what can I feed him?

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longtalltilly

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Ok horse now back in work, havent been doing too much but he keeps losing weight!

Currently he is being fed 1 scoop baileys no.4 and 1 scoop Alfa A oil twice a day, He is on Fantastic grazing for this time of year and has as much hay as he will eat. His teeth, etc have been checked and his worming is up to date!


This is what he looked like 2 weeks ago
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And This morning!
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I know you say he has as much hay as he can eat, but how much is that by weight? If he doesn't seem to eat a lot of hay overnight, it is worth adding an extra fibre source in his stable - perhaps a section of Horsehage or a big tub of a dried grass product like Readigrass or Graze-on. Studies have shown that horses will eat more fibre if they are offered a choice of more than one type.
 
How is his energy levels? Tbh I dont think he looks too bad, just lacking in topline. I would up his Alfa Oil tbh and maybe add Speedibeet as another fibre source?
 
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How is his energy levels? Tbh I dont think he looks too bad, just lacking in topline. I would up his Alfa Oil tbh and maybe add Speedibeet as another fibre source?

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His Energy levels are fine, Although If he were competing I would need a little more! How much Alfa Oil do you suggest? Iv been holding off on the beet as he is really odd about eating it cold and Iv heard if you add hot/warm water it speeds up the fermentation thus causing colic or digestive upset?!?!
 
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I think he looks tip top.

Is he actually warm enough????

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I would have thought he was warm enough, I keep him well rugged, he has a middle and a heavy on durning day and his sherpa, a middle and a heavy on at night as he feels the cold! (no he isnt too hot and the rugs are not heavy rugs in weight if you get my meaning
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Hmm, well mine is on 4 scoops a day which is 1.6kg and comparable amounts of Calm and Condition to the cubes you are feeding. You could up the amount of cubes he is on if he needs a bit more instant energy! I always up the Fibre feeds first as have to keep a low starch diet. Alternatively could try a balancer like Topspec, although it is expensive to outlay, it can mean you dont need to feed as much hard feed so can save you £ in the long run.
 
OOHHHH HES GORGEOUS, DONT WORRY TOO MUCH IF HE IS ON GOOD GRAZING , HE LOOKS LOVELY TO ME , IS HE FOR SALE , ILL HAVE HIM, HA HA , (IF I COULD AFFORD IT ), I USED TO HAVE A COB THAT LOST WEIGHT EASILY , JUST KEPT UPPING THE GRUB UNTIL THE GRASS CAME THROUGH, ALSO DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH WORK HE IS HAVING , LOTS OF FEED ON THE MARKET TO CHOOSE FROM, I FIND THE SPILLERS RANGE QUITE GOOD AND LOTS OF BULK , SUGAR BEET , MOLLYCHOP , CHAFF ETC AND A MIX WITH ENERGY, GOOD LUCK ,
 
Blue chip has quite high levels of starch compared with the other brands I have heard, but don't use it myself so can't really comment.
What about a product like alfa beet or fibre beet with his normal ration ?
I agree he has lost weight but doesn't look bad for it, it's just a case of maintaining what you have now as opposed to putting more on, the spring and summer grass should do that for you in a couple of months.
Give a few nutritionist helplines a call, the lady at topspec is fantastic I have heard(again not used myself) and won't just recommend their own products.
 
My boy lost condition at the start of winter- i put him on Alfa A oil, Baileys No. 4, and Fibrebeet (by the same company as Speedibeet.)I also out him on surelimb supplement. I switched him to haylage and put him extra layers on...Hes now fat!
Goodluck with that
 
hi, firstly i would like to say i think that hw looks very well for this time of year! and i have exactly the same problem with my TB mare! and the last 6-8 weeks she has never been better i got in touch with a top trainer and my horse is fed on the alfa a oil baileys topline no 4 and also just a mix but make sure the mix you buy is high in protein,but mi must say that my horse is out in the field about 3 hours a day and then fed on haylage no hay which also changing this made a real difference!!! and also make sure they plenty of rugs on! i find this really is working for me! hope it does for you too!
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