happy hoof?

[Domino8212]

hi, i was just wondering if i have the correct feed for my pony? he is currently on a scoop of happy hoof at night and a handful in mornings if cold. my pony is a 14.2hh fell x. he hasnt been worked much recently say 3 or 4 times in 4 weeks because of snow. i dont have acsess to a menage just hacking. usually we go out sat and sun, at least once and once or twice in the week for about 1-2.5 hours at a time. mainly walking and trotting and the occasional canter/gallop. he is stabled at night in winter turned out onto a grass field in day, and turned out 24/7 in summer. he is 13years old and not giddy/spooky. he has a trace clip which is nearly grown out. we have started jumping but not been doing so much because of weather. he was on topspec topchop lite but he didnt like that. i was debating over hifi lite too but decided on happy hoof. somebody at my yard says happy hoof will make him giddy but just wondered what others thought? ta x

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

Happy hoof is higher energy than top chop lite and also has molasses on it. I would try either hifi lite or preferably actually the hifi molasses free (lilac bag) as that's the most similar to the top chop calorie wise. If they won't eat it then my trick is to add a tiny bit of fast fibre soaked in lots of water and dunk the hifi into that and mix it.

You aren't feeding enough of the HH anyway to get a lot of hoof benefit from that

 

[Domino8212]

Thanks, do you think it will make him giddy? he has been on quite a few different feeds recently as im trying to find the best one. if at all possible id like to keep him on this ! i dont want him getting colic x

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

No i don't think it will make him giddy tho there's always the exception.... It isn't high energy just a bit more so than plain chaff. Personally I prefer dengie version healthy hooves as it is less dry and dusty and more moist and nutty - my veteran loves it.

From memory HH is about 8.5 or 9.0 digestible energy compared with 7 or 8 ish for the molasses free chaff.

Nb some horses go a bit nuts on alfalfa but as that is in all the chaffs discussed if he was ok with one he should be with the others.

 

[Tammytoo]

Mollichaff Calmer is a hay/straw chop with magnesium and camomille for a calming effect. It is very low in starch and sugar and has added vits/mins so can be fed as a complete feed if needed. Our pony won't eat HH but she loves this.

 

[chestnut cob]

I've got Happy Hoof for mine ATM as I couldn't get Safe & Sound and had run out so just had to have whatever they had in. Feed merchant assured me HH was the same/ pretty similar to S&S but I must admit I don't like it. It doesn't smell as fresh or clean as S&S, and seems quite sticky. Unfortunately the pony only gets a handful every day so it's going to take me ages to get through a whole bag but after I will be going back to Safe and Sound. HH must be higher in sugar/more molassed as pony goes insane to get to his dinner every night whereas he was sensible about S&S...