Feeding oats to a Sec D ??

[Muddywellies]

My Welshie needs a little more energy atm. Its been recommended to me by a nutritionist to feed a handful of oats. I'm really quite concerned that the oats will be like rocket fuel and make the horse unmanageable. She's in medium work, out at night, in during the day, and her weight is currently spot on. Anyone else fed oats to a Sec D ?

 

[Lady Jane]

A handful won't be like rocket fuel. Try it and see and give a bit more if no effect. I had one horse who reacted to hard feed and another who didn't react at all so you won't know till you try

 

[Gloi]

The best thing for more energy, especially for native types, isn't food but increased fitness.

 

[Muddywellies]

The best thing for more energy, especially for native types, isn't food but increased fitness.

She's pretty fit - schooled, hacked, poles, water treadmill and lunged - a variety of this 5 or 6 times a week.

 

[millikins]

A handful won't be like rocket fuel. Try it and see and give a bit more if no effect. I had one horse who reacted to hard feed and another who didn't react at all so you won't know till you try

Our Eriskay sparkled on oats without hotting up, our connie went bonkers.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Whole oats are slow release energy. Where I grew up in Scandinavia our RS ponies and horses had those by the litre, plus home made chaff. Mind you , it was about -30 in the winter!
If you feed rolled or crushed oats , so oats without the kernel ,.that's faster release energy. If feeding oats in any larger quantity , you'll need to balance the diet with calcium IIRC though.

If your horse works that intensively, do you think he might be doing too much and is just tired? Since I moved yards I've done less riding and my cob is going so much better - I think he's been tired !

 

[SEL]

Sometimes the timing of feeding can help too. If I'm about to do something I think the cobs will need a bit more oomph for I'll give them some higher energy grass nuts just before riding. Might be worth a try if you're not sure about the oats

 

[scats]

Millie (part bred Welsh) has a handful of oats in her breakfast. I up it a bit if I’ve got a schooling session planned that evening.
Hasn’t sent her loopy and she is quite sensitive (she can’t have baileys lo cal balancer or she turns into a spooky nightmare). Oats seem to work well for her.

 

[ester]

Never had any sillyness. Wish I'd started feeding them earlier rather than sticking by the fitness will = more energy.
What I actually needed to be doing was giving him the fuel he needed for the work he was doing, and I was feeding scoops not handfuls

 

[Melody Grey]

You could try oil if you’re not a fan of oats- works for my Welsh x for a bit of extra fuel, though for him it’s in winter.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Millie (part bred Welsh) has a handful of oats in her breakfast. I up it a bit if I’ve got a schooling session planned that evening.
Hasn’t sent her loopy and she is quite sensitive (she can’t have baileys lo cal balancer or she turns into a spooky nightmare). Oats seem to work well for her.

Ignore me ,.I can't read .....

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Ohh my! I can remember from Pony Club days (MANY years ago now!) being told "never feed oats to a pony". Only Hunters in work or racehorses were fed oats back then.

Then came the advent of complex feeds.

Personally I'd be hesitant to feed oats to a Welsh D, having had a Welshie mare I know what the breed are like! Also with oats my concern would be the "heating" aspect and I'd be watching digital pulses like crazy........... However if you are keen to try I'd suggest giving a small amount to start with and see how yours is on it.

 

[Horseysheepy]

No harm in adding a little handful of oats and increase gradually until you get the oomph you need.

 

[Nari]

Try it and see. People happily feed mixes with barley and maize in, yet oats are "safer" than either of those.

 

[ester]

You could try oil if you’re not a fan of oats- works for my Welsh x for a bit of extra fuel, though for him it’s in winter.

I covered both bases, micronised linseed and oats

 

[Annagain]

Oats didn't affect my Sec D - he had a smallish amount when he was in hard work over the summer as he was usually nicely forward but could back right off when he was in a lot of work. Veteran mix, however, sent him doolally.

 

[Zoeypxo]

I feed my wb oats it doesnt do anything. I have better success with a good glug of linseed oil and lots of walk hacking including hills

 

[Goldenstar]

I don’t see the problem you try the oats if the effect is not what you want you stop .

 

[windand rain]

Made a huge difference to my little Welsh she has a large yogurt pot of rolled oats per day two if competing. She can now sustain her canter for a round of showjumping and is much more willing. She literally has the oats damped down with a spoonful of cinnamon. Nothing else

 

[Muddywellies]

You could try oil if you’re not a fan of oats- works for my Welsh x for a bit of extra fuel, though for him it’s in winter.

She already has oil

 

[Muddywellies]

Ohh my! I can remember from Pony Club days (MANY years ago now!) being told "never feed oats to a pony". Only Hunters in work or racehorses were fed oats back then.

Then came the advent of complex feeds.

Personally I'd be hesitant to feed oats to a Welsh D, having had a Welshie mare I know what the breed are like! Also with oats my concern would be the "heating" aspect and I'd be watching digital pulses like crazy........... However if you are keen to try I'd suggest giving a small amount to start with and see how yours is on it.

You understand my concerns. It doesn't sit right with me, but she's an advanced dressage horse so it may be time to start feeding her as one, rather than a leisure pony.

 

[windand rain]

With oats. Without she ran out of puff halfway round