how are we looking *pics* and some feeding advice pretty please

Jesstickle

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So, how are we looking condition wise. I am pretty happy with her (sorry for rubbish piccy she wouldn't stand still, her haylage is apparently too yumptious)

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I think he needs a bit more topline which leads me to my second question (and his head looks huuuge here for some reason, and clip is poo cos he kicked me half way through so I finished it really quickly. Have that pic too but won't borre you with it!)

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Currently he is eating 2 scoops of alfa a and a scoop and a half of pasture mix,plus a slug of sunflower oil plus a maintenance dose of pink powder each day, split between two feeds. Also he gets haylage, 22lbs. He doesn't really seem to be improving in terms of topline and he isn't actually working that hard.

I am thinking of completely overhauling his regime but am a loss as to where to start as this is kind of my default setting for feed and I'm not sure what to do other than change to build up to encourage topline. Also he has some itchy lumps which have been there for a long time and I am wondering if they are feed related. I have heard that some horses can be allergic to alfalfa? Don't know if this is the case. I don't want to send him loopy but he is pretty chilled out atm so probably could take a bit more hard feed into him.

These are his lumps. They look much worse in the pic than in real life I promise. They have no top on but are very very itchy!

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Any help please!

warm chocolate fudge cake for reading this far if you made it :)
 
I think both look good but agree that the boy could maybe do with a bit more esp with winter knocking on the door!

For weight gain/topline I recommend Baileys conditioning cubes and/or baileys outshine and maybe switch up to alfa-a oil instead of original. Also a balancer to make sure they are gettting all they need for vits/mins would maybe be a good measure. Def keep the pink powder in there too.

If you are thinking of a good overhaul, I would really recommend calling one of the feed companies helplines. I recently called baileys and they were so helpful, they don't try to sell, give you masses of advice and a suitable feed plan and also incorporate products from other companies if you are already using them.
 
i second the idea of calling a company. personally, i'm a great fan of allen and page. and i found them VERY helpful when i rang. they sent out free samples etc and gave me lots of useful info over the phone.

have you tried calm and condition (gah, i sound like an A&P sales person :o ) it's fab for building topline without fizz, and doesn't have anything nasty in it.

also, try some aloe vera gel stuff on his skin, it looks itchy! if it doesn't go away soon, i'd call someone out to have a look... :)
 
Topline can only really be improved by the horse working in the correct way. Some feeds improve their general condition, but ultimately work is the best way. I personally would get the vet to look at those lumps - they don't look feed related to me! Talk to the feed companies - I have always fed Spillers.
 
my horse use t get lumpes like this vet said to much protine in his diet due to alfaa so cut it out completely and taaadaa no more lumped
if the same are they small and eventually get a head on them scabby head and will slowly go down take ages for the to go try mixing alfaa with some hi fi also the pasture mix is high in protein as is sunflower oil this is with my horse could be the same

another feed to tr good for mixing with alfaa is calm and condition

as ou have said yourself apart from top line the look good :)
the suiggly clip looks good :)
 
my horse use t get lumpes like this vet said to much protine in his diet due to alfaa so cut it out completely and taaadaa no more lumped
if the same are they small and eventually get a head on them scabby head and will slowly go down take ages for the to go try mixing alfaa with some hi fi also the pasture mix is high in protein as is sunflower oil this is with my horse could be the same

another feed to tr good for mixing with alfaa is calm and condition

as ou have said yourself apart from top line the look good :)
the suiggly clip looks good :)


They have been there for ages, not getting any worse but not getting any better either! Vet on my yard has had a cursory glance and said probably something he found he was allergic to but that was blooming ages ago. They are small and itchy and I only occasionally find a scabby one.

Will have to think of some other things for him to eat to try and see if that helps. No more alfa a for him then. He can eat fast fibre or something instead I guess. What exactly do you feed yours if you don't mind me asking?
 
i second the idea of calling a company. personally, i'm a great fan of allen and page. and i found them VERY helpful when i rang. they sent out free samples etc and gave me lots of useful info over the phone.

have you tried calm and condition (gah, i sound like an A&P sales person :o ) it's fab for building topline without fizz, and doesn't have anything nasty in it.

also, try some aloe vera gel stuff on his skin, it looks itchy! if it doesn't go away soon, i'd call someone out to have a look... :)

O and don't worry. I love A&P feed and my girl was on calm and condition last winter she looked great on it. Does it fall into the low protein diet section of horse food. I guess I'll call them tomorrow and ask them :)
 
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