Looking a bit lean

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Nannon

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My exracer hasn't wintered beautifully - very little grass :( he's not looking awful but definitely on the skinny side ie ribs visible. I've only brought him back into work this week so hopefully the muscle will start to build but just wondering if anyone has any tips on his diet :)
Currently he's having per day;
4 Stubbs scoops alfa a oil
2 Stubbs scoops speedi beet
2 Stubbs scoops top spec conditioning cubes
Ad lib haylage and turnout on not great grazing for 6 to 8 hours

Being an exracer I don't want to upset his digestive system as I know ulcers are an issue, despite him having no big warning signs. At the moment his coat looks great and he's really pretty chilled :) Should I consider adding linseed or anything else or just wait and see what the grass does?

Thanks in advance :)
 
How many meals is that split into?

4 stubbs scoops per meal is an awful lot of volume, especially if two of those are "heavy" i.e. the speedibeet and conditioning cubes.

Sorry, I don't really know very much about poor doers, all my experience is with the other end of the spectum so have very small meals!
 
Casey76 said:
How many meals is that split into?

4 stubbs scoops per meal is an awful lot of volume, especially if two of those are "heavy" i.e. the speedibeet and conditioning cubes.
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Ditto this.

I am also struggling with putting weight/condition back on my Polish sporthorse. He has come out of winter leaner than I would like due to an increased workload (he is now competing regularly) and poor grass. After increasing his Speedibeet and finding it didn't work, I've now upped his oil content so he is getting:

Alfa A Molasses Free (can't do molasses . . . makes him like a kid with ADHD who has multiple ASBOs - not that all kids with ADHD actually HAVE ASBOs)
Blue Chip (just as a balancer to deliver biotin, magnesium, stuff to support his gut)
Micronised Linseed (high in oil and non-heating)
ERS Pellets (high in oil and non-heating)
Salt
MSM (for his joints)

All spread over three feeds a day.

Also ad lib hay and haylage mixed at night.

We've only just started this regime so I'll let you know how it works in a week or two. Also, the grass has just started coming in - so that could have an effect too.

P
 
Nannon said:
My exracer hasn't wintered beautifully - very little grass :( he's not looking awful but definitely on the skinny side ie ribs visible. I've only brought him back into work this week so hopefully the muscle will start to build but just wondering if anyone has any tips on his diet :)
Currently he's having per day;
4 Stubbs scoops alfa a oil
2 Stubbs scoops speedi beet
2 Stubbs scoops top spec conditioning cubes
Ad lib haylage and turnout on not great grazing for 6 to 8 hours

Being an exracer I don't want to upset his digestive system as I know ulcers are an issue, despite him having no big warning signs. At the moment his coat looks great and he's really pretty chilled :) Should I consider adding linseed or anything else or just wait and see what the grass does?

Thanks in advance :)
Click to expand...

I think the ulcers may only be a problem with racing TB's because they are often on a very low forage feeding regime, which means there is little in their insides to stop gastric juices splashing where they shouldn't and causing ulcers. Now your chap is on ad lib forage, may not be a problem at all. I saw some supplement or other advertised the other day to help stop ulcers forming, but it's prob worth talking to a nutritionist first as it may well be a load of buncum. Hopefully, the grass will come through now, so maybe worth hanging on? It will take a while for his condition to improve anyway :)
 
Going to quietly recommend ERS pellets: Reg merrily eats and eats, but can never gain an ounce, but this feed makes him look amazing.

Omega Rice is also worth a try, and soya flakes people rave about...
 
The amount you are feeding him most of it is probably ending up on the muck heap, unless it is in 4 or more feeds evenly split up.
 
Regarding ERS pellets would I just add them to his conditioning cubes or replace them with the pellets? Unfortunately due to my ridiculous shift hours and the horses being at home I can't really split feeds into more than 2 feeds at the moment :(
 
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