Need some oomph - feed or supplement?

jenbleep

jenbleep

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Good morning peeps :)

Charisma is currently fed Alpha A oil, Mole Valley working mix and 50ml seaweed. She is a laid back tb an although I know feeding cannot change her personality I would like to add something to pep her up a bit - she jumps well and has lovely rhythm for dressage but she can be a bit 'flat' and I have to really work hard to get her motivated!

I have looked into Naf EnerG/Propell Plus, but a friend of mine had also said that instead of that maybe try her on a Competition Mix.

I am confused - what would you suggest?

She is being ridden 5 days a week - schooling twice (one jump schooling) and three hacks. She is fit and looks healthy so I just want her with a bit of sparkle!

I'm going Mole Valley on lunch so any suggestions would be great!
 
CotswoldSJ said:
(D&H comp mix is only 11.5MJ/kg)
Click to expand...

Hmm this is not really that much different to the working mix she is on now! I think she might be sensitive to concentrate that's why I thought of EnerG. I just would hate to buy something and it makes no difference at all, it's so annoying :-/

Thing is she can go for miles without any lethargy but in the school she can be dead a dodo
 
Maybe speak to some of the feed companies on the phone before you go to the shop- the Alfa A oil is great for slow release long lasting energy, so it's great for horses that are sharp or fizz up, but sounds like you want something to go with that that you can feed in small quantities that gives faster release instant energy and bit of sparkle- maybe a competition mix/small amount of a racing feed or a pasture type mix?
 
We use both in different combinations depending on the situation at the time!

Thats not meant to be as confusing as it seems.

If you go up to competition mix you may find you have an issue with weight gain which might mean you have to feed less than the reccommended amount and then have to add a balencer. Also when she has her weeks off the competition mix might make her a bit loopy. This can add up to her being more expensive to feed which no-one wants just now!

However if she is already prone to be underweight then I would definitely change to competition mix so she can support the workload which bis probably what a feed company would descibe as medium / heavy.

EnerG is best used when you need it rather than all the time - once of the things I love about it. We feed it from 2 - 3 days before a competition for that bit of extra. It even got ned through PC Camp on top form right to the last day this year.

Propell Plus and redcell are designed more as immune support and longer term use - months not days. They are really good - I always have a bottle of propell about. But it is one of those that once you start you really need to feed it for a minimum of 4 weeks. There isn't really a difference in performance as such but it really does pick up a tired horse late in the competition season. Its helped us get through down patches to the next break or if I know the horse has been exposed to something and might need some immune support.

If I were you I'd stick to your working cubes and try EnerG on an ad hoc basis to see if it works for you. You can even buy it in one off syringe shots - although I've not tried it that way.

If you end up feeding EnerG constantly or if even that doesn't give you the push you want try for a competition mix. But don't forget to change feed slowly and allow at least 6 weeks for a response from the horse - which means at least 2 bags of the new mix!
 
Yes I agree about the red cell and propell plus, it took 6 weeks for me to see any difference, but saw huge improvements when it kicked it. I had a different horse!!!!!
 
I hate to put a spanner in the works and obviously some horses are fine with it, but Propell Plus turned my horse into a complete an utter loon. Went from sensible lazy lovely horse into a mental case full on bolting down main roads.

Went back to normal when she came off it.

I am however, giving the NAF energ single shots a go to see if they will pep her up for a show...(seems to have different ingredients to the PP and have read some good reports about it).
 
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