Pink Powder, Sugar Beet, Alfalfa Pellets for weight gain????

[Kate_25]

I'm new on here so Hello all!!!

I'm having a nightmare deciding what is best to feed my 16hh IDxTB. I haven't had him long and he is not in the best condition, could do with quite a bit more weight. I've tried him on Baileys No4 Topline, but it's rather expensive. I'm thinking of feeding alfalfa pellets, as they're high in protein and I've been told they're excellent for condition and topline, mollassed sugar beet and NAF pink powder. I've read so much conflicting advice, now I'm really confused, some say up the fibre, others the protein, some say just feed hay?... Does anyone have experience with feed alfalfa pellets for condition? Does Pink Powder actually make any difference? He's currently on 3.5kg No4, 1kg dry weight Sugar Beet, 2kg Alfa Oil. He also is out 24/7 with good grazing or ad/lib hay. Had teeth done and wormed up to date. He's 18yrs. Help????

 

[DollyDolls]

I've found those you mention didn't put weight on, just stopped weight loss.

Equi-jewel / Blue chip really work at putting weight on & that's what I would recommend. The bags are expensive, but you feed in such small amounts that it goes a long way even for a big horse. Blue chip last my horse about 4wks. -PS, I use it when I need it, for example a few bags worth, then stop getting it and keep up the alfa a oil & sugar beet.

 

[Oliver12]

The first thing I would do is put him on Yea-Sacc available from your feed merchants. This will stabilise his gut and help him to utilise any food you are giving him. I've seen terrific results in other horses.

Alfalfa pellets or Alfa Beet will be good but some horses dislike the taste of Alfalfa on its own (mine don't!) They are good for adding protein to a diet. I wouldn't bother with the pink powder but I would use a feed balancer such as Top Spec or a general purpose vitamin and mineral powder. You could add some oil or my favourite which is micronised linseed which is the whole plant and not just the oil.

See how he goes on this then if his weight hasn't picked up try adding some conditioning cubs such as Top Spec conditioning cubs or similar.

 

[Santa Clause]

My mare is a pain in the a**e to keep/put weight on, i have found calm & condition with alfa a oils is very good but dosn't make them go off their head
also give as much hay etc as poss to really bulk up thier diet & another thing i found was rugging them up nd keeping them really warm and cosy sped up the process
good luck