feeding a youngster confusion

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traditionalcobgirl

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Hi all

I have a 2 year old traditional cob. He's well set and a good weight. He's very bum high as he should be.

My question is, how can I make sure he's receiving the correct levels of protein without weight gain? I'm concerned about him getting too fat and lamanitic but I also feel he needs the right things to keep him growing. He's currently fed one scoop of happy hoof and one scoop of fibre beet once a day (cut down from twice a day) and one haynet.

Can anyone recommend an ideal feed to aid his growth of bones and muscles without weight gain? I was told protein?

Thank you!
 
I would think no protein. I would just give him a mineral lick at all times and if you want to feed just use a good vits/mins supplement in a handful of chaff.
 
I agree with 'smellsofhorse', a balancer would be best. It should give hime everything he needs without calorie overload.

I use Baileys Lo-Cal for my good doers. They also do a stud balancer but he may be a little old for that now.
 
Thank you all! I'll defo look at a balancer. I'd add a picture but I don't know how to do it on mobile. He's a chunky lad but a nice weight and does well at showing so I'm happy that he's a healthy weight but obviously want him to be getting the correct vits and minerals
 
No protein, just forage and a balancer or my preference is to feed a handful of fibre with a supplement. My boy just got, hay, grass and 1/4 scoop fast fibre with the RDA of equimins tip top, it's got a good range of all that's needed. Also remember that as a horse reaches 2 yrs the RDA is the same as an adult horse.
 
Yes vitamins and minerals are what he needs, this is not the same as protein, if he is on grass/hay/haylage and is a good weight he will be fine.
Even if he looks lean at times this is normal for a young horse. Cobs tend to put on weight so that is the biggest concern, overweight cobs may be prone to laminitis and this should be of greater concern to you at this time of year and also in autumn when the grass is flushing [greening].
Horses grow at different rates and you can "push" them as is done with many racehorses [precocious by breeding], and so on, but this is not the correct regime for traditional cobs which are by nature slow to mature.
Minerals are needed for bone growth and a good balancer or all round "original vitamin and mineral" mixed with a bit of non molassed chaff will be fine.
 
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