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.
 
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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.
 
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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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.
 
Jinx94 said:
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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My naturally idle pony changed his attitude when we started doing a bit of endurance (just 25 to 30 milers). It's hard at this time of year but if you can get out with someone at weekends and put some miles in, hacking or at a farm ride, presuming he's suitable for that, it helped me and mine.
 
Jinx94 said:
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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As well as addressing balance in a fundamental way, helping them move more easily. So often it's not about feed (and I do wonder if feeds that perk horses up are often irritating them in some way).
 
The other thing I forgot works well for mine is Equine America's non-iron version of Pro Pell. I've forgotten the name of the stuff I use but will re-post when I remember it.

To be fair, wilst fitmess is important there does come a point where calories needed to maintain/increase fitness outweighs the need of getting simply getting them fitter.

Mine is physically fit with a focus on biomechanics, varied workload so he doesn't become stale and e ough recovery time) but he simply can't sustain that level of fitness on maintenance feeds alone.
 
Agree that a change of scene like a fun ride can reinvigorate a laid back horse. If he’s naturally laid back it’s his personality, you can feed for more energy or train/change routine to increase his interest in work.

Feeding straights it my go to rather than mixes. Beet with some chaff or chapped grass plus then either oats/maze/bran depending on requirements and for some horses micronised linseed. It removes your worries about intolerances or faff if recipes are changed (which does happen) they have less rubbish in them and can be cheaper in long run. Supplements as required.
 
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