Need some feeding advice please!

[Carojay]

I have a Welsh section D 14.2, 9 years old. He's a good doer, lives out 24/7 and I only really give him hi-fi with vitamin and mineral supplements, + garlic when he has done some work. He is only in light work - i ride him every day (though he has 1-2 days off per week) for 30 min to 1 hour. We do a mixture of hacking and schooling.

Today my teacher recommended I try giving him some hard feed as he can be sluggish sometimes - especially if he has done something like a long hack the day before (as was the case today).

During my lesson last week he was really forward going and keen. I think this was related to the fact that he had just been put in a new field with lots of grass.

So he really just needs something which will give him a bit of energy so he has the eagerness that he showed last week. Does anyone have any recommendations?
I have looked a Allen and Page - my teacher recommended them but didn't say which one! I thought maybe cool and collected?

I should add that Jay is my first horse - I have had him for 8 months now. Before I had him he did more - show jumping, hunting and showing and was fed Allen and Page competition mix.

Any advice would be great - thanks in advance!

 

[SCMSL]

If he is in good weight it's either a matter of working him harder until he has the physical condition to take more work or feeding him something for pezzaz - or both.

If you want to give him something for explosive energy, you need to look into feeds with moderate levels of starch. Oats are always a good option, specially if they are naked (Dengie sells naked oats, I think). If you really want to use a mix, choose something with around 20% starch - and control his weight closely.

 

[florayG]

I really wouldn't give a horse hard feed unless it's in hard work - has your instructor never heard of the old adage 'work before feed'? This does not mean ride your horse before you feed him, it means increase his work before you increase his feed levels.
If you give him heating feeds he's more likely to start being a silly bu**er than less sluggish. I think perhaps he needs to be fitter or possibly he doesn't see the point in the lessons you have? Remember how bored you were at school in lessons you didn't care for? You may understand what your instructor is trying to convey but he may think you're just going round in circles...

 

[Carojay]

Thanks for your advice. I agree with you both that fitness is the key. I also think the hot weather is obviously playing a part! I am not going to change his feed at the moment - I think I will keep a diary to see when he is sluggish or lively and go from there, and, of course try to improve his fitness.

Thanks again ��