blitznbobs
Well-Known Member
Well in the olden days we just fed a youngstck cube or mix and lots of hay and now I’ve been reading up on nutrition and the advice seems to vary massively - is this the case or am I over thinking this?
Feeding youngstock - I’m confused
- Thread starter blitznbobs
- Start date
JJS
Well-Known Member
First question to ask yourself is whether your youngster needs feeding. Mine is rising four now and has never had hard feed. Even a balancer was too much for her in terms of energy and sent her a little bit loopy. If your horse has 24/7 access to forage, no matter his or her age, that might be enough. It really does depend on the individual.
ihatework
Well-Known Member
Stud balancer at most.
Plus hay.
As a starting point at least.
But if your grass is good in summer you probably don’t need bucket feed then
Plus hay.
As a starting point at least.
But if your grass is good in summer you probably don’t need bucket feed then
Nudibranch
Well-Known Member
I completely forgot to feed a youngstock cube with my current horse when she was younger (no idea how or why I forgot, she just got the same as the others!) and she is still filling out nicely as a 5yo. In the past I've always fed Suregrow. We do have plenty of old pasture though. It very much depends on what's available. I'd probably be a bit wary actually with natives and similar. I don't think they need it.
PSD
Well-Known Member
My 3 year old fell gets a handful of Alfa a oil to mix her equimins multi vitamin with. She will be coming off it when this tub runs out though, I don’t want her on any sort of hard feed over summer. She’s already a bit more “well” than I’d like!
Caol Ila
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I'll join your confusion. Last time I had a youngster (2006), he was on hay 24/7 (dry lots in CO... no grass), and I gave him a handful of pony nuts. Now you start asking the internet, what should I feed my 2-year old, and you disappear down a rabbit hole.
At the breeder's, she's on grass and hay 24/7. Not sure what to do when she gets to my yard, where she will be stabled overnight.
At the breeder's, she's on grass and hay 24/7. Not sure what to do when she gets to my yard, where she will be stabled overnight.
milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
Mine are getting Suregrow in a bit of grass chaff and good ad lib hay. the grass is non existent at the moment.
Batgirl
Well-Known Member
It really is wholly dependent on the quality of the forage (pasture and hay) and how well they do on it. My Clydesdale is a really poor doer, and a poor eater - he is currently out in the day and in at night, completely adlib hay in a wheelie bin and he only goes through a small bale every 2 to 3 days.
He was the same as a 3 year old. He simply wouldn't maintain weight with no hard feed and I had him on Suregrow, chaff, linseed and balancer.
He's now 6 and he needs a decent amount of hardfeed to keep him at a 3 condition score. Hes on Alfa A Molasses Free, Balancer, Salt, Linseed now and doing well.
Been checked by the vet, nothing 'wrong' just a slow/small eater.
I went to an independent nutritionist so I wasn't bamboozled by a brand ambassador.
He was the same as a 3 year old. He simply wouldn't maintain weight with no hard feed and I had him on Suregrow, chaff, linseed and balancer.
He's now 6 and he needs a decent amount of hardfeed to keep him at a 3 condition score. Hes on Alfa A Molasses Free, Balancer, Salt, Linseed now and doing well.
Been checked by the vet, nothing 'wrong' just a slow/small eater.
I went to an independent nutritionist so I wasn't bamboozled by a brand ambassador.
dorsetladette
Well-Known Member
My youngster came to me on baileys youngstock mix, stud balancer and chaff. I kept him on the same to start with but as everyone swaps buckets and the sheep join in at feed time. Everyone is on chaff, sugarbeet and a mix which is safe for everyone. They have adlib hay also. Im really pleased with how he's developing too.