Oats.. how much?

[K4thy]

I am feeding Flo on just a mug of Lo-Cal Balancer with a Handful of Alfafa-A, Linseed oil and oats for the extra energy but Im not sure how much of the stuff I can feed her.

Currently she is having two standard sized mugs in each feed and to be honest it doesnt seem to be doing much, if anything really... I was just after any opinions as I dont know what is too much for a horse that doesnt seem to get hyped up on them??

 

[PapaFrita]

PF who IS a whizzy type gets 4kg per day of soaked oats when she is in full work and it's done her the world of good as she's put on weight and is calm(er!). I don't think I'll ever feed a mix again.

 

[buffy2]

PF stupid question, what oats do i use whole ,crushed.
sorry F1orence for hijacking u post.

 

[PapaFrita]

Whole oats, soak for 12-24 hours and drain (i drilled holes in a bucket and put it in another one and then you can just lift it out and leave to strain). Totally brilliant

You should also add alfalfa (a double handful of alfa-A for instance)

 

[Saf]

I can second how fantastic soaked outs are, thanks PF

Saf has been on them for 2 months now and she looks fab, she was not eating up esp after an event but now eats up and is looking fab too

 

[PapaFrita]

That's really great to hear! I looooooooove oats. Wish I'd known about them years ago (might've saved a tiny bit of money too) Have you noticed you need to feed less too? PF, who's always been a skinny arse, is getting less than quite alot of the other horses at the yard even though she's in much heavier work

 

[Saf]

Feeding bit less but not too much as she is in very hard work at the mo, just cant believe how well she looks, it was only before the change to oats I posted a pic of Saf jumping and a few peeps told me she looked light

She is now eventing every 2 weeks and looks well and fit, seems to have more shine too

and I just know she would be very grumpy if she did not have them

Thanks again for the fact sheet

 

[buffy2]

Thank you .Pf.

 

[so03]

Please remember to feed limestone flour (or similar) as oats calcium/phosphorus ratio is incorrect. Oats need a supplement of calcium to maintain the correct balance.

If a horse is fed oats on a regular basis without the supplement of calcium, the body will need to get the calcium from another source, mainly the bones of the horse.

 

[PapaFrita]

Yep, that's why alfalfa should be fed with the oats

 

[PapaFrita]

No probs

 

[rach123]

hey mine has calm and conditioner hi-fi origianal and bailys lo-cal and oats will he get enough calcium with his oats???

 

[PapaFrita]

Oats are very low in calcium and high in phosphorus so you should either add a double handful or so of alfalfa (such as alfa-A) or as Sarah2 says, some limestone flour (chalk). This is cheaply available at tack shops.

 

[rach123]

isnt alfalha more or less the sameas hi-fi? sorry im realy dum when it comes to feeds

 

[PapaFrita]

Nooooooo!

Alfalfa (also known as Lucerne) is a green, leafy plant which is very, very nutritious (as much as oats i believe) and is a legume rather than a grass. It smells lovely too.

 

[rach123]

ok thanx just had alook and bailys do the lime stone flour so will defo get some of that and try and learn abit more about feeds lol