Feeding advice please

[doodle]

For Robin. He currently gets half scoop spillers conditioning fiber and formula4feet once a day. He is out about 22/7 and the other he gets hay while I am grooming tacking up etc. He comes in overnight the odd night if weather really bad. Grazing is pretty limited but has started growing in the last 3 weeks or so since the sheep have gone. So it’s plenty really. Worked about 5 times a week of fairly gentle hacking but he does do canter work, hills etc.

I am starting to see ribs in some ways he moves and when he sighed today. I have noticed girth going up easier and on weight tape he is down about 20 kg. He is not underweight or ribby or anywhere needing weight gain and if he stayed as is I would be happy. His ribs are easily felt. He is deceptive in that he has quite a deep frame and what you can feel is quite often different.

My concern is not so much his weight right now but that he is dropping. When I got him he was on calm and condition and alfalfa oil and haulage which was dropped pretty quickly and 2 years ago when we had the dry spell and no grass he was eventing on half scoop low cal chaff.

I’m thinking just up the spillers conditioning fiber, which I have done tonight. Or should I add something? He is full of energy and enthusiasm and although my confidence is growing I don’t really want him fizzing up. Plain cheep pony nuts sent him into orbit. (We didn’t believe it could have been that so tried again and never again!).

We can’t put hay in the field so other option is to bring in overnight. But I don’t think he would appreciate that just yet. He is quick to tell me in or out but generally will come in beginning of October. He can eat a huge amount of hay in 2 hours.

I’m overthinking probably.

 

[NOISYGIRL2]

For Robin. He currently gets half scoop spillers conditioning fiber and formula4feet once a day. He is out about 22/7 and the other he gets hay while I am grooming tacking up etc. He comes in overnight the odd night if weather really bad. Grazing is pretty limited but has started growing in the last 3 weeks or so since the sheep have gone. So it’s plenty really. Worked about 5 times a week of fairly gentle hacking but he does do canter work, hills etc.

I am starting to see ribs in some ways he moves and when he sighed today. I have noticed girth going up easier and on weight tape he is down about 20 kg. He is not underweight or ribby or anywhere needing weight gain and if he stayed as is I would be happy. His ribs are easily felt. He is deceptive in that he has quite a deep frame and what you can feel is quite often different.

My concern is not so much his weight right now but that he is dropping. When I got him he was on calm and condition and alfalfa oil and haulage which was dropped pretty quickly and 2 years ago when we had the dry spell and no grass he was eventing on half scoop low cal chaff.

I’m thinking just up the spillers conditioning fiber, which I have done tonight. Or should I add something? He is full of energy and enthusiasm and although my confidence is growing I don’t really want him fizzing up. Plain cheep pony nuts sent him into orbit. (We didn’t believe it could have been that so tried again and never again!).

We can’t put hay in the field so other option is to bring in overnight. But I don’t think he would appreciate that just yet. He is quick to tell me in or out but generally will come in beginning of October. He can eat a huge amount of hay in 2 hours.

I’m overthinking probably.

I'd just increase the spillers as you say and see how he goes. That way you're not changing feed, just increaae/decrease as necessary

 

[be positive]

He sounds as if he is in really good shape but condition dropping off now can prove hard to get back on once the nights get cooler, I would up the feed a little and consider adding extra calories by giving oil in one form or other, micronised linseed is probably the best way as it can be gradually introduced and he can have a fair bit during the winter months without being put off his feed which liquid oil can do.

 

[doodle]

Thanks. Is there any suppliers of linseed in a small amount so I can see if he will eat first? How much should I feed? I have also upped his rug a wee bit. It is due to be 9 overnight this week so maybe that isn’t helping either.

 

[be positive]

Thanks. Is there any suppliers of linseed in a small amount so I can see if he will eat first? How much should I feed? I have also upped his rug a wee bit. It is due to be 9 overnight this week so maybe that isn’t helping either.

I have a big bag and only one on it so if you pm your address I could pop a bag in the post if it helps, some feed places do small bags but it is an expensive way to buy it.

 

[twiggy2]

To be honest if the grass has started growing in the last three weeks I would not change anything just yet, my go to would be micronised linseed in another three or four weeks if he continues to lose weight.

 

[horseman1985]

For Robin. He currently gets half scoop spillers conditioning fiber and formula4feet once a day. He is out about 22/7 and the other he gets hay while I am grooming tacking up etc. He comes in overnight the odd night if weather really bad. Grazing is pretty limited but has started growing in the last 3 weeks or so since the sheep have gone. So it’s plenty really. Worked about 5 times a week of fairly gentle hacking but he does do canter work, hills etc.

I am starting to see ribs in some ways he moves and when he sighed today. I have noticed girth going up easier and on weight tape he is down about 20 kg. He is not underweight or ribby or anywhere needing weight gain and if he stayed as is I would be happy. His ribs are easily felt. He is deceptive in that he has quite a deep frame and what you can feel is quite often different.

My concern is not so much his weight right now but that he is dropping. When I got him he was on calm and condition and alfalfa oil and haulage which was dropped pretty quickly and 2 years ago when we had the dry spell and no grass he was eventing on half scoop low cal chaff.

I’m thinking just up the spillers conditioning fiber, which I have done tonight. Or should I add something? He is full of energy and enthusiasm and although my confidence is growing I don’t really want him fizzing up. Plain cheep pony nuts sent him into orbit. (We didn’t believe it could have been that so tried again and never again!).

We can’t put hay in the field so other option is to bring in overnight. But I don’t think he would appreciate that just yet. He is quick to tell me in or out but generally will come in beginning of October. He can eat a huge amount of hay in 2 hours.

I’m overthinking probably.

He sounds as if he is in really good shape but condition dropping off now can prove hard to get back on once the nights get cooler, I would up the feed a little and consider adding extra calories by giving oil in one form or other, micronised linseed is probably the best way as it can be gradually introduced and he can have a fair bit during the winter months without being put off his feed which liquid oil can do.

 

[doodle]

I have a big bag and only one on it so if you pm your address I could pop a bag in the post if it helps, some feed places do small bags but it is an expensive way to buy it.

Thankyou so much. I’ll see if feed store has a small bag and if not I’ll get back to you. That’s so kind.

 

[doodle]

I am not going to give him a balancer as there is so much in formula4feet that I don’t want to be over dosing. I had the vet come and check him and do bloods to check he was ok. He was fine. I had upped the conditioning fiber and added micronised linseed which has done the trick.

 

[doodle]

No I agree but formula4feet has a lot in it (it is not just biotin) and there is no point in doubling up. I have fed topspec before. In fact he was getting it before, I did a lot of research In to exactly what each had in it. I will not take him off formula4feet as when I try to reduce his feet fall apart again. I appreciate your advice was just trying to explain why I said no to topspec.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would just have him in for a few hours and feed some hay and add some linseed to his feed

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Not all the balancers contain hoof supplements but most support muscle development and topline condition, it can also be fed on its own. I have a warmblood x tb which was exactly the same but since being on this he looks like a totally different horse, but I'm only recommending as I have not tried the feed your horse is on.

Top spec sent my Arab off his head so it can be heating I actually don't rate there feed, the ingredients are not great and it's not particularly cheap either.

 

[doodle]

I would just have him in for a few hours and feed some hay and add some linseed to his feed

Older post. I have added linseed and it’s working.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Oh good