Vit and Min Supplement - Dengie Performance?

[Shoei]

Hi Guys,

So the horse was recently weighed and body scored by Dengie. Obviously they recommended their products Dengie Alfa Light and the Performance Vit and Min.

Currently, he is on good grass with a body score of 3.5. She advised he needed to improve muscle as opposed to lose weight.

I'm looking for peoples advice, recommendations really and experience of the supplement.

He currently is out, he has a scoop of the Alfa and his Horse Health Relax Me supplement.

In winter he stays out as much as possible, we have lots of good old grazing (11 acres of ex orchard so not dairy grass x 4 horse ), ad lib haylage, he was having a scoop of speedibeet but will prob keep him on the alpha this year, Relax Me and Linseed Oil.

I realise he probably isn't getting the vit and minerals he needs. I have tried the Top Spec ballancer and didn't notice any difference to be honest.

Workload - We have a lesson once a week, compete once a fortnight (very low level dressage), schooling twice a week , with lunge session or hack on the 5th day. He has 2 days off unless the weather is particularly bad.

Whilst we are only competing low level as it's to build his confidence whilst out, we are working a lot on improving his canter and lateral work at home. W/T/C Leg yield is well established and he produces and good turn on the forehand and haunches.

Oh and he is a 10 year old Gelderlander.

Thank you all in advance.

 

[Beth206]

I had my mare on the standard Vit & min supplement mixed in with a bit of alfa molasses free. I then put her on Dodson & horrell ultimate balancer which she has done great on - because I am a cheap skate and the Dodson and horrell is one of the more expensive balancers I put her on a top spec, then read reviews on the top spec and it's apparently full of bulking stuffs and low levels of vits & mins. So I wont be buying more top spec once I run out.

When I was looking into feed a lot of people recommended Allen & Page who you can contact online and with all the information about your horse and they get back to you with feed recommendations. They sent a sample in the post with an information booklet and a money off voucher so I am thinking of trying her on one of their feeds during winter.

 

[ihatework]

It's difficult to advise really without seeing him in the flesh.
I'd be more inclined to take advise from an experienced equine professional than a feed company rep.

My general take on it from what you have said is - if he is condition score 3.5 then he is classed slightly overweight. If his coat and hooves look good and he feels like he has the energy to do the job, then given he is getting good grass he is probably getting all he needs from that.

If you want to get him to a toned 3, then overall calories need to decrease a bit and exercise needs to increase. It sounds like grass will be the key to the calories.
A scoop of Alfa A, in the context of ad lib access to good grass, will have limited impact on weight and as it is a good source of fibre, low sugar and reasonable protein this is fine in my book. I'd personally opt for a slightly higher spec vit/min powder and then reduce grass intake.

 

[be positive]

It's difficult to advise really without seeing him in the flesh.
I'd be more inclined to take advise from an experienced equine professional than a feed company rep.

My general take on it from what you have said is - if he is condition score 3.5 then he is classed slightly overweight. If his coat and hooves look good and he feels like he has the energy to do the job, then given he is getting good grass he is probably getting all he needs from that.

If you want to get him to a toned 3, then overall calories need to decrease a bit and exercise needs to increase. It sounds like grass will be the key to the calories.
A scoop of Alfa A, in the context of ad lib access to good grass, will have limited impact on weight and as it is a good source of fibre, low sugar and reasonable protein this is fine in my book. I'd personally opt for a slightly higher spec vit/min powder and then reduce grass intake.

I agree with this, to me it sounds as if he needs to do a bit more work which should help him tone up but without knowing how hard he does work in the schooling sessions it can be hard to judge but in my experience most people don't work the horse as hard as they think they are especially if they are only hacking once a week or less as that is limiting the amount of hills and variety of surfaces he gets onto which can help their muscle tone without really trying.

 

[Shoei]

I agree with this, to me it sounds as if he needs to do a bit more work which should help him tone up but without knowing how hard he does work in the schooling sessions it can be hard to judge but in my experience most people don't work the horse as hard as they think they are especially if they are only hacking once a week or less as that is limiting the amount of hills and variety of surfaces he gets onto which can help their muscle tone without really trying.

Thanks for the replies so far guys, it's really helpful. His workload certainly could do with 'uping' or maybe a little more variety. I don't particularly enjoy hacking him as he is so spooky (viscous circle I know), but we do have some good hills around the farm and we are just getting 25 acres of 'hilly field' that I will be able to use for hacking, it should provide a good circuit!

Schooling - we both certainly work up a sweat, with lots of trot/ canter work as I'm trying to get him more off the leg and more lift and round in the canter. Prob 40 min/45 min.

Lesson - Def hard work, prob 45 min with warm up either side.

Lunging in pessoa and over poles.

Any further advise on fitness would also be appreciated.
I will see if I can add a picture!

 

[be positive]

I find going for a short hack after schooling is really helpful, they are tired so behave better if that may be an issue, it allows them to cool down well and does not feel like so much effort as you are already on board, a walk round the fields after work could be just what he needs.

 

[ester]

I think you need to be aware of what you might be doubling up with the relax me if you wish to continue on that.

I've never really looked at the dengie one re. specs as I know what suits my grazing but it doesn't have any iron which is always a plus!
I would switch out the linseed oil for micronised.

Re. muscle 1) he is a gelderlander, they will probably look different to some people not used to looking at them, 2) it may be helpful to look at how he is working but baring point 1 in mind. I understand your hacking comments but found hills pretty revolutionary when we moved to somewhere with some good ones!