Sorry - a feed question - long

[horsegirl]

I feed him

1.5 scoops conditioning cubes (spillers)
3 scoops alfa a oil
4 ish carrots
2 apples
150 ml veg oil
some parsnip or swede
biotin supplement

and 2 likits (big) a week
split into 2 feeds and a decahedron
plus approx 5 sections of hay per day
He is turned out all day but there is very little grass.

Before I got him he lived out all the time and just had grass, he was quite thin but I have been gradually increasing the amount I feed him, originally he was on normal pony nuts and Happy hoof, then pony nuts & alfa a oil now 2 weeks on the conditioning cubes and although he has put on a little weight you can still see his ribs. He is worked for about 1 hour 6 days a week hacking or schooling or both.

I was advised that there is no point feeding massive meals as most of it will pass through undigested so should I give him sugarbeet on top of what he gets or reduce the nuts & alfa qty and then add some sugarbeet? He is a TB so I don't want to give him anything which is going to make him fizzy.

Any suggestions? I don't want him going into winter still thin

 

[so03]

Sorry few questions.

How big is the horse?

What is your worming programme?

To be honest I'd increase his hay.

How much in weight are you feeding your horse? A scoop weighs varying amounts depending on what food you are using.

 

[Ferdinase514]

I think you could increase the cubes a bit perhaps to 2 scoops (stubbs scoops). He's doing a fair amount of work and these cubes tend to be non-heating.

What do you think about Linseed guys? I've been thinking about this for Finni this winter, after reading the H&H Lucinda Green Douglas Dorsey article.

 

[Claireg9]

I would give him sugar beet too, but maybe give him two feeds a day of smaller amounts!
Extra hay also.
And linseed is fab stuff, i recommend.
Ow and likits can be heating as they have a lot of sugar in them so be careful!

 

[horsegirl]

He does have 2 feeds a day plus some in a decahedron ball to eat after his evening meal or whenever he wants it during the night.

He is 16.1hh and has just been wormed 2 weeks ago.

I will try more hay but he gets 1/3 to 1/2 a bale a night already!

Do you really think 1 hr of work a day is a lot, I was worried he wasn't getting enough work?

 

[Ferdinase514]

I think that the work load is fine.

sounds like you just need something extra to help him put on a bit more condition.

Perhaps try contacting a feed company. I spoke to Baileys and they were very helpful.