Feeding again

[vicm2509]

I have had Baron on soaked oats all winter and hes been doing really well. But now he is out at grass in the day and although needs extra energy while schooling he is using the energy in the wrong what (hes being naughty). He sometimes feels like a coiled spring, he has loads of energy but doesnt know what to do with it. This is partly due to him being much fitter and doing different things, we have just started competing and doing fun rides etc.

I am wanting to take him off the oats and just give him a mix, but I could do with a little weight being put on at the same time. Not including the oats he gets alfa oil, speedi beet, pink powder and 1 cup of soya oil, he gets 2 feeds a day.

I was thinking of just putting him on Baileys Economy cubes plus as ive had him on top line conditioning cubes before and they didnt do much. Or could I maybe swap the oats for Barley to add the weight? He gets pink powder so he gets all the vits he needs without a mix.

 

[Paint it Lucky]

Maybe if you stop feeding him sugarbeet, as that can make horses fizzy. I'd bewary of swapping oats for barley as this can be equally energising, barley contains more energy than oats and is normally broken up better so it is easier for the horse to absorb the energy. For his fizziness i would try feeding cubes instead ofstraights or a mix as these generally don't havethe same heating effect, possibly try build up cubes if you want more weight on him and continue with the alfa oil, pink powder and soya oil.

 

[vicm2509]

I am feeding speedi beet not sugar beet.

I am thinking Barley as it is actually less heating that oats but is more fattening so it generally good for horses that need to put on weight without the extra fizz.

He isnt generally a fizzy horse but since the new grass has come though I think he is getting more 'fizz' than he needs if you know what I mean.

I plan to keep him on the pink powder as it has really helped with his 'sloppy poos' (anyone who advised on this a while back will remember). The thing is I dont want to overload him with vits and minerals but there is no way hes coming off the pink powder.

He is not underweight, just could do with a little more around his back end, nothing I have fed him so far has put any fat around here. He is now so toned that when hes warmed up you can really see his muscle defenition but i cant get and fat on him

Here is a pic so you know what I mean (ignore the date on the first pic, it was taken about 2 weeks ago, the bottom pic about 6 weeks ago). Ive upped his oats to put the weight on which has worked but he hasnt got a clue what to do with the energy they are giving him

 

[sleepingdragon10]

To be honest I actually think he looks rather good condition wise. I'd keep the Speedibeet if I were you...if you want less umph could you not just reduce quantities of hard feed but up his fibre ration?

xx

 

[vicm2509]

If I upped the fibre would this help him to put on a little weight? I only upped his oats as the back lady (who is very knowledgeable in other areas) asvised me to. He gets 1 1/2 big round scoops a day but I soak them for 24hrs. Before he was on about 3/4 or a scoop so ive doubled them.

 

[Scarlett1980]

I agree with sleepingdragon, cereal starch does cause instant energy boosts attributed to excitable behaviour.

I'd try and find a feed designed to give slow releasing energy like winergy equilibrium. cos the energy is from fibre and oil its also naturally conditioning so would solve both of your problems!