Feeding yearlings

[Kacey88]

Might be getting a yearling and am considering diet. He'll be out on grass/trash paddock with ad lib hay (until there is actually grass!). Unless haylage would be better - I could look into getting it.

I'd be very paranoid about making sure he gets everything he needs! What do you feed your yearlings and why?

Thanks

 

[Pipkin]

My two welsh yearlings get grass and haylage, nothing else. Why? They don't need anything else, I keep them lean, hate seeing fat youngsters, puts too much stress on joints whilst they're growing. Both live out, both have come out of winter looking the same as they went just fluffier

 

[MyLuckyStar]

Mine had fast fibre over last winter when she was a yearling and the same again this winter, she's out on good grazing and unrugged and has come out of winter again this year looking just right.

 

[oldywoldy]

Unless you have good varied grazing they need their vits, mins and trace elements for optimum growth which they won't get from just poor grass and either hay or Haylage. They need either a stud diet or a balancer.

 

[rachyblue]

Totally depends on what breed your intended yearling will be. Have you a type in mind OP?

 

[Kacey88]

I may have found the one, he's an Irish draught/Irish cob cross. But I really want an easy keeper if I can help it, current horse is the same cross although she is not a good doer (but much lighter than this guy). I have yet to see him, but he looks very well, lovely topline (how did they do that?!) and he is to make 15.1 - 15.2hh.

I was thinking of giving him ad lib haylage and Stamm 30 from Bluegrass to balance his diet and provide protein etc for growing.