feeding for a 4 1/2 yr old connie type

aran

aran

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hello
the new horse is very weedy. he is holding enough weight (ribs are covered) but he needs some conditioning. My TB lives (and hunts) off: ad-lib rye haylage, soaked alfa pellets, speedie beet, readigrass and linseed (plus fibre nuts in his snack-a-ball). Currently the new one is on the same but I think he could do with something extra - what have you used or know is good? I have used topspec flakes in the past which were nice but do people have any other suggestions?
Thank you
 
We've got American Quarter Horses, which are similar to natives to feed. Ours is quite fine boned for the breed and we've got good condition on her by feeding just pasture mix (2x1 big scoop a day in two feeds) and good haylage. Blue chip/topspec are good but costly - sugar beet can be effective but occasionally makes them a bit fizzy.
Suspect he might be a late developer and if he is well covered might be worth being patient until the spring grass appears which makes a huge different.
I'm sure you're doing correct basic training with him as well which will definitely help him to muscle up.
 
He is doing lots of long and low work with lots of transitions. We are hacking him as much as possible too (it's just not easy with all the rain and dark!). I'm sure that with time he will fill out fine. I think he hasnt had the best start and so is a bit behind in filling out. No one believes me when i say he's 15.1, esp when he's tied next to my 15.3 TB but I've had the stick on him and he is - he's just sooo scrawny!

I've never really been a concentrate feeder so thought i should see if there is anything that would benefit him other than what he's been getting - but i think you're right and work and time are what's needed!
 
I have a 5yr old tb x connie who resembles a hat rack when i got her. Although ribs covered could see her hips and spine poor girl. I tried topspec comp and cond flakes and it just didnt work for her, she was also very fussy and not used to hard feed so couldnt feed her a 'normal' amount. I then put her on red mills conditioning mix and their super performer (for stallions, show jumpers etc) so i could feed less without the fizz (both medium levels of startch) and she loved it and really improved condition wise.
She is hunted once a week schooled and hacked with one day off. She is now fed half a scoop of conditioning mix and a scoop of fibrebeet twice a day and looks and feels great. Her coat is lovely and soft too and shiny for a grey. PM if you would like pics or more info. I wouldnt feed her anything else now she loves her dinner.
 
We have native ponies inc a Connie, I have found they do very well on a balancer we feed Suregrow but Top Spec Comprehensive is very good too.

Our Connie has done very well on Alfa A Oil or Mollichaff showshine, Sure Grow and in winter they get Speedi Beet too. All my ponies inc the Hoys Open ponies get this basic diet

I have found equi jewel good for some ponies its a high oil feed and though expensive you normally see results pretty quickly.

We do keep ours rugged esp if they looking a little poor in winter so they do not burn off any calories keeping warm.

Baileys No 6 is good for weight gain especially for a fussy person, or No 4 top line conditioning cubes.

Our connie went huge on haylage last winter and now he on ad-lib hay.

He is still young as well and could well be immature and will be growing still. The spring grass in the spring will make a world of difference.

You could try splitting his feeds into smaller more frequent rations if this is possible with work commitments etc.
 
If he's a native, he probably hasn't stopped growing. Don't be over hasty to top him off. Ad lib haylage and a feed balancer in some chaff with speedibeet is really all he needs. Obviously check his teeth regularly and worm him as required.

Bailey's No 4? Sorry, not IMO. Not yet. Fibre, fibre, fibre and a rug or two
wink.gif
 
I havent contacted the feed companies as I know what they will say (I spent some time in a few) and I don't need them to push there products.
Instead I wanted peoples experiences of what they'd do or have done in a similar situation.
My preference has always been just fibre esp for youngsters but I just wanted to check that I hadnt missed something as he just seems so scrawny - bless him! He's got 2 rugs on (not that he fills them) and when I just left them, he was tucking in to his rye haylage and had polished off his alfa/beet/linseed mush.

I don't know red mills very well and I don't think any of our local feed merchants stock it.
The yard all think I should put him on baileys or D&H topline cubes or triple crown. I've only ever used baileys no 1 plus limestone flour which was lovely.
Oh - it's so difficult to know what is best! Thank you for your comments - i shall mull it over some more!
 
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