Feeding advice- happy hacker

[Purplerain123]

Hi,
I am after some advice regarding feeding my horse please.
I have recently taken on a lovely horse who use to be a hunter in his old home. He is 16 now and started to struggle with a hard days hunting so i now have him as a happy hacker with occasional fun rides.
I am not 100% sure what he was fed on before, and struggling to choose what to feed him now. he is obviously in less work but his condition at the moment could do will a little extra conditioning, especially on his topline. However I dont want to over feed and make him fizzy or fat.
He is currently turned out 24/7 in a field with minimal grass but has ad lib hay.
I have currently started him on basic horse and pony nuts with a handful of alfalfa plus oil but unsure if this is sufficient.
What would be the best feed recommendations for him and is it best to feed once a day (Am or PM) or twice a day.
He is 16.0hh.
Thanks in advance for the replies, there is so many conflicting answers ive got myself confused as to what is best.

 

[AmyMay]

I’d see how you get on for a month with what you’re currently feeding. I love Alpha A, and if he’s not being silly on it it’s a great conditioning feed.

 

[Purplerain123]

I’d see how you get on for a month with what you’re currently feeding. I love Alpha A, and if he’s not being silly on it it’s a great conditioning feed.

Thankyou, would he benefit from once or twice a day feeding. He use to be once a day i think, but they always rode in the morning, ill be riding after work and weekends.

 

[AmyMay]

How long have you had him? When did he stop hunting?

 

[Purplerain123]

How long have you had him? When did he stop hunting?

I have had him a week now, last hunted end of February, but was still being exercised to keep fit.

 

[AmyMay]

I have had him a week now, last hunted end of February, but was still being exercised to keep fit.

So he may well be fit and lean as opposed to lacking condition?? So don’t be to quick to feed him up. Feed him in the morning, ensure he’s appropriately rugged and that he has access easily to the hay he wants (ie not bullied of it).

Remember that this is the time of year that he’d usually be roughed off and turfed out for the summer, and that the spring grass will be coming through soon.

Do you have a picture?

 

[Purplerain123]

So he may well be fit and lean as opposed to lacking condition?? So don’t be to quick to feed him up. Feed him in the morning, ensure he’s appropriately rugged and that he has access easily to the hay he wants (ie not bullied of it).

Remember that this is the time of year that he’d usually be roughed off and turfed out for the summer, and that the spring grass will be coming through soon.

Do you have a picture?

He lives with one other and they get on well, he has access to hay ad lib. He is rugged well to. Thankyou for your advice so far. Haven't got a picture at the moment. A few people have mentioned about his top line but don't think it will take much to get back given the time of year.