Is he getting enough/the right hard feed?

[Bernster]

Hi folks, I don't tend to post on here but have a newish horse and am wondering about his feed. He is out during the day on good grass, gets soaked hay at night (2 nets) and half a scoop of lo cal chaff over two feeds (basically a handful in each bucket). I've also just got him a broad spectrum balancer. Can I add anything to help him gain muscle (but not weight)?

I'd say he's doing ok but a tad porky. He could do with losing a bit round his tum but also needs to build up muscle and topline.

He's a 16h 5yo ID, ridden 5/6 times a week, mix of schooling and hacking with a few outings, building up fitness as I plan to take him hunting a few times this year. He's been muzzled and the small feed and soaked hay is because I think he could do with being leaner. However, he is fairly chunky and that's a tiny feed for a horse his size and type, but I'm used to my lean TB! He's fine energy wise, pretty chilled but forward enough off the leg. What do you think? Eta he's 550kgs.

 

[Shay]

Muscle comes from work rather than feed I'm afraid.

If her were mine I think I would like him a bit leaner - but he's not massively overweight or anything. Plenty of horses look like this. Sometimes the good do-ers do just live on fresh air. If he feels OK in himself and has enough energy for the fittening you want then he's probably fine.

 

[JennBags]

I agree with the above - and he's only a baby, he needs time to build that muscle up, and it will come. The balancer will definitely help, as they do need the protein, but I wouldn't think he would need anything else as long as he feels as if he has enough energy.

I feed my IDxTB a chaff (HappyHoof) all year round, and add Speedibeet in the winter or when he's feeling low in energy. On this regime, in the last year he has put on 100kg but has stayed as the same (perfect) body condition score - because he's been back in full-time work and built all the muscle back. It's easier with him as he's older and the muscle groups were already there and established, they'd just gone to sleep for a while.

Take lots of "naked" pictures of him now, and then compare them in a few months time, I think you'll be really surprised how he will fill out as he grows up.

 

[Bernster]

Thanks. You're right ofc that it's the work that builds the muscle, I perhaps should have said that. It's more about feed to support that work/development. He does seem to be a very good doer though, cheap to keep if I weren't on full livery ! But when I see others getting great buckets of feed, it did make me wonder. But you're right, if he is doing well on it, that's the test.

 

[Bernster]

Thanks Jen. Amazing progress for your boy, just shows what you can do with time and the right work. My jump Instructor mentioned that he looked fitter and in better shape already, despite the extra pounds gained over the summer!

I think he's a 'lager and packet of crisps sitting on the sofa' sort of fella. He's getting a bit of a shock finding out that he's supposed to be a toned xc runner ! PS the horse, not the instructor haha.

 

[criso]

The only thing I would be a little careful with is if you are soaking the hay it will be removing protein as well as calories so just make sure either your bucket feed or balancer is supplying that.

 

[Bernster]

The only thing I would be a little careful with is if you are soaking the hay it will be removing protein as well as calories so just make sure either your bucket feed or balancer is supplying that.

Thx Criso, never had a horse that is such a good do-er before. Im finding it harder to get the right mix when they get so little feed. Hopefully balancer will help, will check out the protein content. I know micro linseed can be beneficial but I think that also tends to be used for weight gain. Def don't need that!

 

[criso]

Actually Linseed's not such a bad idea. People feeding for weight gain feed by the mugful but to get some protein and the omega oils present in grass but missing from hay you only need 120g. I found the very shallow tubs used at deli counters for things like hoummus or dips are the right ration for a that size of horse.

A couple of friends feed it to very good doers and don't find it an issue at that quantity.