Fussy Good-doer feeding woes!

noblesteed

noblesteed

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Help!!! What do you feed your good-doers in winter?????

I decided this winter I would sort out mr fatty's feeding, and get him eating something that doesn't fizz him up, as he'll only be ridden at weekends and the odd lunge during the week as we have no lights/arena.
He has been out 24/7 on good grazing in a muzzle all summer, with a handful of Cool Fibre and some Equibites. He has been doing very well on this.
Now as he is out by day, muzzled, and in at night, with soaked hay, I want to ensure he has all necessary vits/mins as he's barefoot on the back. No molasses as it makes him sharp. Something to chew on as he is a glutton and his hay lasts him half an hour if that's all he gets. So Allen and Page specialists recommended L-Mix with chaff. I ordered some in, it's got all vits and mins, no molasses, really low DE, you feed a lot so it takes time to eat. I also got some Top Chop Lite to mix in. Brilliant.

He hates it!!! He left most of it last night. So what next? He will eat the Top Chop on it's own tho. He gets fat on LoCal Balancer so I can't add that to the chaff.
He hates Dengie Healthy Hooves.
He eats Cool Fibre in 10 seconds flat so I would suspect Happy Hoof will be the same.
I don't want to give him anything with molasses in. Any suggestions?
Shall I just give him loads of Top Chop and some Equivite?

Sorry its a long-winded post!
 
My lot are fussy and I have one that rejects any changes to their feed for about 3 days, then eats it as if they have never had anything else. Its just different and any feed change should be gradual, so perhaps try again for a few days and then see what happens?
 
Dengie do Good-Doer now with spearmint mine love it and you can feed it as a sole feed hwoever they get a small scoop of hi fi nuts in it. And the chop is long enough that they cannot waff it down.
 
As he's overweight, I would just stick to the Equibites

If you feel he has to have something else then what about Fast Fibre?

Dengie Good Doer still has 8% sugar, I would avoid as he's barefoot behind, although they have bought out a new chaff, Hi Fi Molasses free.
 
noblesteed said:
Help!!! What do you feed your good-doers in winter?????

I decided this winter I would sort out mr fatty's feeding, and get him eating something that doesn't fizz him up, as he'll only be ridden at weekends and the odd lunge during the week as we have no lights/arena.
He has been out 24/7 on good grazing in a muzzle all summer, with a handful of Cool Fibre and some Equibites. He has been doing very well on this.
Now as he is out by day, muzzled, and in at night, with soaked hay, I want to ensure he has all necessary vits/mins as he's barefoot on the back. No molasses as it makes him sharp. Something to chew on as he is a glutton and his hay lasts him half an hour if that's all he gets. So Allen and Page specialists recommended L-Mix with chaff. I ordered some in, it's got all vits and mins, no molasses, really low DE, you feed a lot so it takes time to eat. I also got some Top Chop Lite to mix in. Brilliant.

He hates it!!! He left most of it last night. So what next? He will eat the Top Chop on it's own tho. He gets fat on LoCal Balancer so I can't add that to the chaff.
He hates Dengie Healthy Hooves.
He eats Cool Fibre in 10 seconds flat so I would suspect Happy Hoof will be the same.
I don't want to give him anything with molasses in. Any suggestions?
Shall I just give him loads of Top Chop and some Equivite?

Sorry its a long-winded post!
Click to expand...

Apple juice or 'perfectly clear' red apple clear water is very good for mixing to temp fussy eaters as will emptying a packet of strong mints in a mug and filling it with boiling water and adding to feed when cool.
 
Totally agree with Amymay. If you have to give him something in a bucket then a handful of the chaff and a vit and min supplement is enough. Grass and hay is really all you need.
 
My lad should be good doer but due to appauling grazing I do need to feed and give him quiet a large amount of hay. He's fussy what he eats after having serious problems 2 years ago with his intolerance to sugar. He had 2 feeds a day 1kg of Fast Fibre and 1kg of Calm & Condition split between the 2 meals, small handful of Happy Hoof, some carrots and supplements (for his joints & stomach issues). Keeps him at a nice weight and he always eats everything.
 
If you put his hay in a small hole net or if you can't get one double up the hay nets so the holes are smaller - this will mean he has to work harder to get his hay and it will last longer.

Have yoou tried him with an equine balancer as then you'll only have to give him those to ensure he has the right minerals.
 
Our good doers are on Top Chop Lite and Top Spec Anti Lam. They have to have a balancer as their grazing is restricted in the summer and when it's all gone in winter they have soaked hay. Looks expensive at first glance but you only use a small amount.
 
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