.

A nutritional expert once said she fed Formula 4 feet, not because her horse had any problem with horn quality, but simply because it had the exact nutrient levels the diet required.
 
Thanks for the advice people, yes tha hayledge is from a small bale. This isnt my horse but just wondering what you thought of my ponys feed.
12hh shetlandXfell, puts on weight easyily and is slightly over weight and is rising 20. Semi retired... ie. the odd walk and trot on the leadrein and ever so often a drive in an exercise cart.
Two leaves of hayladge (small bale)
constant turn out
Horselix turned out horse paddock lickit(supply important minirals/vitamens)
 
You don't mess about with TB feet. Their feet, in general, are much more delicate than other breeds.
I know that many people won't agree with me, but I do think that they have to have top specification supplements otherwise their feet are liable to become rubbish. Once the hoof horn becomes too weak then the heels will drop causing a broken back pastern and then you end up with all sorts of dreadfull problems.No foot no horse!
 
Have I lost it??? Are we talking about feeding a TB or the smaller person mentioned later???

Just as a guidleline, this is what my TB is fed

16hh TB 1 scoop Winergy low energy, 1 large scoop dengie alfa a, 2 level scoops NAF pink powder, 4/5 sections of hay in a large haynet and 2/3 in a small haynet twice a day..... Horse ridden maximum of twice a week and lunged twice a week
 
I have a 15 year old ex racer who i struggle to keep weight on normally. He is in medium work, competes most weekend and ridden 3 times in the week. He has bad feet too he comes in at night and out in day. Has x1 section hay in field, x2 at night and 2 feeds a day which has alfafa chaff x1 scoop, x3 scoops baileys no 4 conditioning x1 scoop sugar beet, linseed oil, garlic, top spec calmer and codlivine for joints. Touch wood he looks the best he has been in a long time and isnt too lively either which he can be at this time of year!!
 
It sounds ok but I would rather give ad lib haylage, than restrict it in any way, and I agree with 2008 a balancer is money well spent, my 2 TB's are in medium work and they dont get a huge amount of hard feed, they get as much hay as they can eat and a cup of Baileys stud balancer, and they are absolutely blooming! (the stud balancer is mostly for the bigger one but the young fella gets a smaller cup!).
 
My TB, Athena used to have terrible feet, but for the last 12/14 months she's been in Naf ProFeet and her feet have greatly improved, even to the point where she was shod before Christmas as she's managed to keep her shoes on! TBH I think she's always gonna be on ProFeet from now on otherwise we'll be back to square one with her having bad feet!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top