Feeding v v sharp eventer

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babybear

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Anyone any ideas please our advanced eventer is behaving very badly in the dressage phase at events to the degree of getting eliminated. He is an out and out jumping machine but boils over in the dressage. We are feeding him cool mix a broad spectrum vit supplement and hay but wonder whether the spring grass has tipped him over the edge. Have cut cool mix out from yesterday and just giving him hay and hi fi. Anyone got any suggestions please:(
 
You could check out ERS pellets or Saracens re-leve. Look for feeds with low sugar and starch. You could also try umolassed sugarbeet with micronised linseed.
 
I think the grass may be a factor. I know it's a pain but consider soaking his hay to reduce sugars, that might help. Feed salt too. :)
 
I had an eventer who wouldn't do a nice test if he could see the XC, by accident I only managed to get to dressage comps for a season and it really settled him down.
 
i have found the high levels of molasses in cool mix send a lot of horses over the top especially when spring grass comes in the picture. when mine and the eventers at work are in hard work i put them onto spillers slow release energy cubes and it seems to suit them all, we dont get the fizzyness in the warmup and dressage and they dont flake out when they are still out there jumping.
 
Thank you so much everyone for your help. He has been put on fast fibre a vit supplement and has been on cool calm and collected calmer for months so lets see :rolleyes:
 
Have you contacted Malcolm Green from Equifeast? He will be able to help. I find tryptophan to be the best with highly strung advanced ponies!
 
my eventer isnt quite as sharp as yours, but I feed hay (as much as he wants 24x7)

I also feed 2 small feeds per day which mainly consists of umolassed sugarbeet, alfalfa with added oil, and a very basic chaff to bulk it out, and a bit of multi vit

With mine as long as quality hay is going in to him, I only feed comp mix etc when he becomes lethargic... which is basically never... he is energy king!

But the grass is affecting their brains at the moment!
 
The grass is high in potassium (when stressed, growing rapidly) which affects magnesium uptake - you need sodium and mag to balance it out and cut anything with potassium in it. Lots of hay will help absorb any suggars which may be in the grass also.
 
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