Feeding Advice

[JasminESmith]

So I’m just after a bit of feed advice please as I know it’s an absolute minefield.
My mare is currently in light/medium work, she’s 22 years old (certainly doesn’t act it)! She’s an extremely good doer so all she gets fed at the moment is a spillers balancer by night with a couple supplements. She’s currently out 24/7 (unless the weathers bad) and I’m strip grazing her, I move the fence back every day, this way it gives her something fresh daily without her pigging out on it!!
Im starting to feel like she needs a bit more feed wise before we enter winter to make sure she’s getting everything she needs whilst having restricted grazing.
Just wondered if anyone recommends anything or has been in a similar situation with their horse/pony?
TIA

 

[ihatework]

What makes you think she isn’t getting everything she needs?!
If she is on balancer that will give her vits and mins, and she has grass by the sounds of it, albeit restricted.

Honestly the best thing you can do with fatties is to use winter to your advantage. I wouldn’t be adding hard feed when we still have actively growing grass.

Once the grass goes and it gets colder supplement with a bit of hay

 

[Lady Jane]

Why does she have a balancer and supplements?

 

[JasminESmith]

She has the supplement to help with her joints as she’s older. The balancer is purely so she can have the supplement.

 

[scats]

Can I ask what gives you the impression she needs more? Is she prone to dropping weight in winter? Does her workload stay the same or increase/decrease in winter?

This information might be able to generate better advice from people.

 

[Leah3horses]

So your mare is an 'extremely good doer' , already has a balancer, but you're also thinking she,' needs more feed'? Sorry, quite confused. An extremely good doer will be getting everything she needs from the balancer, and we're in dangerous Autumn flush time with the grass now too...so absolutely no need to give anything else except hay as the winter draws in...if you try to add any additional feed with vitamins / minerals in, you'll simply be wasting your money giving her excessive amounts of vits/mins and more nutrients that an extremely good doer really doesn't need?

 

[NOISYGIRL2]

Sounds like she's getting all she needs, if you need a little extra calories add charnwood micronised linseed

 

[Pinkvboots]

Just feed a bit more hay rather than bucket feed.