Feeding Advice Needed Please

[Kadie_09]

Chance is currently fed on a scoop of chaff and a half a scoop of mix. He is in light work (either lunged or ridden once or twice a week)

He has dropped a bit of weight / condition on his hindquarters

Is there anything I can do / give him to build this up?

I am going to be working him more often now the weather is better - I'm aiming at lunging or riding (either hacking or schooling) 3 - 4 times per week, maybe more.

I was thinking about getting some conditioning cubes to add to his feed.

I don't want to add any extra fizz to him, I like the quiet plod that he is :biglaughA:

 

[UKa]

Hi, I would think that more work would probably condition his muscles? You could try and add some oil for conditioning if he needs more energy. Otherwise I think the Allen & Page Calm and Condition cubes are quite good and not fizzying.

 

[Kadie_09]

Thanks

 

[TGM]

Is it just his quarters that have dropped or the whole of him. Can you see his ribs?
If it is just his quarters then correct work will help, but if he is ribby then you should investigate increasing his feed.

How much hay or haylage does he get? Is he kept in or out? If out there should be hay in the field, if in then ensure he gets enough hay overnight so there is a little left in the morning, plus there should be hay available all the time he is in the stable. Ad lib hay is the best way to get weight on without fizzing them up.

How many times a day do you feed? What brand of mix is he on? What type of chaff?

 

[Kadie_09]

Hi

He has got quite ribby to. He is fed once per day and has hay when he comes up to the yard as he is out 24/7. We are not allowed to feed hay in the field

He is on own brand mix and chaff.

 

[TGM]

Can you not bring him into a stable at nights for a while to get some hay into him? Or move him somewhere where you can have hay in the field?

As for bucket feed, if he is losing weight then you should try to feed him at least twice a day, and I would swap his current chaff for something more high calorie such as Alfa A Oil or Spiller's Conditioning Fibre. Either increase the amount of mix or swap it for conditioning cubes.