Feeding Fizzy Ex Racers?

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Lollii

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A friend has bought an 8 year old ex racer, she has been out of racing for a while but did come straight from the trainers yard.

She is now on livery with me, what should we be feeding her, she hacked out today and was a bit 'fizzy' and on her toes ...she needs lots of turn out (she hasn't been out since November) but she is a little on the lean side ... anybody feed an ex racer like this? ideas please? :)
 
blue chip or copra for weight gain.
For the fizziness, just make sure here is loads of turn out plenty of exercise and a good regular routine. she shoud settle eventually, its just very very different from what she is used to.
 
I also have an ex - racer, 7. She too was very sharp when she first arrived, but I've found that with a regular routine, one - to - one care, lots and lots of hands on, exercise, turn out she's settled down a lot. I still struggle with condition though. Her back end is looking fab, as is her shoulder, but she always looks slightly ribby. I've had worm counts done, her teeth were attended to as soon as I got her and she has more than enough to eat (hard feed twice a day, ad lib hay and now on the grass too). I'm just wondering if they always tend to look a bit lean, especially as they get fitter again (all muscle and little fat).
 
Thanks for the replies, I will plan a menu for her :) ... here she is: what do you think?

Krystalsfirstday053.jpg
 
Hi I dont have a ex-racer however have a very/fizzy standardbred and used to work in racing and my mare is quite a similar attitude to a racer!
I fed my mare top-spec conditioning flakes. They dont seem to of given her any extra energy. Have made a HUGE difference to her. I feed these along with spillers herbal mix and speedibeet. The weight gain litterally happened within a couple of weeks. 4-6 weeks after changing my feed to this she looks a different horse. Hope this helps
 
cuppatea said:
lacking a little in the muscle on the back end but weight wise i wouldnt want to see much more on her going into the summer!
Click to expand...

She looks a bit 'fatter' in the pic, she is 17hh and all legs, she is in good nick though - I'm a little worried that she was a bit of a 'dope' before she came here and then today she has been jogging and throwing her head around when hacking, she looked liked she may explode!

I guess she will settle eventually as you said -we will give her time out in the paddock with slow riding everyday.

I hadn't heard of Copra isthis it? http://www.stanceequine.com.au/horsefeedproducts.php?CoolStance-Horse-Feed-2

Thanks again for all of the replies & suggestions - this place is great :)
 
she looks good weightwise, not too lean at all really, usually you get a giant rib-rack when they are race fit. really just needs more bum muscle by the looks of it!

i found blue chip great, plus equivite as a supplement.

i wouldn't worry bout the 'on the toes' always leading to an explosion, my lad is constantly energetic, but never goes crazy.
 
Thanks Paddi22, I can try the Blue Chip, what about a calmer is it worth a try maybe? or do we just give her time? she really was an angel at her last place, maybe the move has just been a bit too much, it has only been a couple of days :)
 
For condition in winter, mine gets Allan and Page calm and condition, mollichaff calmer and haylage. I'm not a fan of calmers, although Placid is supposedly very effective considerig it's much cheaper than some of the others.
In the summer, he gets some happy hoof, high fibre nuts, blob of corn oil and pink powder (helps settle guts if prone to being stressed!).
Mine was very stressy when I first got him. He is still a hot head but I find routine is the key! Everything must run like clockwork for him!! He was an absolute nightmare when he was on livery (at home now and much more chilled) as he had other horses and their lack of routines to worry about!! Had to be first out etc So if someone was out competing and left early, I'd arrive to one very stressed horse, dripping in sweat and a totally trashed stable!!
Routine and fibre are my main two things I ensure he gets to keep him level headed!
 
hello

I have an ex racer he is 12 been out of racing 3 yrs has done well in jumping xc, bit of hunting and dressage with previous owner,


He was really fizzy when i got him, and a bit bolchy.

all i feed him on is a big handfull of dengi hi fi, scoop of mint, 2 x scoops of vitality mins and vitimans, and 2 x scoops of rig calm twice a day coz he has been after the mares and acting very like a rig. he has calm and condition in the winter and ad lib hay every day

he is totally different now he is on this. they need routine, plenty of excercise.at least 3 - 4 times a week. plenty of turnout and lots of TLC
 
i agree about routine mine hates when we change the system
i don't/didn't feed any of mine ( except the old girl from the age of 25) they live out as much as possible that means 24/7 ad lid hay and grass and in the deep winter 1 scoop of happy hoof( TB's feet !!) twice a day
hack her quietly with another horse sit very heavy in the saddle as if gravity is very strong on your legs ignore the head throwing it'll go when she's less tense
sing out loud if your holding your breath to keep calm
it's ok to get off, if she spits the dummy just pat her run up your stirrups and carry on the hack, walk with her till she relaxes again find a likely rock or gate and remount sit quiet with a loose rein the more you hold the rein the more they do, they only walk and gallop in they're work life and when they're doing walk work it's on a long rein -it'll be ok she will settle they learn fast and with repittition(sp?) good luck she looks lovely
 
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