Oats?

kimberleigh

kimberleigh

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Having recently changed my 5 year old TB from alfa-a oil/pasture mix/balancer to micronised linseed/mollichaff calmer/balancer I've seen good results with improvement in coat and condition :)

However now that he is back in work I feel he needs some extra oomph, but I'm not keen on feeding a mix.

I did want to try Dengie Naked Oats but it appears they don't make them anymore?!

Also looked at Tiger Oats from GWF Nutrition (I feed their equilibra 500 balancer already) but have heard some mixed reviews?

Any suggestions?
 
I used to feed Tiger oats, great for keeping on condition, not so great for oomph :)

Tbh you just have to try things out, what works for one might not work for another.

I have had success with racehorse cubes in the past, but tried them this year and they made no difference at all!

I don't feed cereals usually, and tbh I have had the best results with Simple Systems Red Bag Grass Nuts and Propell - we are always trying to whizz one of ours up so this year have tried just about everything :)
 
I just saw an item on FB from a scientist stating that whole oats are suitable for horses prone to laminitis because the starch in them is absorbed well before it gets to the caecum so doesn't convert to sugars/acidity. When I fed rolled oats (only lightly rolled) they passed straight through and IMHO it was an expensive way to feed the birds. Not sure how you source oats with a husk rolled enough to be digestible - anyone?
 
Yes he's had 10 months off, but have been building fitness up for a good 6-8 weeks now with groundwork and horse walker. He was turned out at grass whole time he was off so kept a decent basic level of fitness; being a young thoroughbred he isn't the type just to laze around.

Before he was turned away he lacked oomph too, so figured it isn't down to lack of fitness
 
Is your land high in calcium? Because mine is and Sarah Braithwaite reckoned mine needed phosphorous (and magnesium) to balance it, plus mine also tested low in selenium (again thanks to low levels in my hay/land). Both affect muscles and energy levels. Also mine had been getting worse as regards energy and impulsion, and it finally culminated in him having lammi, I reckon his feet haven't been comfortable for a long time. He is now on Prascend, but he is an older chap, but really what I'm saying is don't assume it is just down to carbs etc.
 
6/8 weeks is basic fitness for starters, ie walk with trot introduced about half way through, i would give him longer to build up true fitness ( personally), it can takes a few months for this to happen..
 
Micky said:
6/8 weeks is basic fitness for starters, ie walk with trot introduced about half way through, i would give him longer to build up true fitness ( personally), it can takes a few months for this to happen..
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Yes obviously I don't expect him to be fully fit yet! But not as sluggish as he is...a young TB ex racer should have a little more get up and go in my opinion. Plus given he was the same at full fitness before he was turned away and was the same I think he's just the type who will need some more oomph :)
 
Fair enough! :) I'm not much use then bar ringing topspec and asking them, they appear to give good advice from what I've heard ( from a couple of peeps who have Tb's ).
 
Micky said:
Fair enough! :) I'm not much use then bar ringing topspec and asking them, they appear to give good advice from what I've heard ( from a couple of peeps who have Tb's ).
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Topspec turbo was the other thing I had considered so will give them a call and see what they suggest :) always had great advice from them previously
 
Mine is fed oats and they are good for condition but not so great for oomph! Mine also becomes sluggish if under the weather, normally a back related issue so might be worth getting him checked over by a physio/chiro esp if back in work, plus new diet will be less sugary/starchy without the pasture mix so it could be that too?
 
leflynn said:
Mine is fed oats and they are good for condition but not so great for oomph! Mine also becomes sluggish if under the weather, normally a back related issue so might be worth getting him checked over by a physio/chiro esp if back in work, plus new diet will be less sugary/starchy without the pasture mix so it could be that too?
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He's been fully checked out for back/teeth/saddle etc issues so known it's not that :) need a low sugar/starch diet for him hence removal of pasture cubes. Happy with his weight/condition mostly now, and he may end up being just the laid back whilst ridden type!
 
kimberleigh said:
He's been fully checked out for back/teeth/saddle etc issues so known it's not that :) need a low sugar/starch diet for him hence removal of pasture cubes. Happy with his weight/condition mostly now, and he may end up being just the laid back whilst ridden type!
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Sounds like mine, if you have a cunning plan let me know esp if its not bulky as the only thing that seems to wake mine up is hunting and even then he's pretty chilled! I could feed him something more sugary/starchy but it does him no good and he gets his knickers in a twist and ends up being a spook monster and then drops weight
 
leflynn said:
Sounds like mine, if you have a cunning plan let me know esp if its not bulky as the only thing that seems to wake mine up is hunting and even then he's pretty chilled! I could feed him something more sugary/starchy but it does him no good and he gets his knickers in a twist and ends up being a spook monster and then drops weight
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They sound like twins! Though I haven't tried mine hunting yet as he just isn't fit enough but I do think he will still be fairly chilled even then!!
If I come across something that works I will be sure to let you know :)
 
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