Tb loosing condition.

[ionafarrellxo]

Hi! Basically looking for some advise as I’m clueless about this sort of thing! My horse is a ex racing Tb, this is the first winter I have had her and she’s maintained her weight and condition great untill the past couple of weeks. She is fed
2 scoops of safe & sound
1 scoop of Pegasus mix
1 scoop of speedi beet
& alib hay.

people have recommended calm & condition & linseed.. just wondering if I can feed her them together or even just keep feeding her the same but add linseed?

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

[be positive]

Adding linseed to her current feed should help and maybe a slight increase by giving an extra feed each day if possible, I am not sure the diet is one I would be feeding in the first place but it is not really the time to make radical changes, as she was obviously doing ok and is happy eating what you are giving her the time to change would be over summer in preparation for next winter when I would cut back on the starch and sugar get it more fibre based with linseed for extra condition.

Plenty will drop off at this time of year, you have done well with her holding condition until now, the grass will be coming through soon which will make a big difference.

 

[ionafarrellxo]

Thankyou!

when I got her she was on hifi original but she hated it and wasn’t eating it so we just tried her on what my friend was feeding and she laped it up ever since so I never changed it, but I’m doing more work with her now so will be looking into changing her onto a proper feed that is suited to her.

is there any feeds you would recommend that are more fibre based? Don’t want her to be fizzy atall as she’s quite a laid back mare.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Calm and condition has linseed in but you have to feed an awful lot of it to get the desired amount, I would just buy a bag of micronised linseed it will be cheaper in the long run.

 

[ionafarrellxo]

Thank you, I’ll just buy the linseed and add it to her normal feed.

 

[AmyMay]

Is she suitably rugged?

 

[ionafarrellxo]

Yeah she is, spoke to my vet and her teeth etc are all fine aswell

 

[Carrottom]

How many feeds per day? I find Tbs do better on 3 feeds per day if possible.
Mine do well on micronised linseed added to a high fibre feed.

 

[ionafarrellxo]

She’s on 2 large feeds per day atm, alib hay & minimum grazing because the fields are rubbish atm.

someone has recommended spillers condition fibre? Not sure if I should switch her to that with the linseed and her speedy beet? - I’m not clued up about feeding atall, just want what’s best for her.

 

[milliepops]

if she's already getting ad lib hay then filling her bucket with more chaff and fibre isn't going to be the most effective way to add condition. As BP says it's not really the best time to make a big change to what you are doing for a few reasons, but if you want to have a re-think for next winter I would go for smaller more nutrient and calorie-dense meals and keep going with your ad lib hay.

In the meantime adding a couple of mugs of linseed should give her a bit extra until the spring grass comes through

 

[ionafarrellxo]

Okay Thankyou!

 

[Carrottom]

Good point about the adlib hay MP although some ex racers aren't great at eating hay. I think this is due to some racing yards being mean with forage.
I have one who will rarely finish his hay but will eat a high fibre bucket feed.

 

[ionafarrellxo]

She loves her hay and feed she’s a proper grubber haha!

 

[milliepops]

yes mine definitely has good days and bad days with hay eating but as the OP describes it as a big feed but the horse is losing condition, adding calorie content rather than more bulk would seem to be worth a try.

 

[ionafarrellxo]

Yeah I’m going to try it and will update on how she goes.

 

[Carrottom]

She loves her hay and feed she’s a proper grubber haha!

That's good then, sounds like you have a plan ?

 

[fredflop]

Hi! Basically looking for some advise as I’m clueless about this sort of thing! My horse is a ex racing Tb, this is the first winter I have had her and she’s maintained her weight and condition great untill the past couple of weeks. She is fed
2 scoops of safe & sound
1 scoop of Pegasus mix
1 scoop of speedi beet
& alib hay.

people have recommended calm & condition & linseed.. just wondering if I can feed her them together or even just keep feeding her the same but add linseed?

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

is this per feed or per day?