Low energy feed for a bit of weight gain

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sjdress

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Horse fed unmollased Hifi and ad-lib hay, however has dropped a bit of weight since the grass has disappeared. Any suggestion of a very low energy fibre feed for a bit of weight gain. Horse in light work so doesn’t need anything heating but does seem a bit hungry when she comes in from the field. I’ve put hay out in field but she doesn’t eat it out there?!
 
Sorry to be pedantic but as a physics teacher, there is no such thing as low energy feed for weight gain, all food energy (calories or joules) will be either used for work or if not converted to fat and stored.
I think what you mean is a low sugar and starch feed, as sugar and starch is which is "typically" what makes horses fizzy and is heating. So therefore the calories need to come from the protein and/or fats. Look for a feed with low sugar and starch but higher KJ/weight ratio, so people typically use coolstance copra, equijewel, some of the higher calorie Allen and Page feeds? I have a a retired coblet who needs a feed for his danilon and supplements and isn't an overly good doer so he has spiller senior mash with a glug of linseed oil in it x 2 daily.
 
IrishMilo said:
Baileys Ease and Excel is a conditioning feed with low sugar and starch. But like @Kirstd33 said, you can't feed for fat without feeding energy.
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I'm actually thinking of trying that feed for our new Standie now his workload is increasing. Do you have experience of feeding it?
I've been feeding him the senior mash also as its a good complete feed but his recommended amount plus water is creating a HUGE feed that is taking him ages to eat!
 
Omega Rice is brilliant for weight gain and you only need about two cups of it a day (depending on size of horse).
 
I added Thunderbrook gentle gain to my horse's feed when he needed some weight putting on after his ulcer diagnosis and treatment, and it didn't seem to heat him up in any way
 
Kirstd33 said:
I'm actually thinking of trying that feed for our new Standie now his workload is increasing. Do you have experience of feeding it?
I've been feeding him the senior mash also as its a good complete feed but his recommended amount plus water is creating a HUGE feed that is taking him ages to eat!
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My TB does really well on it.
He's fussy and quite sensitive to a lot of feeds but seems to suit him 🙂
My go to for a calorie top up is usually micronised linseed though if you're happy with current feed and just want some extra.
 
KikiDee said:
Speedibeet is a good start or if you need something a bit more FibreBeet
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Personally I wouldn’t go to speedibeet for conditioning. Once made up it’s mostly water. That’s why my 2 good doers get it, they think they are getting a nice feed when in fact it’s mostly water and fibre.
To help with condition I’d add some micronised linseed to the feed. It’s got good oils and protein and is generally considered tasty by horses.
 
Speedibeet made per the instructions has virtually no calories at all. fibre beet is higher energy so you could combine that with some micronised linseed
 
I've been giving my unridden old pony Top Spec Fibre mash cubes, and he has put on weight. He was worryingly thin in the autumn, although he had plenty to eat and added linseed oil on the advice of the vet.

But saw Top Spec stand at a show and they said to feed him the fibre cubes soaked and it has certainly worked.
 
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