thoughts on feeding?

laura_1983

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my 13hh welsh x has recently moved inside, he is used to living out 24/7 and is very claustraphobic being stabled, he does get turned out but due to an accident has to be stabled most of the time. he's losing weight/condition so change in diet probably needed, he was very good doer living out, no feeding all summer and little other than hay over the winter. at the mo he is on hi fi lite and leisure mix, iv just upped the feeds to as much as is advised, fingers crossed this helps but any advice from people who've experienced similar problems? thinking about changing to alfa a lite rather than the hi fi. i know the stress of being inside isnt helping and he's on placid herbal calmer also.
 
doing all of that at the mo, he's actually surprised me by not hurrying through his hay then moving onto eating his bed, i thought that cause of him being at grass 24 hours a day he'd still want to be eating all the time but it hasnt gone that way! he still has a perfect appetite i just dont see it in his weight/condition!
 
Try Blue Chip, I fed it to my arab mare who was used to living out when she had to come in for a fractured pedal bone and she seemed to settle really well, she also kept her condition really well. Also try senior food (I know but it helped her put on weight (she lossed it due to wolf teeth discomfort)). Hope this helps.
 
Maybe try Alfa A Oil to add weight/condition without too much fizz? My mare is on that plus speedibeet and Allen & Page Calm & Condition. Working much better than the veteran mix she was on after coming off box rest and needing to put weight on again. Everyone keeps saying how much better she's looking, so it must be doing something!
 
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doing all of that at the mo, he's actually surprised me by not hurrying through his hay then moving onto eating his bed, i thought that cause of him being at grass 24 hours a day he'd still want to be eating all the time but it hasnt gone that way! he still has a perfect appetite i just dont see it in his weight/condition!

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He is probably quite depressed if he is used to living out most of the time!!As much forage as he can eat is really all i can suggest,echo above on the blue chip,top spec etc,if he cant be ridden ideally he dosnt want pumping full of hard feed!Plenty of oil 200-500ml per day for calorie intake,just make sure you balance this with a vitamin supplement!!
 
he's in work now but not doing much, im going to try him on dengie healthy hooves once current feeding is finished!

soaked haynet is next try to persuade him on the hay side of things, its an injury to his mouth that has him stabled now, he has a tear left in his lip so im thinking this batch of hay is possible rougher than previuos lot and is maybe irritating him!
 
Could you not go with haylage for the short term????I have been dealing with some stuff of late that is qutie soft to the touch????(dont know ponios history though so if you have given a reason as to why he cant have it i apologise,lol
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