Stud balancers

[Bright_Spark]

Amber has (eeek) 2 days to go and I was wondering if there is anything she should be fed once the mini-ambi is here? Was thinking about the stud balencers, or perhaps there is something else I can add to her feed?

She is currently fed- made in to 4-5 feeds a day:
3kg D&H stud cubes
2kg Show mix
2kg Alfa-a
2kg Fibrebeet

She also has garlic, surelimb,cod liver oil, NAF general supplement and ad-lib haylage and readigrass.

All advice welcome

 

[AmyMay]

Wow, sounds as she's getting plenty of almost everything already

Have you not found the stud mix alone enough for her??

 

[Bright_Spark]

She eats better than me LOL.

Well she was dropping quite a bit of weight around October so I started to add the show mix,which helped. She was looking fab in January but looks a little, not thin but like she has lost a bit of condition,if that makes sense?

I was just wondering if the stud balencers would offer her a bit more or should I just up her feed slightly? Would they be better for the foal to be introduced to?

 

[AmyMay]

Well, speaking from experience - all the broodmars on my yard are fed stud mix and alfa only. If they need more condition they get more of it. The stud mix should give your mare everything she needs. Hopefully she has access to good grazing and ad lib hay or haylage when stabled as well.

My little mare is in foal and is due at the end of May. She is a little cob type and is a very good doer so will not be fed in the same way as your mare.

HOwever, I received an excellent piece of advice from another forum member the other day who said it was much better to have your broodmare slightly lacking in condition - than overly well, as it was much more likely to cause problems when foaling down.

So in answer (finally) to your question - I would say that your mare would definately not need any thing else. And personally would not be feeding a the showing mix.

Of course, others on here may disagree - so lets hope you get lots of responses to your post.

 

[TGM]

I wouldn't add a balancer to her existing feed, as you are feeding a substantial amount of cubes and mix she will be receiving all the vitamins, minerals and protein she needs, and adding a balancer would just be wasteful.

Why not ring the manufacturer of the stud cubes and ask their advice on her diet.

 

[Bright_Spark]

Thanks AmyMay.

I put Amber on the stud mix when she lost a lot of weight on the advice of my YO (she has experience of hundred or so foals compared to my 1),and it did put condition on.

She is not fat, but drops weight quickly so I dont want her to lose any.

This photo was taken last week. How do you think she looks?

 

[Bright_Spark]

Thanks TGM.

I was just wondering what peoples opionions of stud balancers were (and checking I'm feeding Amber the right stuff and plenty of it).

I do tend to worry far too much lol. If Amber goes over her due date I'm going to have a nervous breakdown lol.

 

[AmyMay]

Perhaps a little tricky to tell from photo - but at first glance think she looks great.

If you have expert help at hand in the form of your YO than that's wonderful.

Good luck with your mare

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
was just wondering what peoples opionions of stud balancers were

[/ QUOTE ]
Amy will be fed on a stud balancer rather than a stud mix - as I do not want any weight gain, just essential vitamins and nutritional support.

 

[Bright_Spark]

Thank you.

She's camera shy bless her. Well either that or she's fed up of having her photo taken lol.

 

[TGM]

Balancers are great for ensuring horses get their full complement of vits/mins and protein when they only receive minimal or no hard feed. They are also good for supplementing straights. But if you feed the recommended amount of a 'complete' feed such as mix or nuts, then no need for them!

 

[seaview]

Hi i can speak form experience as i 'did' my mare 'too well' coming up to foaling!
She had a very big foal (big daddy!) but had help at hand as she was foaled at my vets!
However the weight she dropped after foaling was not normal! and it was then i had to give her a lot of feed!
she is tb type
Good luck its such an exciting time

xx

 

[Bright_Spark]

Thanks for all you opinions.

I think I'll leave her on what she has for now, and see how she does once the foal is born.