Feeding during turnout

[mhound]

Hi All. After vet go ahead, I’m looking to turn out my TB gelding after a nasty superficial injury, just time to heal and be a horse (around 8 weeks). He will be out both day and night but will be rugged. He eats well but naturally loses weight through the winter. He’s currently on: 2 scoops of sugar beet, 2 scoops of Alfa A and 4 scoops of mix, split between 2 meals. I’ve never really “let down” a horse before so wondering what people’s opinions are on feeding, how much and what? I’d really like to maintain as much condition as possible.
Thanks

 

[milliepops]

what kind of mix? there are some I'd keep going with and others that you might want to swap out for something else.

 

[SEL]

Also how much and how good is the grass and are you supplementing with hay?
We've got fields that would make the skinniest horse fat ?

 

[mhound]

what kind of mix? there are some I'd keep going with and others that you might want to swap out for something else.

He’s just on a course mix at the moment.

 

[mhound]

Also how much and how good is the grass and are you supplementing with hay?
We've got fields that would make the skinniest horse fat ?

Really? I’d love some of those fields ?. Haha. I think the grass is ok, it’s a fair sized field and there’s only 2 other horses but I’ll 100% be supplementing with hay yes.

 

[Starzaan]

When you say scoops, do you mean traditional round Stubbs scoops? In which case, a horse can only digest two of those scoops at once. If you’re feeding that much in just two feeds you may as well throw most of it on the muck heap.
The best start is always fibre, so I would start with making sure he has access to either good grass or hay 24/7. Then if he isn’t holding his weight I would add in small feeds multiple times a day. Get your grazing and hay analysed so you can supplement any minerals he’ll be missing out on. Then make sure you’re adding fibre. A good chaff such as Alfa A Oil, micronised linseed, and the appropriate minerals and vitamins based on hay and grazing analysis will see him right.

 

[mhound]

Hi. Yes, traditional scoops and wow I did not know that! Seems I’ve been wasting a lot of food in that case. Thank you.

 

[Starzaan]

You’re welcome. That’s what this forum is for. ?
Good luck with him. ?

 

[Equi]

That feed amount made me balk. Is he currently underweight and needing it? If he is now on rest he maybe won't need that much. How much hay/haylage is he getting on top of it? This is only my experience but ive in history fed a tb a mix/beet thinking i was just getting calories in but they never put on weight and i think it was because they were just burning off the calories being internally buzzed...not being naughty or bonkers but just always being on a sugar rush if that makes sense? Feed more forage and more fibre based low suagr feed and suddenly the weight piles on.

If not in work for weeks he WILL loose muscle, that doesn't mean more condition will be beneficial it will just be flab that you then need to work off.

 

[TheMule]

Totally agree you're feeding massive meals that just aren’t going to be doing any use. Grass and hay/ haylage should be the starting points of his diet in the field. Why add in more fibre? Add in some protein and fat

 

[ihatework]

For TB types that need grub, in addition to ad-lib grass/hay I’d generally go for the compound feeds advertised for conditioning ulcer prone horses. Something like Baileys ease & excel.