Performance Feeding for Bare Feet

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Teamo

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I've only ever competed at a low unaffiliated level, and never found that I need to use a competition feed, but I've recently acquired a TB which I'm hoping to compete to a reasonable level (eventing).

I'm in the process of transitioning him to barefoot, but I've started to wonder how to feed for extra energy when I increase workload. The horse is not a brilliant doer; he's on ad lib haylage, speedi beet, unmollassed chaff, linseed, brewers yeast, seaweed and magnesium oxide.

Any ideas what I can add to increase energy levels without resorting to starchy comp feeds?

Thanks :)
 
Hey! Not sure if you've found it - but the UKNHCP forum would be a really great place to post this - lots of people on there that are competing their barefoot horses at high levels....
 
No, haven't been on there, thanks for the tip. Will have a look tonight, if I can get home without being killed by rioters!
 
The UKNHCP forum really is brilliant, def worth a peek http://uknhcp.myfastforum.org/forum2.php

The book feet first is also really helpful, esp from the nutrition point of view, whether you stick barefoot or not, just really good knowledge to have!

For our girls we have recently had their grazing analysed and had a feed plan from Forage Plus so we can ensure they are getting just want they need. Turns out their grazing is just rubbish, and although we were supping with magnesium, because of the big excess of calcium and lack of copper and zinc it wasn't absorbed as it should have, and we weren't feeding enough anyway! They have both been on it for nearly a month now and are doing just brilliantly. Controlled energy and happy 'sound as a pound' horses, when previously we had grumpy horses with grass flushes, mad sugar energy that was tricky to direct and ran out rather quickly, also not 100% on every surface. Well worth considering http://shop.forageplus.com/epages/es137718.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/es137718/Categories Ours compete dressage/sj/showing most weekends, with long fast hacks and lessons/schooling in the week. No energy problems at all, and we are finding it easier to regulate their weight, just needing a little extra hay (because we restrict their grazing alot) or linseed when their work cranks up more.
 
I think any of the slow release feeds should be OK.
I used a fabulous feed on my last horse, it's a high energy performance mix called 'oat and barley free' by Falcon feeds. It has no oats, barley or molasses in it and it only has 12% starch which is very good for a competition feed.
Otherwise try adding a balancer? I compete my TB on a balancer and fast fibre, he's eventing and doing low level BS and BD :)
 
Oil. Lots of it. Tesco veg oil will do, up to 500ml a day if he needs the energy.

Do you have an analysis already? Seaweed can be a problem if you are already high in iron or manganese or iodine and I would not feed it without a minerasl analysis of my forage and grazing.
 
I haven't had an analysis done, but it sounds like it would be worth while. I don't have any issues with footiness, so just assumed the mineral balance was ok, but I'll look in to an analysis. Thanks for the links, ThePony.

Firewell - is your horse managing to compete barefoot on those types of feeds? 12% starch sounds quite a lot to me, but I am a bit picky :o

Cptrayes - I chose seaweed after seeing it recommended on the rockley farm website, but now you've said that I think I'll def have an analysis done. Thanks for the oil tip... This may be a daft question, but would the saturated fats/cholesterol not be a problem for horses like it is for people?
 
Dr Eleanor Kellon does some international on-line courses. The first one, NRC Plus will give you a real insight into nutritional requirements/balancing etc. It's great value for money and you can re-sit in the email forum of the next course. Only about £130? I think. I'm finding it complicated but hopefully will help. Need to ensure there digestion system is working effectively as well, otherwise nutritiants may not be effectively digested.

http://www.drkellon.com/

Best wishes
Hannah
 
Teamo said:
Cptrayes - I chose seaweed after seeing it recommended on the rockley farm website, but now you've said that I think I'll def have an analysis done. Thanks for the oil tip... This may be a daft question, but would the saturated fats/cholesterol not be a problem for horses like it is for people?
Click to expand...

I believe horses metabolise oil quite well up to half a litre a day. They have a much shorter life span than us of course, and it is generally only people much older than the age that horses live to who have cholesterol issues that cause problems. I understand that it is safe, but please don't take my word for it without checking it out. I feed it and so do a lot of other people, but we could still be wrong! Though having said that, most "conditioning" feeds are stuffed full of oil if you read the bag label.
 
Barehoofhannah - thanks for the link, I'll check it out if I'm feeling flush sometime :)

Cptrayes - that makes sense... I guess with the obesity epidemic in both people and animals I'm a bit paranoid! I'm also not keen on conditioning/performance feeds, I find if you read the label they often have a load of crap in them :p
 
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