How many lbs of feed for 5yr old wb x id?? (kind of long!)

[Cliqmo]

Hi Guys,

I'm sorry this topic has probably been done to death

I have a 5yr old 17hh+ gelding and I would like your opinions on how much hay/hard feed he should be fed please

Last summer he weighed 800kg according to the weigh tape, although he was better covered than I was happy with and now looks/feels more like the right size- although I've not weighed him recently... here is a pic to prove this sort of weight is feasible

...

Anyway, Bentley is currently recovering from a field injury, so he is out all day on fabulous dairy farm pasture and comes in at night to a small scoop of Safe and Sound, a handful of nuts and Codlivine 'Supple Joint Supplement', with as much hay as he can eat in a HUGE hay net... I must admit I don't weigh the hay

He will be moving to a new yard in the next few weeks, so there will be some important changes to his routine-
A. The pasture is "average"
B. Hay is given in a hay bar (how does the volume compare?)
C. All being well he will be brought back from field rest and backed in the next few months

With this in mind I would really like some recommendations on the best way to alter his feed from you uber-smart people!

I understand hay is normally fed at 1/3 of body weight, but

1. is this according to current weight or aspirational weight?
2. does this amount alter if you have less grazing / feed more fibre with their hard feed?
3. should I feed more because he will be coming into work?
4. how many lbs ought he be fed?? My maths is weak!!

Any advice much appreciated

 

[TGM]

I would continue with the same amount of hay you are giving at the moment. The new pasture may only be 'average' but the grass will be starting to come through very soon. Use your current net to measure out the hay and then tip it into the haybar! I would also continue with the same rate of bucket feed.

Then you need to monitor his condition - preferably by weigh taping him once a week. If he stays the same weight then keep the diet the same. If he starts to put on weight then look to slow down his hay consumption in some way, perhaps by putting some or all of it in a small hole net rather than the haybar. If he starts to lose weight then you could up his hay if he will eat more, or introduce some more bucket feed which is probably best to be fibre-based ie fibre cubes, unmolassed beet, alfalfa or grass type chaffs.

The only other thing I would add is that the small amount of Safe & Sound and nuts he is getting is not enough to supply all his vit/mins, although if he is on excellent grazing and hay that might not be much of a problem. However, if you want to do things by the 'textbook' then you could think about adding a broad spectrum vit/min supplement such as Equivite or Benevit.

 

[Cliqmo]

Thanks for the info

I do feed Codlivine "Supple Joint Supplement" which has essential vits & mins etc- I just forgot to mention it

...Until last week he was also on Cosequin, but I have weaned him off this now and I will only go back to it if his injury threatens to flare up

Anyone got any ideas about many lbs an 800kg horse might get fed a day?? -I'm supposed to put it on the form for the new yard

 

[Mav]

I'd ring up one of the feed companies care lines and ask them - they are very helpful and have the specialist knowledge to back it up. I've always found Spillers Help Line very good but I'm sure they are all equally good.

 

[TGM]

[ QUOTE ]

Anyone got any ideas about many lbs an 800kg horse might get fed a day?? -I'm supposed to put it on the form for the new yard

[/ QUOTE ] Why don't you just weigh what he is having now? (The difference in the quality of grazing will be countered by the fact that the grass will be starting to come through when you move).

The textbook yardstick is 2% of bodyweight but if what he is getting now is keeping him in the correct condition then I would stick with that and not what is in the textbook! Plus if he was too well covered at 800kg then you don't want to base your calculations on that - you need to base it on what weight he is now.

 

[Cliqmo]

[ QUOTE ]
Why don't you just weigh what he is having now? (The difference in the quality of grazing will be countered by the fact that the grass will be starting to come through when you move).

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for your reply. In answer to your question my reasons are part logistical and part pratical!

Bentley is currently with my Folks in Wiltshire so it's not a case of popping outside and weighing his haynet (I won't be back there until the weekend) and -even once I get myself there- we don't have a weighing implement available (unless I take Mum's bathroom scales outside

) so all-in-all it just seemed easier to ask the question on here