Protein Intake????

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Julieq

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I am have 7 year old Irish Sports horse that I have been experiencing problems with her when exercising in the school, fine on hacks but the school work is blowing her mind. The vet has been to check her over and the conclusion was that there is nothing medical, just behavioural issues. He told me to get tough and make her work. I did speak to him about her diet but I think I may be feeding too much protein, does anyone have any advice or has experience on this

After looking at feed content today this is what I found:

AlfaBeet – Protein – 15%

Calm & Condition – 12%

Hi Fi Original – Protein – 10%

Horsehage – Protein – 12%

This is excluding protein from Hay as its not been tested, so this is an approx 49% of protein without hay and extra from supplements

I have been free schooling and lunging since the vet has been, but when I am trying to ride her in the school she is extremely sharp, anxious and it is getting quite dangerous. I do have someone else coming to ride tomorrow, but I am wondering since she has been back in a stable after a year of living out 24/7 that the feed regime is blowing her brain???

I am thinking of removing the hard feed except the hi fi to see if it will calm her, but do not want her to lose condition, I don’t want to feed mixes or expensive diets, Would taking her back to basics help??
 
***Whispers*** Its actuallly 12.25% protein in diet (before hay included, which will probably reduce it further)!! If she will hold her condition, try removing all mollasses as sugar can make some horses do funny things!!!!
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[ QUOTE ]
***Whispers*** Its actuallly 12.25% protein in diet (before hay included, which will probably reduce it further)!! If she will hold her condition, try removing all mollasses as sugar can make some horses do funny things!!!!
wink.gif


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Sorry, i dont understand your reply can you explain what you mean by the first line??
 
You can't work out the total % protein levels, just by adding them together!!!! So working on the assumption that each food item listed make 1/4 of your horses diet (which it probably doesn't but will do for a quick cal.). The equation is (15+12+10+12)/4=12.25%
 
is she just blowing you off?

My mare is fantastic and very forward going out on the x-country course, out hacking and stadium jumping. But she makes me bleed for every nice step of dressage work. She would rather buck and rear. After 10 mins of working through this she comes out the other side an is an angel. But I know that every ride we have to go through those difficult 10 mins. It is worse when she is cycling.

She is 7 and I have only really been working her on the dressage for the past 7-8 months. I was so worried about her at first I had vets, farriers, chiro out to her and nothing was wrong. I eventually sent her to training with Mike Huber and he helped me under stand it was just her personality. She loves to play and have fun, and her strong willful personality (that makes her a great jumper and fearless on x-country) makes her challenge me when I ask her to do something a little more challenging.

Now I understand her, I enjoy the challenge. I have been told that as she matures she will get easier.
 
I think Piebald Easter is teaching you maths. If you feed 1 kg of each of the feeds you mentioned, the total % protein in the 4 kg mixture will only be 12.25% protein/kg.
(15+12+12+10)/4=12.25
 
ok there appears to be a bit of confusion going on here. The protein level within the diet is calculated by first working out the amounts in each feed individually, you would do this as follows:
Amount of feed x by the protein percentage = Ration amount (g)

You would then work out the ration protein percentage as follows:

Total ration protein level / Total amount fed = Total protein percentage for the ration being fed. (/ = devided by)


However, as the body cannot store protein, this will not cause behavioural problems. An indicator of excess protein within the diet is the ammonia in the urine (causes a smelly stable, which is easily noticed when mucking out). The are to take note of is the MJ/DE of the diet. If you want help to discuss the diet further, feel free to PM me
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Thanks every one for your comments the percentages i put up was just what i looked at today in each bag of feed that i buy.

I was comparing the protein and fibre, as my yo had suggested a more fibre based diet.

When she was living out she wasnt on the calm and condition or alfa beet. Since she has been on these she has been more sharp. I am just trying to work out what things are different and take everything into consideration.

smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
is she just blowing you off?

My mare is fantastic and very forward going out on the x-country course, out hacking and stadium jumping. But she makes me bleed for every nice step of dressage work. She would rather buck and rear. After 10 mins of working through this she comes out the other side an is an angel. But I know that every ride we have to go through those difficult 10 mins. It is worse when she is cycling.

She is 7 and I have only really been working her on the dressage for the past 7-8 months. I was so worried about her at first I had vets, farriers, chiro out to her and nothing was wrong. I eventually sent her to training with Mike Huber and he helped me under stand it was just her personality. She loves to play and have fun, and her strong willful personality (that makes her a great jumper and fearless on x-country) makes her challenge me when I ask her to do something a little more challenging.

Now I understand her, I enjoy the challenge. I have been told that as she matures she will get easier.

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Hi

Thanks for your reply it sounds just like you have my mare Lass!!!

She loves the jumping, xc and hacking doesnt hang about likes to stride out even on a hack walking. But schooling is a whole different game i feel like i been in the ring with mike tyson!!

She takes a good 30-40mins off fighting before she will work by that time she has drained me of energy i am only 5ft and 7and half stone. But on the other hand if i take her hacking then school she is competely different and relaxs arfter about five mins.

I dont know she is a mare!!! But has huge character
smile.gif
 
Before anyone can start analysing the protein content of your horse's diet we need to know how much of each food substance you feed - it is not just a simple case of adding up the percentages! Even so, an excess of protein is unlikely to be the problem - more likely to be an excess of calories and/or of starch, plus possibly lack of turnout.

Can you not turn her out 24/7 again? I would suggest dropping the Calm & Condition first, as it does contain maize (which is a cereal and contains starch).
 
I am julies friend who went to ride lass for her today and then julie rode.

We discussed everything from feed to tack to riding her . The saddle didnt fit and i had taken mine up for her to look at which was a very nice fit but obv not a substitube for a saddle fitted to her but the tree shape was lovely and was the size of the tree was great so we used it on her.

I will let julie tell you how it went but i think julie is happier now. I saw a lovely partner ship in them today and its not fixable overnight but a big step was taken today i felt
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.

Im very very proud of the both.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I am julies friend who went to ride lass for her today and then julie rode.

We discussed everything from feed to tack to riding her . The saddle didnt fit and i had taken mine up for her to look at which was a very nice fit but obv not a substitube for a saddle fitted to her but the tree shape was lovely and was the size of the tree was great so we used it on her.

I will let julie tell you how it went but i think julie is happier now. I saw a lovely partner ship in them today and its not fixable overnight but a big step was taken today i felt
grin.gif
.

Im very very proud of the both.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks Claire

We did discuss alot didnt we and had quite a discussion with Lass lol!!!

Lass went really well by the end of it and i felt much better having you there on the floor guiding me through.

Lass liked you too aunty claire can visit again as she brings lots of treats, kisses n cuddles.

smile.gif
 
The green horsehage used to send my TB through the roof,if you like horsehage try the blue ( high in fibre)
Sugars and Starch can also send your horse loopy but the but what you are feeding is non heating..Mine get no hardfood at all,only Hi-Fi Original,Alfa Beet,Multi Vitamins and Lin Seed and all look great with shiny coats
 
Hehe, im a sucker for a pretty bay mare.

I shall return with cuddles and pony sweets for her soon.

Once you get her saddle sorted you will be well on your way.

We can then look an an exercise plan.

I am used to having the occasionl " discussion" with cappelli so it came as no shock lass might need a word to say she must be good for her mummy so you can do fun things.
 
Unfortunately, too much protein in the diet gets blamed for lots of things, including bad behaviour, but it shouldn't...think about it....if you sat down and ate 5 fillet steaks, you wouldnt feel full of energy would you? However if you sat down and ate 5 mars bars (salivating at the thought!!), depending on how 'sensitive' you are, it may make you feel more energetic, due to the high sugar content. its the same with horses. High sugar/starch diets can make sensitive horses unmanagable. I agree with TGM, cut out the Calm and Condition. Although this is supposed to be a non heating feed - if you look at the starch level, its around 20% - you could go for feeds that are a lot lower in starch.
 
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