Feeding advice for an older, hot headed hunter

[HCkernow]

Any advice please for keeping weight on a 18 year old, 17.2 hunter. He's quite hot headed but I realy struggle to keep weight on him both during the season and I've noticed he hasn't picked up so quickly during his summer break. He's always been on sugar beat & cool mix and the last year changed him to comp mix when I noticed him needing that little bit more stamina. Any other ideas for weight gain & stamina without the fizz. Thanks.

 

[AdorableAlice]

Allen and Page Veteran Vitality and a mug of linseed.

 

[wkiwi]

Oil is definitely the way to go for extra calories without weight gain.
You might find this article interesting
http://training.ifas.ufl.edu/Equine2011/Equine11_Warren_FeedingFat/Warren Feeding Fat to Horses.pdf

 

[Maesfen]

Might sound daft but oats would be my choice along with micro linseed, non mollassed sugar beet and a balancer, also with ad lib hay/haylage when not at grass. Do make sure his teeth are good too.

 

[tallyho!]

Copra is supposed to be very good.

 

[wkiwi]

Oil is definitely the way to go for extra calories without weight gain.
You might find this article interesting
http://training.ifas.ufl.edu/Equine2011/Equine11_Warren_FeedingFat/Warren Feeding Fat to Horses.pdf

Oops!!! Just realised I put 'without weight gain' when i meant to put 'without fizziness'. Oil will of course cause weight gain (as does the fat in chocolate and ice-cream I have just eaten - dang but it tasted so good!)

 

[PolarSkye]

Copra is supposed to be very good.

I swear by it for condition without fizziness. Kali gets it every winter. He gets oil in other forms year round - micronised linseed and linseed oil.

P

 

[wkiwi]

Copra is supposed to be very good.

Yes; copra can be an excellent additive due to oil and protein levels. Need to watch the phosphorus/calcium imbalance and it is low in lysine (an essential amino acid).
This article from the Kentucky Equine Research centre staff is quite informative
http://www.equinews.com/article/use-copra-horse-feeds

 

[LAURAWARD]

Try fibre beet with lo-cal balancer

 

[JenHunt]

we feed both of ours (both 21) speedibeet, alfalfa oil and micronised linseed to great effect.

Ron is particularly hot headed, and runs up very light if he gets any starch. Tom gets oats because he isn't in the slightest bit hot and seems to need some starch for the faster days.

The other thing to consider is a digestion supplement? I use one that HackUp designed for us which has kept their weight up and Ron's guts have been more settled (less green slime, more normal poo on a hunting morning). We also use their bespoke joint supplement which makes them both feel amazing!