Feeding advice for ISH

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gibsylee

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I have just bought a 6yr old ISH who is up to weight, he is having his saddle fitted tomorrow so he will be schooled for 30-40 mins 3 times a week and then 2 long hacks at the weekend. I am also looking to compete at local events (showjumping and xcountry).

Currently he gets 2 large nets of Haylege a day, and 2 small feeds of yard nuts, chaff and sugar beat. When I bought him he was not on any short feed.

I am really looking for some feeding advice as I dont want to overfeed, nor underfeed, however I would like him to be nice and forward going with some energy.

Thank you
 
I have two ISHs. Both are very good doers. They get pasture mix and dengie hifi lite twice a day (very little). Even when fit and eventing they don't need much!

Probably what you are giving him will be fine (is he in all the time?). Play it by ear and see how he goes. Use a weight tape to monitor his weight, and see how his energy levels keep up with the feed you are giving... if he doesn't seem to have much energy, add a bit more food, if too much, knock down the hard feed..
 
Hello and great news ou have an ISH


Firstly the main thing is to make sure he has enough fibre in his diet - get a weigh tape and find out his weight - then also condition score him. This will help establish if he is underweight or over weight. Many main feed manufactureres have help\online with how much forage v hard feed to give you may well want to try a few of their websites.

Bowever forwardness comes form how well and responsive he will be to the leg - so good schooling will help improve this as will a good fittening plan. The main thing to consider is - is he getting all the required essential vits and minerals - especially as we head into winter. You may just want to give a balancer of some kind if he is doing well weight wise and managing the workload you have in place.

I am a big advocate of very little hard feed as feel many people use it without really understanding how well a horse can manage without - enery from hard feed is calories and can add extra weight on.

There are plenty good fibre based feeds out on the market - you could lok into one such as dengie etc with a added balancer or vit /supplement


Sorry not more specific.
 
currently got 5 year old ID x gets 2 mugs per day of baileys Lo cal balancer, in recuperation from sacrioiliac injury -

never had hard feed before in life! not required as nicely in front of leg but must lose 50 Kg;-(
 
Mine are real good doers so have Top Chop Lite chaff and Top Spec Anti Lam balancer and that's it. In summer they are on a paddock paradise type track to keep them moving around finding grass and in winter we open up a bit of the field each day for them. When the grass runs out they get hay which is soaked unless freezing cold.

I'd keep a close eye on his weight, use a weight tape weekly as you don't always see the changes by eye but the tape tells you differently and go from there.

Congratulations on your new horse btw
 
6yr old ISH who is a goo doer currently get ad lib haylage and a handful of hifi with NAF general purpose vit/min supplement. he is out competing, just started BS with no ill effects.
 
My 8 yo ISH is also a good doer :). She gets chaff with Top Spec Balancer plus Speedibeet in winter, and lots of hay/haylage.
 
Thank you for all your comments, Im new to the world of ISH, always been a TB girl, lol.

Well I took him out for the first day today, with anither horse, he was fine going out, snorting away as all new to him, had a very steady canter and he was fine, although on the way home we had a canter and he chucked in a few little playfull bucks and was quite hard to pull up (only in a snaffle). I dont mind the bucks as I think these will become less of an issue after a short time but any ideas on a bit to use, I would normally use a Gag on my TBs but he is alot of horse (17.1) and feel I should seek advice from ISH experienced owners......Any advise please.:)

Thank you
 
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