Feeding big, immature 4yo TB

[kimberleigh]

Hi guys

New mare arriving next weekend - 16.3, and still growing, TB who has been in training as a 2&3 year old but never ran.

She will basically be being turned away to grow up, doing a bit of basic in hand stuff to keep some manners but no actual "work".

Grazing is pretty rubbish, regardless of time of year, and she will have ad lib haylage throughout the winter and before if need be.

Wanting some opinions on what people would think of as an appropriate feeding regime?

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I would give her ad-lib hay/lage if the grazing is poor (which it mostly is this year) before even thinking of adding anything else. Monitor carefully for a few weeks and if she starts to drop weight/look poor think about soaked speedibeet/grassnuts and linseed with plenty of salt.

 

[kimberleigh]

Yeah its awful here!

Have been told that atm she isnt on any hard feed but that the grazing is amazing where she is currently.

The racing yard she was on whilst in training said "do not let a single oat pass her lips..." so I'm taking that to mean she is easily het up!! She has been at a livery yard for 6 weeks now and was out at grass for 8 weeks prior to that, so last in training 14 weeks ago.

Very limited on what products I can source easily/locally but Red Mills is exceedingly popular...however upon looking at their ingredients lists even their fibre cubes contain soya/alfalfa/molasses - all of which i know can be triggers for stressy/excitable types.

I know she will need hard feed though as even my Connemara pony is fed year round on this land to keep the condition on, so I'm struggling a little!

 

[AdorableAlice]

In training at 2 and 3 will mean she has had plenty of hard feed and her growth will have responded. Of course a TB will mature more quickly than a WB or ID, but she will have had more growth, food and work than the vast majority of leisure horses.

As you don't know her as yet my thoughts would be good quality ad lib hay and/or haylage with a mug of linseed and a decent all round supplement if her feet are rubbish. You just find that a new quiet and peaceful home with no pressure is just what she needs to thrive. I wouldn't try to feed for more growth or weight at the moment and let nature and time do its job in getting her to maturity. The lighter she is the better for her joints in the long term especially given that she has been in work.

I find veteran and vitality a super feed for any horse, not just the oldies it is pitched at. It puts a nice cover on without blowing brains.

Good luck with her, she will repay your patience and turn into a superstar in time.

 

[kimberleigh]

In training at 2 and 3 will mean she has had plenty of hard feed and her growth will have responded. Of course a TB will mature more quickly than a WB or ID, but she will have had more growth, food and work than the vast majority of leisure horses.

As you don't know her as yet my thoughts would be good quality ad lib hay and/or haylage with a mug of linseed and a decent all round supplement if her feet are rubbish. You just find that a new quiet and peaceful home with no pressure is just what she needs to thrive. I wouldn't try to feed for more growth or weight at the moment and let nature and time do its job in getting her to maturity. The lighter she is the better for her joints in the long term especially given that she has been in work.

I find veteran and vitality a super feed for any horse, not just the oldies it is pitched at. It puts a nice cover on without blowing brains.

Good luck with her, she will repay your patience and turn into a superstar in time.

Thank you for your reply!

I am hoping the easy life suits her and that she doesnt drop a huge amount of weight with the change in grazing quality.

I am a big linseed fan so hopefully I can find it for not too steep a price here - at the moment the cheapest I've seen is equivalent to £37.50 for 20kg which seems extortionate to me!

 

[Pinkvboots]

I would give her ad-lib hay/lage if the grazing is poor (which it mostly is this year) before even thinking of adding anything else. Monitor carefully for a few weeks and if she starts to drop weight/look poor think about soaked speedibeet/grassnuts and linseed with plenty of salt.

This