The balance of a hot horse and feeding in winter

[Michen]

Has anyone found a solution!!!! I have only half clipped Bog as he's being turned away for a month in Dec whilst I travel. He drops of weight soooo easily and becomes a hat rack in winter if I'm not careful, and the ONLY thing he consistently eats is Equerry conditioning mash. I've tried every other combo inc straights, nuts, fibre in the last 4 years and he goes off them all. This he eats without fail and maintains a good enough weight.

But this is the only winter I've had him where he's been fully fit and not hunting, and he's a fruitloop. Today's hack was most unenjoyable. He's not doing much work and has been ridden twice in the last week, so I know he's getting a lot of hard feed considering, but I'm worried he will just end up so skinny if I reduce it. He also has ad lib hay and is turned out on good grass for 10 hours a day.

He will usually be ridden at least 4 times but upping his work any more is a bit tricky at the moment as I'm busy with work, plus I sort of wanted to let him down a little going into his winter break.

Do I cut his hard feed and take the risk of him ending up skinny or just accept I essentially have to overfeed him for the work he's doing?

pic so you can see his weight is ok but you wouldn’t want much less on him. He’s getting one dry (then soaked) scoop of mash atm so about 2kg. Please ignore his long feet he's about to have his shoes off so I've purposed left them a little late!

 

[AmyMay]

Does he eat all of hay up?

 

[Michen]

Does he eat all of hay up?

Yep he eats plenty! And has as much as he wants. He keeps himself fit in the field. Oh and bouncing me around like a rag doll out hacking.

 

[Clodagh]

Does he have hay out in the field? There’s not much in the grass this time of year, IMO. The retirement liveries I am surrounded by here are all having hay in the field in spite of lots of grass and are now really looking for it.

 

[dixie]

Have you tried Equi Jewel?
I’ve had good results with that and it’s non heating.

 

[Michen]

Does he have hay out in the field? There’s not much in the grass this time of year, IMO. The retirement liveries I am surrounded by here are all having hay in the field in spite of lots of grass and are now really looking for it.

No we aren't allowed to hay the field but they aren't hungry to come in etc at the moment and their poos are quite green so I think there's still a fair bit in there, especially as I just let them into a rested bit.

 

[Michen]

Have you tried Equi Jewel?
I’ve had good results with that and it’s non heating.

Yep I did actually, and he would eat it but it didn't get weight on him as much as the Equerry seems to

 

[AmyMay]

No we aren't allowed to hay the field but they aren't hungry to come in etc at the moment and their poos are quite green so I think there's still a fair bit in there, especially as I just let them into a rested bit.

Can he have haylage and half rations of his grub?

 

[teapot]

Is he likely to drop the weight with less work? Ie if he's not working it off does he actually need it in the quantities he's getting?

 

[dixie]

Also you need to consider a lot of horses seen to be livelier atm. It’s almost spring like ?. We need it to get cold but not windy!
Can you give him another feed during the day?

 

[Roxylola]

If he can't work more feed less. He looks mega, but if you're feeding him what you'd feed in full work he shouldn't need all the calories he's currently getting hence bonkers Boggle. See where he's at in a month

 

[dixie]

Yep I did actually, and he would eat it but it didn't get weight on him as much as the Equerry seems to

feed both ?

 

[Michen]

Is he likely to drop the weight with less work? Ie if he's not working it off does he actually need it in the quantities he's getting?

Well that’s the unknown really. Last year he was semi fit aka walk and trot and a little canter and was fed the full whack and maintained his weight. Not sure what would happen if I reduced it.. no idea what to do when he’s turned away for a month doing nothing!

He was less fit last year so didn’t have as much buzz but this year he’s very fit especially after a weeks hacking in Wales!

Once he drops it’s very hard to get it back on.

 

[Michen]

feed both ?

But that’s just adding more feed to the situation which I think could be the problem. Hmm!

 

[Michen]

Also you need to consider a lot of horses seen to be livelier atm. It’s almost spring like ?. We need it to get cold but not windy!
Can you give him another feed during the day?

I don’t really want to give him more? If anything am wondering if I should be giving him less?

 

[Roxylola]

Reduce hard feed by 10% at a time til he's less bonkers. If he eats all his hay, add more until he's generally got a bit left.
Rug up well so he's not wasting energy keeping warm

 

[AdorableAlice]

He is a credit to you. Copra is useful, I mix it with linseed. Not all will eat it though.

 

[Michen]

Reduce hard feed by 10% at a time til he's less bonkers. If he eats all his hay, add more until he's generally got a bit left.
Rug up well so he's not wasting energy keeping warm

Yeah I think I’ll have to. Just if he does drop the weight I’ll never get it back. Argh. Or take him hunting (not!)

He is never without hay in stable and always very well rugged!

He is a credit to you. Copra is useful, I mix it with linseed. Not all will eat it though.

Thank you that’s very kind!! He won’t touch copra but actually mixing linseed in with the equerry and reducing the latter down could be a good option.

 

[Roxylola]

Yeah I think I’ll have to. Just if he does drop the weight I’ll never get it back. Argh. Or take him hunting (not!)

He is never without hay in stable and always very well rugged!



Thank you that’s very kind!! He won’t touch copra but actually mixing linseed in with the equerry and reducing the latter down could be a good option.

Can you get anywhere (gallops?) For a really good canter/gallop. A proper blast, I've found that key to keeping sanity. Doesn't need to be super often but it helps massively for me

 

[Michen]

Can you get anywhere (gallops?) For a really good canter/gallop. A proper blast, I've found that key to keeping sanity. Doesn't need to be super often but it helps massively for me

Yes I definitely can but it’s the all day sort of event that used to keep a lid on him.

I let him have a good stretch today and he was an utter idiot. Completely regretted it. Even the dog looked fed up with him.

 

[BBP]

Nothing to add on fattening beasts as it’s not an issue I’ve ever had (never sound enough to get hunting fit and a super good doer!) but I do love a boggle photo! He’s so gorgeous! If my little camel Connemara ends up anything like him I’ll be thrilled (although I think he will be much more chill than boggle and BBP).

 

[Michen]

Nothing to add on fattening beasts as it’s not an issue I’ve ever had (never sound enough to get hunting fit and a super good doer!) but I do love a boggle photo! He’s so gorgeous! If my little camel Connemara ends up anything like him I’ll be thrilled (although I think he will be much more chill than boggle and BBP).

Aha I love the look of your new Connie.

I wouldn’t have Bog any other way but sometimes he likes to cross the line between fun and insane.

that said I hacked him in the pitch black this week and that seemed to give him something to think about as he was very chill ?

 

[Peglo]

I have no useful input but really sympathise. Keeping weight on the TB has been a stress for several years (although she’s been retired so don’t have to worry about the riding bit) so I would be tempted to keep the feed up but if he’s being too lively it’s a tricky one. Could you try halving his feed and adding a less fizzing one. Then by the time he goes off it it might be time for his holiday anyway?

 

[AmyMay]

Is he being turned away where he is, or at grass livery?

 

[SEL]

He looks great.

Super glue on your saddle is all you need ?

 

[Michen]

Is he being turned away where he is, or at grass livery?

No him and Bear are heading off to grass livery for a month.

 

[AmyMay]

No him and Bear are heading off to grass livery for a month.

So grass and hay only there I assume. With hay in the field?

 

[Michen]

So grass and hay only there I assume. With hay in the field?

No he can have hard feed if I send some with him. They are in a field just together, and Bear wouldn't dare to try and nick Bog's feed!

Yes they will get hayed if/when needed.

 

[TPO]

Outside the box but what about something different to tire him mentally rather than physically?

A 20min groundwork session tires my horse more than anything. He has to concentrate and pay attention to where his feet are. I do all sorts of yielding and guiding him (or attempting to!) with a couple of schooling sticks.

Something like TTouch or clicker training might have similar effects. I'm not overly familiar with them, especially not clicker

Just thinking thr more work you do physically the fitter he will get and then the more work he'll need.

I'd try as Roxy advised with a gradual reduction of feed and keep him stimulated mentally.

 

[palo1]

Yeah I think I’ll have to. Just if he does drop the weight I’ll never get it back. Argh. Or take him hunting (not!)

He is never without hay in stable and always very well rugged!



Thank you that’s very kind!! He won’t touch copra but actually mixing linseed in with the equerry and reducing the latter down could be a good option.

I have one like this - extremely annoying!! Mine is very fit and seems to go from chilled and well covered in summer to being like a very fit and happy racing snake but slightly mad in winter. Again, riding out is...not always enjoyable for both parties. Last winter was rather trying! My chap is thin skinned but very hot and sweats up easily so has to be clipped though I keep some fluff on his back or he becomes easily chilled too...!! He has ad lib hay, not huge amounts of work in the week and I am currently feeding pink mash (which he loves) with plenty of linseed. In the past, although he is sharp as a tack all winter this has kept him sane enough but really it is the fitness that is the problem; it is a very fine balance between enough work to keep him manageable and too much which results in either more weight loss than I would like or too fit to be fun. One day's harder work a week is really helpful and if not hunting I will try to do a fast 12-15 mile hack (minimum of 10-12 miles) with plenty of fast work.

Some horses, when fit in winter just are a bit like this I think. I had thought my chap would enjoy a slightly easier winter schedule as the young horse does a bit more but actually it makes him harder to enjoy.

I think linseed and a lower energy mash are helpful for maintaining condition without fireworks but really the thing will be to gradually taper the work off so your chap isn't so switched on possibly. Sorry if that is rambly and not helpful - I am really just sympathising!!