Feeding

[bikina]

New horse has been with me for 3 weeks now, and due to lack of suitable tack (now being sorted out!!) has been on hay and grass as not doing any work. Now I'm going to start bringing him in to work - what would you suggest would be a good feed to start him on? Was thinking to build up slowly, just some chaff and a few nuts plus ad lib hay. what do you think? Will be hacked for 1 hour/day weeknights, 2-3 hours weekends, and 1 rest day midweek.

 

[sleepingdragon10]

Personally I'd go for good old fibre nuts with a broad spectrum vit/min supplement. You can always add to it if you feel your horse is lacking energy etc whilst still keeping the base ration the same.

Good luck

Bethxx

 

[AmyMay]

I wouldn't feed him unitl you feel he needs it. Get on him first and go from there.

 

[Blizzard]

You dont even necessarily need to hard feed him at all, he looks like a cobby type if i remember,the type that is a good doer.

Start by bringing him into work, you dont want to add extra energy to a perhaps already fresh horse! If once you are working him regularly you find he is struggling. ie not enough energy or is starting to drop condition, then look into hard feed.

It also depends what and how much work work you are going to be doing?

If you are just going to hack he may not need anything, if you are going to be competing he may need hard feed.