Feeding advice - for my wild horse and my yearlings!

[Cullohill]

A bit of advice please for 2 different situations.

Firstly Bud - (6 yo SFxISH) Eventer but been off for 6 months due to chipping stifle etc etc now back in work and off his head!! Always been sharp horse and gets excited sometimes but always coped ok. Now he's only worked 3-4 times week due to work etc but he is always on his toes and takes along time to settle and was wondering whether certain feed could help him calm down abit, but don't really want to feed more supplements. He currently gets day grazing, plenty haylage morning night and 2 feeds sugarbeet, molichop, small handful barley, life data feet formula supplement. Any ideas?

Secondly two yearlings Fin homebred ISHxKWPN Merri sect D
These guys are out 25/7 and currently fed twice day and have sugarbeet, molichop and dodson & horrell Mare and Youngstock mix. Now that the mix has increased in price again just wondered what else people feed yougstock, could i feed straights? Are there cheaper options? Or should i just carry on as i am?

Many thanks, any advice very welcome!!

 

[AmyMay]

Bud: Looks fantastic in your photo's. Personally I'd cut out the barley and SB if he's on his toes, and substitute for Red Mills Horse Care Cubes (fantastic stuff!!!).

Youngsters - pony nuts and additional hay/haylage if required.

 

[Cullohill]

thanks i have cut his barley down to minimal and nearly at end of bag so think won't buy anymore,also will look at those red mill cubes.

Pony nuts, will they get enough from those?? they do get extra good quality haylage, it sounds like brilliant idea.

thanks

 

[aran]

If he is a 'hot' horse then I'd leave out the barley but also be careful about mollases - check your chaff and sugarbeet - maybe feed alfa (although some can get hiper on this too!) and unmollased sugar beet. if your feeding the barley for condition or weight gain then try veggie oil (soya is good but some heat up on it too!)

For your youngsters - if they are on good adlib hayledge then I wouldnt think they need much else - maybe just a vit/min block in the field (like the dengie one). if you want to give them a feed then i dont think they'd need more than some Happy Hoof and some sugar beet with some equivit (or equivalent) and maybe a glug of veggie oil. i dont like cereals much for youngsters - you dont want them growing over fast and developing joint issues.