Feeding for Extra Oomph - Complicated horse!

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Snow-pony

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I have a warmblood that could do with some extra oomph. He is a naturally laid back kind of guy, but is also slightly complicated feed wise in that he can't have alfalfa or soya (due to intolerances and a history of headshaking). He's currently on D&H Safe and Sound and Equijewel but I'm struggling to find anything with a bit more fast release energy. I had thought of Turbo flakes but they contain soya oil.
Hoping for some wisdom from the hive mind!
 
Pure Feeds. No soya or alfafa. As same base you can mix and match. I have one on Working which gives him a sparkle and a another one Easy in the winter as he's got more than enough sparkle. Never fed recommended amounts in 15 years as mine have good grass and haylage all year round.
 
St Nicnaclaus said:
Pure Feeds. No soya or alfafa. As same base you can mix and match. I have one on Working which gives him a sparkle and a another one Easy in the winter as he's got more than enough sparkle. Never fed recommended amounts in 15 years as mine have good grass and haylage all year round.
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Thank-you! Have emailed them as (another added complication) I am in Ireland and have never seen Pure Feeds here. Their website says it's now available in Ireland but doesnt say where 🙈
 
Top Spec Performance cubes gave me a different horse at just 500g fed in a targeted way. No idea if they are full of soya or alfalfa. The nutritionist at Top Spec was very helpful.

My horse is a heavyweight maxi cob who is turbo charged by nature, but runs out of stamina, the cubes keep her at a nice forward way of going without the petrol running out.
 
I’d try playing around with adding different straights - oats is a good first option, I’ve had mixed results, some respond well to them, some go off their rocker and some they just seem to have zero effect so I find it’s try it and see! There’s also micronised peas which you can buy as a straight and add in to existing feed. Simple Systems also do a red bag grass pellet which if she’s the sort to perk up on good grass is the equivalent of spring grass so might give you the extra lift you need.
 
My native can't have any alfalfa and I feed Simple System Blue Bag pellets to help him with his energy when needed.

I believe they are soya free. I'd say definitely worth a chat with SS as they are so helpful and there were a number of alfalfa free options.
 
How old is the horse?
What work is the horse currently doing?
How fit is the horse?
Hay or haylage? how much per day?
How much feed are you currently feeding?
 
Working on the basis that all energy requirements are met by his current ration, which I believe is what moosea is trying to determine, and knowing that you need to avoid things that are likely to be in a lot of feeds..

I'd be tempted to go old school and add a SMALL amount of flaked maize to his feeds. And I do mean small.

Many years back when I was working on a polo yard, we'd chuck a mug full of maize in for those in full work playing regular chukkas. They were pretty, err.. buzzy 😅 so if you go down this route, start very small and slowly increase. Sorry if I'm teaching you to suck eggs, but the last thing I want is to hear he's gone totally nutty!
 
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I'd consider working on improving fitness , especially if you can do it out in a group.
I've found feeding for oomph on a naturally laid back sort has resulted in spookiness rather than more forward.
 
Gloi said:
I'd consider working on improving fitness , especially if you can do it out in a group.
I've found feeding for oomph on a naturally laid back sort has resulted in spookiness rather than more forward.
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Yes, OP, my above suggestion was made assuming that he's fit and that your schooling has a focus on getting him forwards. It's amazing how much more oomph horses can get from improved fitness and a change up in their schooling.
 
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