Please help me sort out his diet

[Mynyddcymro]

Hi all, happy new year!

I'm just after some advice with regards to feeding my shetland, if anyone is willing to give an input that would be super.

Currently he receives a handful of happy hoof and half a small scoop of speedi-beet twice a day alongside five small nets of hay a day, near enough ad-lib as he always has some left over. He is stabled and goes out in the morning on the menage.
Come April time this will then change to only being stabled overnight with 1-2 nets of hay with the same feed. During the day he will be turned out on grass.
In his stable he has access to a himalayan (sp?) rock salt which he often uses.
Exercise wise I aim to drive him for around 40mins twice a week although with the weather as it is currently this hasn't been happening. Come the lighter evenings this should be easily manageable and may even increase.

He has had laminitis in the past and touch wood the past 18months or so he has been clear. Previously his feet haven't been great they tended to crumble when out on the road but they do seem to have improved the last 6 months or so (no change to diet for past 3 years) maybe coincidental with introducing driving, maybe they've hardened up?

I'd like to see if I can tweak his diet to make sure he is feeling/looking his best. I aim to do more serious showing this year and aim to get the best out of him!

I really appreciate any tips/knowledge you can pass on to me, I've always tended to steer down the easy route of happy hoof. Have browsed through various micronised linseed and barefoot threads but wondered if anyone else had anything to share.

Thanks again!

 

[claribella]

I'm pretty sure happy hoof is high in sugar despite all it's stamps. I don't think I'd want to be feeding linseed to a Shetland just because of the way it works for weight gain. I think I'd stick with hay maybe soaking it to get rid of the sugar and then I'd stick with the speedi beet but add some mag ox. It's great for feet and yes the more work you do the better the feet will work. I'd also be really. Artful with the grazing so maybe do strip grazing or a muzzle ? Good luck.

 

[dollymix]

To be honest I'd cut the hard feed out all together! Unless he is doing some serious work, where he comes back puffing, I doubt he needs the calories.
I like the idea if ad-lib hay in small nets through the day though
If you want to get rid of extra calories, you could always soak it. I'd also watch his weight going into spring. In fact, start weigh taking him now and do it weekly to be extra sure. That's what I do with my girls who are both prone to being barrel shaped (one is a welsh D, the other an ID!)

 

[dollymix]

P.s for his feet, you could give farrier formula. That way he is still getting a token bucket. But look for a completely non-molasses chaff

 

[Mynyddcymro]

Thank you for the reply, with regards to the grazing, he has his muzzle on until the grass has near enough gone. The paddock is small and shared with my other pony as a minimum. He's a real juggling act with regards to keeping laminitis at bay, I never want to see it again!
Thank you also for the heads up with the linseed, it sounds like a wonder food but I guess he isn't a horse that struggles with keeping weight on! I'd just like something that makes him shine - not just literally but really has him looking well, fingers crossed I'll have him nicely muscled come spring. I can hope anyway!

Will have a Google at mag ox now and see where I can get some!

 

[Mynyddcymro]

Thanks dolly mix, you're spot on with the token feed, he'd be most put out without one! He does come back hot and sweaty after driving (he's fully clipped) although like I say that's only twice a week at most for the time being. When he had laminitis and for quite some time after his hay was soaked and he really did drop the weight. YO can be a little awkward in the sense she doesn't see why it needs soaking and often just throws a bucket of water over it before hanging the nets up. I'm quite happy with how he is now, possibly could lose a very small amount and then muscle up. Will dig out the weight tape - something I'd forgotten about thanks!

 

[kellybee]

I have one who's also laminitic. She's turned away for the winter because there's nowhere dry for the kids to ride but I feed her a handful of dengie unmolassed chaff which is only 2.5% sugar although it has soya oil in too which is good for weight maintenance, and fenugreek ("shown promise in the management of blood sugar levels and insulin. The soluble fibre in Fenugreek seeds slows sugar absorption and we know that it helps to maintain condition.")

She has a little unmollassed speedibeet too, to dampen it down and a pinch of mag ox. I only feed her so she has a token bucket with the other two, and they all have hay daily from a big round bale. In summer she goes out 24/7 in a grazing muzzle and that's seen her fit and well for the last 12 months.