feeding! ... help im desprate!

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mememe

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i no this shouldnt really b in here but im desperate!! ...

4 any1 hu dosent no buster he is a 16.1 TBxShirexcob and will b 8 next year. HE IS TOTALLY INSANE!!!

i went 4 a lesson yesterday and he was an angel to be ridden but handeling him was impossible he was absolutly wild!! he has always been quite, shall we say energetic, but he does knuckle down to his work so i dont want to slash his food and not leave him enough 4 his work (although he has pleanty of energy 4 his work atm
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he is curently on a largeish scoop (a very heaped 1 of those round scoop
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) of highfi, just over half a cup (mug) of cool mix, 3/4 mug of high fibre nuts, 1/2 a cup of ultimate balancer, a pro feet suplement and just 2 baffle me futher a magnesium calmer!
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none of these seem to have a high energy content? he is work around 6 time a week 4 about an hour to an hour and a half of either hacking, schooling or jumping (only jump around 1nce a week if that!) and the usually a comp at the weekend.

wot the hell can i feed him without him going mad yet still have enough energy to work??
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he was also rubbing alot recently (rubbed a big bold patch on his face!) had the vet out and she said it may be an alergy to something, nothing has been confirmed but i have a hunch it may possible be barley? (he may just be rubbing cause he is bored!) so since the vet has been i have been trying to find foods without barley
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any advice will be greatly appriciated! thanks in advance!
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It sounds more like dominant issues to me, not food, sounds like he could do with learning a few manners so he looks at you as the boss! Lots of groundwork i think, try getting richard maxwells book, he has a very easy to follow guide.
 
I'd cut the Cool Mix to start with.
Is he getting plenty of turnout, or been in more than usual due to the weather?
If my Shire X gets stroppy, I use an old snaffle bridle on top of his headcollar when handling on the ground.
 
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It sounds more like dominant issues to me, not food, sounds like he could do with learning a few manners so he looks at you as the boss! Lots of groundwork i think, try getting richard maxwells book, he has a very easy to follow guide.

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i no it is partly down 2 him being a bolshy g*t but he is like it on hacks its amost like he dosent n what to do with himself
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What condition is he in at the moment?

If he's looking well I would cut the hard feed out completely, either up the Hifi to the recommended daily amount or if he needs more condition move him onto Alfa A. If you need to condition more again, A & P Ride and Relax is barley free. If you are feeding the correct amount of feed, you don't need the balancer.

In you r position, I would ring a couple of the feed manufacturers and ask theie advice, that's what they're there for, and they are always very helpful (I've used Baileys for this before, and they were great!)
 
If he keeps weight ok, I'd stop feeding him any hard feed...just give him good quality hay and haylage.
After all he's only in light work....beware the feed company nutritionist...they are in the business of selling feed after all...;)
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I agree with the cool mix, my horse certainly doesnt find it cool! It sends him into a spooky loony.
My boy also itched and if it is a feed intolerance I sympathise with you as my horse was blood tested and shown borderline to Alfalfa and wheat. Theres pretty much nothing out there with no wheat in it. Managed to find feed with minimal wheat by products, changed his feed and he lost so much condition, Im now back on Alfa A and Top Spec feed balancer as he still itched when I knocked it all out. Hes looking much better again.
 
he is in good condition atm and altough he dosent need to be constantly pumped with food to keep him conditioned he does need someting! i will probablytry him on ride and relax ... thanks for that!
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If he is in good condition and as you say HE IS TOTALLY INSANE, then I would just feed him ad lib hay or high fibre haylage. I would definitely not feed him any mixes (including Ride and Relax) as these contain starches.
 
I'd also use Allen and Page Ride and Relax. I've had horses with allergies and this and the version they made before it were the only things I could feed them. I think alot of the time horses' behaviour is very little to do with feed though. If you keep your horse in healthy condition he will have plenty of energy. Misbehaving might be his way of telling you he's feeling well and just wants plenty of work.
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Cut out the cool mix and nuts and see if he doesn't improve as a result of that. If he needs more energy then put some nuts back in his feed and see if he's OK on them.

Like others above, I would suspect the cool mix is responsible for his silliness. However, one of mine can only tolerate certain brands of nuts, I can only feed him Spillers Hi Fibre cubes and Scats own brand ones, the others must have something in them that disagrees with him, and he becomes very hard to handle on the ground as a result.
 
Ride and relax is a fantastic feed. Horses look well and stay chilled on it. However, would t have thought you are feeding enough to have an effect on his behaviour anyway?
 
I tried Ride and Relax too but he wouldnt touch it. I spoke to a few of the feed companies and followed dengies advice of Alfa A or hi fi and a feed balancer or broad spectrum feed supplement. Maybe just knock the cool mix out for starters???
 
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