Feeding advice for building topline

[BarbieHorse]

I've recently bought a 6 y.o. horse, he was backed and ridden away last year but has nothing done since. He's living out at the moment on ad lib hay, TopSpec lite and a couple of handfuls of grass nuts, and whilst not "poor" as such, he's looking a little bit ribby. I'm planning on starting him in work this week, will be largely hacking for the first few weeks, but with a lot of hills (unavioidable due to location!).
I was planning on switching the TopSpec lite for regular Top Spec, dropping the grass nuts and adding another feed, maybe Baileys Topline conditioning cubes? Or one of the TopSpec feeds? What would anyone else feed? I'm thinking if I change to Topline conditioning cubes maybe he won't need the TopSpec as well, but not sure if then I'd be better sticking with TopSpec and using one of their feeds that are designed to be used with the balancer.... Any thoughts? 😊

 

[Goldenstar]

Please don't get on a horse who was backed and ridden away a year ago you need to go back and recap the backing process and the riding away process before you even think of hacking .

 

[BarbieHorse]

Please don't get on a horse who was backed and ridden away a year ago you need to go back and recap the backing process and the riding away process before you even think of hacking .

Yes, thank-you that's all part of the plan! Don't worry I've bred, backed and restarted horses before so I have some idea what I'm at! Just slightly rusty on the feeding part having relied on full livery for the last few years!

 

[Cortez]

You cannot feed one particular part of a horse's body, no matter what it says on the bag. As long as he is getting sufficient basic rations he will add muscle in the right places with the right sort of work and according to his conformation. Have you wormed him?

 

[BarbieHorse]

Thanks - yes, he's been wormed
I should possibly have re-phrased my query, effectively he is not carrying quite as much condition as I'd like. He needs to build muscle in general, which will happen once he starts work, but he will need additional feed to support this, and protein to build muscle. I'm thinking now I'll stick with the TopSpec balancer and add TopSpec Cool Condition blend - would love to hear what other people are feeding horses just starting out their training, and also if anyone else has fed Cool Condition blend and has any thoughts on it, or any alternative suggestions

 

[JillA]

To build muscle you need protein. I have a very poor doer (metabolic/absorption problems from having almost starved 7 years ago) and the answer for him has been what we call his "bodybuilder diet". If he is on grass that should help, but we used whey powder, spirulina, soya hulls, micronized barley and bran (if he can cope with starch/sugars) as well as amino acids such as lysine and methionine. He also gets yeasacc to help with the absorption.
Check what he is getting other than the grass (or hay if he is stabled) for protein levels.
This is a useful read https://forageplus.co.uk/five-reasons-understand-protein-healthy-horse/

 

[paddi22]

i use baileys no 20 on mine. it builds them up without being fizzy.
for any super-poor doers i use equerry conditioning mash
the rest all get beetpulp, oats and oat balancer


slow work up hills will get the muscle on him, once hes getting enough feed he will build up in time

 

[Jenni_]

Grass, 1/4 scoop chaff, 1/4 scoop fibre nuts x 2 daily, will be going on Top Spec Comprehensive balancer now the spring silliness has died down.

Rising 7, owned for 2 months yesterday

Week I bought her-

2 Weeks ago:

Sunday:

For comparison - this two weeks. Long way to go but going the right way.

The grass alone has worked wonders for her, but I really rate the Top Spec balancers, and the top spec conditioning stuff. Although at 6 I'd be inclined to try and keep feeding as au naturale as possible, unless they are struggling, and focus on good quality, regular work.

 

[Pinkvboots]

If I were you I would just up the grass nuts for now I wouldn't want to change a horses feed just as I was re starting it under saddle, as the new feed could trigger bad behaviour which you don't want and for the first few months you won't be doing hard fast work so I would wait until he is going well and is settled before changing feeds. One of my horses completely changes on any conditioning nuts I have tried them all, I now just use micronised linseed or copra for condition as most nuts and mixes contain molasses and some horses can get very silly when fed it.

 

[wench]

Molassed mix will often appeal

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I would stick with the grassnuts and if he really needs something else, just give an extra feed of grassnuts. He needs energy for the work he is doing, which will allow him to build up his muscles.