RachelB
Well-Known Member
I feel my horse needs more "oomph"/sparkle, but NOT weight! I can't quite decide which route to go down...
My horse is a 13yo Irish mare, with the typical saggy ex-broodmare belly that makes her look fat even if she isn't. She is lacking topline at the moment (horrible weedy neck, spine protruding a tiny bit more than I'd like, and quarters have little muscle) although I'm working on that by building her work up slowly and getting her to use herself properly whenever I'm on her. She's currently doing an average of an hour's walking (45-90 mins) out hacking, and the occasional tiny trot when the ground is good with a view to upping the trot work once the ground is softer. She doesn't do anything else as she is semi-retired, and she hacks like this four or five times a week. Hopefully more now we have more light after work.
She is being fed 300g Alfa-A Lite and 500g TopSpec Lite, once a day. This is a recent change and she is finally starting to put on muscle without fat on this diet and looks healthy and happy on it.
She's always been on the lazy side, but I now feel it's holding her back as I am constantly having to chase her (if I give her one huge kick, it only lasts for about 30 seconds and I spend the entire ride booting/beating her every 30 seconds, or nagging every stride!) I know I cannot change her temperament with feeding, but I do feel she needs a little more quick release energy.
Would adding a small amount of oats to her feed be total overkill on something in such light work?!
I have thought about Propell/similar but not sure if I can feed it with the TopSpec as it has so many vits and mins in it (and I am NOT dropping the TopSpec
)
Or should I give her more Alfa-A/try "normal" Alfa-A/Alfa-A Oil (not keen on this idea though as I assume it would put more weight on her?)
Suggestions welcome!
My horse is a 13yo Irish mare, with the typical saggy ex-broodmare belly that makes her look fat even if she isn't. She is lacking topline at the moment (horrible weedy neck, spine protruding a tiny bit more than I'd like, and quarters have little muscle) although I'm working on that by building her work up slowly and getting her to use herself properly whenever I'm on her. She's currently doing an average of an hour's walking (45-90 mins) out hacking, and the occasional tiny trot when the ground is good with a view to upping the trot work once the ground is softer. She doesn't do anything else as she is semi-retired, and she hacks like this four or five times a week. Hopefully more now we have more light after work.
She is being fed 300g Alfa-A Lite and 500g TopSpec Lite, once a day. This is a recent change and she is finally starting to put on muscle without fat on this diet and looks healthy and happy on it.
She's always been on the lazy side, but I now feel it's holding her back as I am constantly having to chase her (if I give her one huge kick, it only lasts for about 30 seconds and I spend the entire ride booting/beating her every 30 seconds, or nagging every stride!) I know I cannot change her temperament with feeding, but I do feel she needs a little more quick release energy.
Would adding a small amount of oats to her feed be total overkill on something in such light work?!
Or should I give her more Alfa-A/try "normal" Alfa-A/Alfa-A Oil (not keen on this idea though as I assume it would put more weight on her?)
Suggestions welcome!
