Shoes coming off Saturday

[Ladybird]

So as they're not a necessity at this time of year, and I'm curious, my boy's fronts are coming off at the weekend.
I've always had him unshod behind (nearly 2 years) and have coped absolutely fine so fingers crossed for fronts too.

He is currently fed Alfa-A original, and A&P Calm & Condition, do you see this causing any problems?

I'm planning on changing the chaff when this bag is empty, does anybody have any suggestions for an alternative that is easy to get hold of, and not full of rubbish?

Will post pics of before and after

 

[Nocturnal]

You may (or may not ) find the C&C to be too high in starch. Is your horse a poor doer? If not I'd advise switching to speedibeet or similar.

Dengie do a molasses free chaff, I believe, which should be suitable.

 

[Ladybird]

You may (or may not ) find the C&C to be too high in starch. Is your horse a poor doer? If not I'd advise switching to speedibeet or similar.

Dengie do a molasses free chaff, I believe, which should be suitable.

Not a poor doer as such, just needs that little extra through the winter to keep him going.
He was on A&P Ride & Relax until about a fortnight ago which he did very well on through the summer.

 

[Nocturnal]

It may be worth trying him on something lower in starch, and adding micronised linseed - a lot of people find this effective for horses that need extra calories. Good luck

 

[Oberon]

So as they're not a necessity at this time of year, and I'm curious, my boy's fronts are coming off at the weekend.
I've always had him unshod behind (nearly 2 years) and have coped absolutely fine so fingers crossed for fronts too.

He is currently fed Alfa-A original, and A&P Calm & Condition, do you see this causing any problems?

I'm planning on changing the chaff when this bag is empty, does anybody have any suggestions for an alternative that is easy to get hold of, and not full of rubbish?

Will post pics of before and after

Your horse may be fine.

But if he is not....the diet is the usual suspect to look at first.

Alfa A contains alfalfa and molasses. I am a fan of neither as alfalfa doesn't suit my forage. Molasses doesn't suit my sensibilities

C & C is molasses free but still manages to be 13% starch & 8% sugar. I don't know the ingredients as they're not posted.

Recommendations are that no feed should be above 10% combined if possible.

Your horse will get almost everything he needs from the forage he eats. All that is likely to be missing or unbalanced is a few minerals. For this purpose you can add a mineral balancer (I like either Pro Hoof on eBay or Equimins Beta Advance - you have to ask them for that specific mix) mixed into a 'neutral' base (Fast Fibre/unmolassed beet/hay chaff/oat straw chaff/Readigrass).
I also add micronised linseed to replace the omegas lost in the winter grass - it's great for joints, coat and gut muculage.

You can add things like turmeric/fenugreek/mint/rosehips very cheaply for taste - much healthier than molasses and therapeutic too.

Feed companies are just catching on to the idea that attitudes to feeding are changing - they are starting to bring out more helpful feeds.

 

[Ladybird]

That's great thank you.
I've become increasing unhappy with feeding alfa-a so definitely would like to change that