how often do you review what you're feeding?

B

blood_magik

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 January 2011
Messages
6,343
Location
Scotland
Visit site
Just out of interest, does anyone review what they're feeding and how often do you do it?

I try to get our three weighed at least twice a year so I can keep an eye on their weights and then I tend to adjust their feed accordingly.
That said, I'm looking at changing their feed to see if I can save a few pennies - I'm going through a bag of Baileys conditioning mix a week and its not the cheapest.

Anyone else?
 
Daily just by looking at them lol

I feed straights its cheaper than a brand name mix, I also like to know whats in my feed!
 
Often, but for low sugar and starch diets there isn't a huge choice - Simple Systems or Speedybeet and grass nuts. Direct comparisons aren't easy unless you become an anorak about nutritional levels in each, sometimes the most expensive is the best and most economical in the long run. Ditto about knowing what is included, especially for the specialist versions. I would rather tailor a diet to the individual than buy one with, say, glucosamine, yeassac and other supplements included, you don't know how much they are getting.
 
Like TT I look at them every day and have a minute to think about how they look, every time I tack up I think about how easily his girth does up compared to previous days.

Mine rarely have hard feed tho so mine is more about adjusting which field they are in or how much time the big horse needs in ignoring straw!!
 
Same here I keep a eye daily and adjust their levels of feed going by my eye and their work etc. mine are all settled on their feed and I won't change them unless for some reason I find it isn't working and they lose their bloom, hoof condition goes backwards etc but think its all sorted now.

Just to add I do feel a lot of condition feeds are counter productive, esp mixes. If you feed low sugar/starch feeds their system can cope so much better and get the best out of their feed, but most mixes are high starch and cereal as well is not great so their systems won't get the full advantage of the feed as a lot of that starch will be passed through to the hind gut. I prefer micro linseed for weight gain and adjust levels to suit.
 
all the time... half the time im not even aware im doing it :o but usually its when i go to the feed store and they are out of stock on what i usually buy and it just so happens that im so unorganized when it comes to feed that i ran out the day before so i cant just leave it until it comes in :o... but no, i look at them daily and see how they are looking... i have one good doer and one that doesnt hold weight so they are different with that and also depends how they are going ridden as if they are getting particularly excitable then i will cut their feed back or change it. Both of them require very little in the way of energy as they are both hot to ride so its getting the balance between weight and energy :)

currently they are fed on

Spillers Cool fibre

Rio has ulcer guard and equivite
Taz had codlavine

and both get a bit of water in it (obviously they get different amounts but i dont think it really does all that much :o)
 
TigerTail said:
Daily just by looking at them /QUOTE]


me too.

but I suppose I do try to look more closely going into winter and coming out/around spring time.

It will also change according to work load. In the two weeks run up to an event I tend to add a little extra comp mix on top of what he's getting , plus electolytes, just so I can sure he can cope
Click to expand...
 
I don't review unless something changes - their weight, any signs of needing a supplement, going off their feed or my demands on their workload changing etc. I work on an if it aint broke don't fix it policy! I did swap between balancers for a while a couple of years ago, until I realised buying pure feeds in bulk (I think 11 bags a time) worked out good on the wallet & convenience! Mine have been on their balancer with chaff and a handful of nuggets ever since and never had to swap although they are all fairly good doers. However they do have their brand of supplements swapped sometimes eg when a joint supplement wasn't working particularly well on one, and in the run up to and few days after a competition they all have an extra joint supplement, and through summer the ones in work & competing have electrolytes. But their actual hard feed stays the same :).
 
Every time we weight-tape, so usually every week. Not the we change ingredients very often, we keep as simple as possible with chaff and grassnuts as the basis for everybody but we do alter amounts accordingly and may add or subtract a supplement if necessary.
 
I weigh tape weekly and keep the chart in the tack room where I can always see it. They only get bucket feeds when stabled through the winter, they are out 24/7 in the summer.

So in the summer they have ad lib grass and hay if standing in, so by keeping an eye on weight I can see whether to muzzle or restrict grazing, they are good doers though and currently I only have one muzzled.

Now it's getting wintery I'm starting to plan ahead for bringing them in, maybe at the end of this month, or start of next, so I'm comparing to how they were last year, and how they are doing just now and will readjust their feeds accordingly.

They don't necessarily get the same feed types and amounts every year, it changes depending on them, the weather, what I'm doing with them etc
 
Constantly.

How do they look? How are they to handle? How are they to ride? What are their feet doing?

I pay close attention to Figs temperament and his appetite. We keep half an eye on CS's waistline at all times. And the Unicorn gets scrutinised under a microscope every time his rugs are changed!!!!
 
I've only reviewed as I've changed yards so his grazing is much different and so just thinking about a vit/min supplement or lite balancer with his non-mollassed chaff for the winter as he doesn't really need feed as a good doer but will see what his weight does on hay this winter. With being on less grass which is good and the time of year approaching when goodness in grass will be gone he has gone a bit flat energy wise which he always does but as I'm trying to get him fitter after a quieter year than normal I just want to make sure he's getting the things he needs.
 
Well, quantities are fed according to daily workload and season. Altering the content of the feed is done seasonally and if the horse might benefit from something else.

Times when I'd review the feed are when, coat and feet could do with help, any metabolic/IR issues, scouring, stressful events, during intensive training or turning away or moving to different grazing.

I like simplicity in feeding, best ingredients for the best price. The grazing has to be right for each particular horse followed by good sweet smelling hay and fresh water. Then I work out what's missing for optimium health and performance.
 
Hmm.. I'm thinking that I need to start looking at their feed/condition a bit more often.
That said, I haven't had to change the amounts they get for well over a year now but then they weren't being worked as hard last winter. I'll just have to keep a closer eye on them as it gets colder.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top