Food making horses fizzy!

[Daisychain]

I have to admit i have never been totally convinced that food fizzes horses up, i think it is more to do with to much stabling and not enough work/turnout, my horses live out except when the weather is bad, and they are fed oats etc with no problem, it always amazes me how every bit of bad behaviour is put down to food! if this was the case then why dont they spend all day galloping round the field, if you get my jist, i have also worked in racing and the majority were very easy to ride, nothing that you would relate to food. I have always owned T.Bs, maybe i have just been lucky!

 

[AmyMay]

I don't agree I'm afraid, as there is good evidence to support the fact that some horses do heat up on certain feeds. They are all individuals though, and what may heat one up won't necessarily affect another.

For instance, my little cob mare was not terribly exuberent, and I used to feed her straight oats to try and get a little more umph in to her. It made no difference to her at all - regardless of how much she was fed etc. However, conditioning mix sent her quite over the top - again, regardless of how much or little she was fed.

My current horse is a much more lively soul and I feed him on pony cubes only. I wouldn't dream of putting him on a higher energy feed at the moment as I know what will happen.

I think your example of working in a racing stable is actually counter to what you're saying. These horses will have their feed intake vs work output very carefully monitored - they will be working tremendously hard, and therefore the energy will be utilised accordingly. Feed them that same amount of feed but do not work them and I suspect that in 99% of cases the horses would be totally over the top.

 

[Daisychain]

Yes its only personal opinions, we actually used to have and prepare a lot of horses for the sales, which again were really fed up, and not worked, but turned out, they were fine also!

 

[Mickeymoo]

I think it depends on the horse. I can hardly feed mine anything, he is TBxID. A couple of winters ago when it snowed I wrapped him up and fed him 2 feeds a day of pasture mix and hi-lite chaff - starting on the sunday.. by the wednesday, I couldn't get on him, he was jumping all over the place, it took me 5 goes to mount, then all i did was walk as he was like a lunatic. This is a horse which I was riding every day for a good 1 1/2 hour hack per day.

I've had him on calmers recently, but we decided they don't work. Once he decides to go, thats it, his brain flips and he's on another planet.

By the way, I love it - he is soo exciting. He gives me a great 4 hours when out with the bloodhounds and he's dead cheap to keep as long as you can hang on!

 

[PennyJ]

No, some horses definitely do react to certain foods. I have one of them, the other one I have, I can feed him virtually anything and there is no great reaction. Give my reacting one some build up and molassed sugar beet and my God... you don't even want to be in the same yard as him, he turns evil.