I need a feed for energy without weight gain, suitable for laminetics.

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gothdolly

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Hi there

Can anyone recommend a feed or feeding regime for an 18 year old horse who needs some "oomph" and condition without putting weight on, and which would be suitable for a horse at risk of laminitis (never had an attack but had "warning signs" according to my vet and farrier - he is a typically high risk good doer, a fat cob!).

My vet also suggested (although we have not tested for nor investigated this) he could have Equine Metabolic Syndrome so we need to avoid sugars..... He has been on box rest for the last 6 weeks following an injury and (hopefully) we are going to start controlled riding in walk this week.

Currently, on box rest, he is on Top Spec Comp, Dengie Hi-Fi and soaked hay. Obviously during his re-hab period I want him as calm as possible
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but when/if we get back to full work he will need something more than Hi-Fi. Last year, he was on Dodson and Horrells 16 plus and looked and felt well on that ...... but I am not sure that that feed is suitable for laminetics/horses with EMS.

Sorry for the complicated post. Any ideas greatfully recieved. Im just thinking ahead here!

Cassandra
 
You may actually find he is fine on the HiFi even when he returns to full work. However, if he is not, then you could think about using Dengie Alfa Beet which is mixture of alfafa and unmolassed beet and is Laminitis Trust approved. Other alternatives are any of the unmolassed alfafa or unmolassed beet feeds available.

I would definitely avoid any cereal-based mixes though, which I presume the 16plus is.
 
I agree with TGM - mixes for horses over 16 i.e. veteran mixes are high in protein which you don't want.

The best way to get more omph is to get them fit, lose a bit of weight and make life interesting... lots of transitions when your in the school (direct transitions esp halt or walk to canter) are great for perking them up a bit... also find fast hacks are great for putting the spring in the step of a lazy horse

Unfortuantely, energy = calories = fat. If your horse is naturally laid back of lazy there isn't really a feed out there that will perk them up without putting on the weight
 
Actually it is starches and sugars you want to avoid in a potential laminitic, not protein!

Agree with the rest of the post though.
 
Dodson & Horrell Safe & Sound combined with Speedi Beet works really well for my welsh c who is laminitic, & yes it is starch & sugars you need to avoid. If this is not enough you can use Dengie Alpha A Lite, gives the same energy level as cool mix. Hope that helps!
 
My huge cob does really well on Safe and Sound all year round. She used to be on pasture mix, and we haven't noticed a difference in her oomph after taking her down to the bare minimum.
 
Thanks for the suggestions - I like the idea of an unmollased sugar beet! Thats given me some ideas to investigate.

Fairhill and Kizzywiz, do you feed the "recommended levels" of Safe and Sound - because that equates to 2 huge feed bucket fulls for my lad? About 2.5kg for a cob.

thanks
Cassandra
 
I feed one of mine (who's had lami in the past) on Greengold Alfalfa which I think is excellent for laminitics. It provides slow release energy but also has lots of antioxidants for them. Id add Speedibeet to it and possibly a little soya oil (although Id watch how much as it can add weight), both of which again give SR energy.
 
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Fairhill and Kizzywiz, do you feed the "recommended levels" of Safe and Sound - because that equates to 2 huge feed bucket fulls for my lad? About 2.5kg for a cob.

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No
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They get a heaped round scoop of it, once a day in summer, and twice a day in winter. We've actually just reduced Chloe's to half a scoop as she's gone a bit too cresty
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I think for EMS its reccomended to use feeds less that 10% sugar, preferably less than 10% sugar and starch combined. I don't know which feeds are less than this though, other that hi-fi lite and speedibeet
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Hi, yes in winter I feed the recommended amount, but in the summer she is out all night (lower fructan levels in grass) with a grazing muzzle on, so she just has a small token amount & 3-4lb daily of the blue Marksway horsehage. This works fine & she looks great. So if he is a good doer with access to the good summer grass you probably wouldn't need to feed the full amount. Hope that helps.
 
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