senior or conditioning fibre?

Roasted Chestnuts

Roasted Chestnuts

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 July 2008
Messages
8,748
Location
Scotland
Visit site
Ok so been looking at these two for my gelding as he's 21 not particularly thin at the minute, probably well covered would be how I would describe him but certainly still able to feel ribs and no crests or gutters :)

Been going through the merits of this

http://www.spillers-feeds.com/products/complementary-fibre-feeds/senior-fibre/

Versus this

http://www.spillers-feeds.com/products/complementary-fibre-feeds/conditioning-fibre/

Now he's not the best doer for being a welshy x, his teeth etc are fine and up to date and he's only on light hacking duties so not in much work at all at the minute (until Spring anyways) and yes I have access to grazing at the minute (hence why he's not on much feed) but obviously that will diminish over winter and will be supplemented by Hay :)

I am feeding him a joint supp at the minute as well as a hoof supp. I need to keep his starch levels at a low rate (less than 12% ) as he's cereal intolerant, has been for a very long time, now I would continue with the joint supp even if feeding the senior and I'm leaning towards it because of the added glucosamine and lower starch level etc. But even with linseed added if necessary I'm worried it might not be enough to maintain weight when it turns really nasty weather.

So have people used both or either and what did you think? The difference in price is about £1 so no bothered about that, just looking for opinions on the feeds as I'm swithering. Also did people find them palatable to their horse as my boy is a fussy git!! ;) :rolleyes:
 
If you want totally cereal free look at the Top Spec Cool Condition cubes.... I know it's not a chaff but worth considering if you need something more. I've used them on a horse that goes loopy with too much starch and they were great over winter. You need to feed a vit/min supplement with them though.
 
Depends on what's in them?

Unmolassed beet and a decent vit and min supplement may be a better option.

My old boy is a 26 (and a half :o) year old Arab with dodgy teeth. He also has rampant Cushings, so he needs calories without sugar.

I am managing him on:

Two Stubbs scoops of Fast Fibre, a coffee mug of micro linseed, Pro Balance +, J-herb (for his Cushings), yea-sacc, 1000iu Vit E gelcap squeezed in.

This week I have started a separate bucket of Speedibeet and unmolassed hay chaff.
 
From what's on the site and on the bags its a mix of alfalfa and straw with soya oils, mint and garlic and digestive aids and broad spec vits apparently.

He will be getting veteran vitality from allen and page as well he turned his nose up at beet pulp last year fussy git!
 
Conditioning fibre has added oil in it so if he isn't a good doer the conditioning fibre would be best as the oil is added calories without the fizzy energy. you could then add a glucosamine supplement if you needed.

Although saying that it depends on what you are currently feeding him.

If he currently gets less than his recommended ration of feed than rather reach for a conditioning feed just feed his full ration of a low energy feed as this will be more calories than he is currently getting and a more sympathetic approach to his diet.

Spillers high fibre cubes are low starch and would be suitable and so would the slow release energy cubes as they are cereal free and use oil as the primary energy source.

Other than that I would give their care line a call as they will be the best people to advise :)
 
Thanks :)

In proper winter he gets full rations and pretty much adlib hay as well as turnout daily :)

I liking that people are saying its palatable as this is my biggest problem with him. I know he will eat readigrass but not ideal for his barefoot tootsies. He will also eat alfalfa plain but he comes and goes with it :rolleyes: usually 4/5 scoops after I have opened a bag :mad: :rolleyes:

Mollased chaffs he turns the nose up once he has a taste for it hes honestly murder. So hoping this will add calories and a little extra to his diet without hurting th tootsies and with mint being in it theres a 98% chance he will continute to eat it, I spend a fortune on mint cordial and dried mint for this horse sometimes :rolleyes:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top