Unsure what to feed

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CobsGalore

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My good doer was on Bailey's Lo-Cal all winter and Spring, looked fine on it, but needed to lose weight and get some muscle.

Last month I couldn't get hold of Bailey's Lo-Cal so temporarily put him on NAF general supplement with a spoonful or 2 of micronized linseed (after reading about it on here), and planned to put him back on the Lo-Cal when the NAF supplement ran out.

However, he looks fantastic! He has lost a little more weight and is sooo shiny! Now I'm not so sure as to whether to switch him back onto the balancer or not?

He still needs to build up some more topline, so if I keep him on the supplement and linseed, is there anything else I need to add protein wise to help him muscle up? Or does what I am feeding cover it?

Thank you
 
I love the NAF GP Supplement. I use it for my boy, as I don't feed manufacturers recommendations, and he's about as shiny as they come too... :) To be honest, if he's a good doer, getting plenty forage, and is getting his daily vits/mins, then he doesn't need anything else!

Top line is a tricky one though, because feeding isn't what builds top line - correct work does. To put on top line through feed, you'll end up with a cresty neck, not a properly muscled neck. So long as his calorie requirements are met (which it sounds like it is if you're still trying to get weight off!), and his vit/min requirements are met, then just work him properly and topline will come.

My only question would be, if he is a good doer and you're trying to keep weight off, why do you feed linseed? It is a high calorie weight gain food, which seems the opposite of what you want. Just interested to hear your reasoning. :)
 
Thanks for the two very different opinions!

I understand that topline comes from correct work, I just wanted to be sure that I was feeding the right stuff in order to support the work.

I literally feed 1-2 tablespoons of linseed as I understood that it's good for their skin and feet. I don't think this is enough to put weight on, he certainly doesn't look like he has put weight on?

He is about the right weight now, just needs more muscle :)

I wasn't sure if the shininess was from the NAF supplement or the linseed though!
 
I understand. Really, it depends how much work he's in! You don't really need to worry about amino acid levels for protein building until you are in pretty heavy work, so as long as he's getting a good all round vit/min supplement, plenty of salts if he's sweating a lot, and enough calories (for a good doer as you know ideally forage), then it really is just work and time to build it up :)

Shininess could be both! Linseed does give good coat quality, plus now they actually all have their summer coats in... but I don't feed linseed and my boy has a very shiny coat too, so could be partly the NAF too!!
 
Thanks, Because he is on restricted grazing I just wanted to be sure he is getting all the amino acids and protein he needs to support his muscle development. He isn't in hard work so I'm guessing the supplement is providing him with what he needs, I just need to give it time.
 
Exactly. And the shiny coat is a good sign that you're doing things right! The supplement should supply your first limiting amino acids, and you'll get some from his grazing and hay too, so he should be ok for developing muscle :)
 
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