Feeding my Yearling 19month old! Advice

[Englishcowgirl91]

Hey all,

Hoping this post get positive criticism and some advice.
So at new yard with my yearling 19th months old (temp stop gap) until he can go to another herd. in herd from 6 months old until now.
Previous place lost land so didn’t have a lot of time to find somewhere and most the youngstock liveries already has established herds.
He was also a colt, previous yard didn’t have facilities to have him castrated there so finding somewhere that would allow him to go there and be castrated was really hard! Luckily where I am now allowed him to go there to be castrated.
I am looking for a herd because at this age he really does need that.
Just wanted to give a break down so people know his situation as it’s been a long one to explain.

So anyway tonight went there to get in to feed and YO and another livery commented on the amounts of running around he was doing today. I’ve not had anyone tell me he’s been running around crazy before hand so assuming this is the first time he’s been this way.

Other times everyone has commented how unbothered and chilled in the field.

So anyway feed came up which I know can impact behaviour and make them High energy and yes he’s been abit full of himself walking to and from the field but all he’s on his D&H suregrow, I was told by one of their nutritionist that it was good and most people I’ve heard comment about it being good.

He gets the D&H, his hay, grass and water.
He gets the min amount think 200g per 100kg weight, vet said he’s about 400kg..

Protein is high in D&H

Any advice I feel I’ve just doubted everything I’ve given.
Yo Told me he’s getting to much protein. Take hay away strip the feed and the livery said you woulsnt feed a young horse a balancer, she said she’s worked In a racing yard and knows

I don’t know what to think half the time

 

[TheMule]

I doubt very much whether the running around was due to Suregrow, most likely him just been a normal playful young horse, or perhaps something unsettled him- what is the set up of his field? Suregrow is fine, though if the grass is good and he's on quality forage then you could probably cut it back a bit.

FWIW, my young horses get good grass, Haylage to supplement that when it starts running low and a 50/50 mix of grass and alfalfa nuts (soaked) with a handful of chaff and a mineral supplement. This is high protein, gives them the minerals their forage might be deficient in but cheaper to feed.

 

[Englishcowgirl91]

I doubt very much whether the running around was due to Suregrow, most likely him just been a normal playful young horse, or perhaps something unsettled him- what is the set up of his field? Suregrow is fine, though if the grass is good and he's on quality forage then you could probably cut it back a bit.

FWIW, my young horses get good grass, Haylage to supplement that when it starts running low and a 50/50 mix of grass and alfalfa nuts (soaked) with a handful of chaff and a mineral supplement. This is high protein, gives them the minerals their forage might be deficient in but cheaper to feed.

He’s on individual turn out atm
With horses next door and opposite. Not a set up that I was 100% on but he doesn’t seem overly stressed, heads always down most days. I am currently looking for another herd he could potentially join just as he’s still a baby

 

[rhino]

Yearlings need to run! They also need company to play with and learn from so definitely keep trying to find somewhere more appropriate.

It doesn’t sound like anyone at your yard knows very much about raising youngstock? Hay, grass and a youngstock specific balancer are ideal.

My yearling is the easiest, most chilled wee chap to handle but I regularly get sent videos by the other liveries of him having zoomies and hanging off their (extremely tolerant) horses like a demented terrier.

I think your handling issues will become easier when he can burn off his energy with friends. Until then keep trying to keep both of you safe when leading and try to keep his focus on you.

 

[Pinkvboots]

He’s on individual turn out atm
With horses next door and opposite. Not a set up that I was 100% on but he doesn’t seem overly stressed, heads always down most days. I am currently looking for another herd he could potentially join just as he’s still a baby

Yes not ideal but sometimes you have to take what you can get and being a colt I wouldn't want him in a field with the other liveries older horses, youngsters livery is a bit different because they are all young and do the same things.

When Arabi was 2 and still a colt he was in a field on his own for nearly a year and he was fine, he was surrounded by other colts and youngsters mainly but young horses do like to whizz about so I wouldn't worry about that comment, I very much doubt its the food it's just what they do.

Hopefully you can find a better set up for him soon and he will be a bit easier to handle.