Feeding Help...

[sammys ma]

I've posted this in Stable Yard and also here as may get more response?hope that' ok!!

I'm after some advice and opinions please.

Situation is this:
I have 14.2 Cob. He's not a typical Good-doer Cob , in the sense that if he looks at food, he doesn't get fat, but he doesn't drop weight easily either...but is fairly lean for a Cobby .

However, he has dropped off slightly....not thin by any means, but i have noticed it in the last month or so, but certainly not anything worrying health wise etc...I'm sure it's just down to lack of grass at the time of year.

However, in my lesson at the weekend, he felt more "lethargic" than usual. He still worked well..but din't seem to have as much "go" as normal.
He's not super forward going, but isn't a plod and has been going off the leg fairly well. Instructor got on and also felt he wasn't as forward as he has been.

Now, he could just have been having an "off" day, or was fed up, as he had been schooled about 3 times already in the week. ( he also gets to jump and hack at weekends, so he gets variety).

Anyway, spoke to instructor, and she thinks as he has dropped a bit, and also since his workload has increased a bit, she thinks i should up his feed.
Now i don't have a problem with this atall, and agree it's a good idea.

I also want to build up his top line....which hopefully all the schooling will help with, but any feeds that can encourage it would be good too.

However, I don't want to get anything to fizz him up, as out hacking he has no probs cantering etc...and i don't want to lose his sensible side. I have had major confidence issues in the past, and have been progressing so well with bob, so I don't want to lose any that i have gained!

So here is what he is fed atm:
Daily turn -out - there is grass, but it's getting thin on the ground so will be putting hay out for them soon.

Stabled at night with 3 large slices Hay.

2 feeds per day, each consisting of:
1.5 large scoop Hi-Fi lite
1/2 scoop D&H Pasture nuts
1 Scoop Clop
1 Scoop Garlic
3 -4 large carrots

Instructor has reccomended Top-Spec conditioning flakes? however, have heard that these can be heating in some cases/not all. also looked at their cool conditioning cubes...does anyone have experience of these?

If i used these, or something similar, would i remove the pasture nuts from feed?
Would he still benefit from the Clop?

Also, would a feed balancer in addition be a good idea?

Sorry for the essay!!!!

Any advice greatefully received!!!!

 

[AmyMay]

I would cut out the carrotts - and give him a different succulent instead. And just up the pasture cubes. You probably don't need anything different - just more of the same.

 

[samp]

I would replace his lower energy feeds for a higher energy in the form of a high fibre diet or you can use SAracen Releve I have found this great on my mare. I also use ALfa-oil to help with condition

 

[Tempi]

[ QUOTE ]
I've posted this in Stable Yard and also here as may get more response?hope that' ok!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Il let it go just this once!!!!!

As for the post i wouldnt go down the conditioning flakes route, i put Blossy on those (shes half norman cob) and they sent her round the bend

I agree with amymay in that perhaps just uping the amount of pasture nuts, but then how about putting him on alfa a oringinal (dengie) instead of the lite?

 

[KatB]

Pature mix does bugger all to the Bob!!

Swap his HiFi light to Alfa A (i prefer Alfa A oil) then drop the amount of mix as need be. Should work out cheaper for you too. If still no luck, speedi beet is a Bob fav too. Means on a high fibre, but with a bit more (slow release) energy from the ALfa A and bulk from Speedi Beet if you need it.

 

[CJ1]

How about trying some Fibrebeet or Alpha beet. Both high in fibre but also got some good protein in for muscle building, but low in sugar.