What can I replace oats with?

[Busybusybusy]

I have been feeding my TB oats, copra, linseed plus pro hoof, magnesium and salt in order to put weight on him, however I am now riding him after 11 months off and he's full of himself. So I want to reduce his oats and replace with something barefoot friendly that will continue to keep the weight and muscle on without the fizz and not cost the earth - copra is already costing me the earth!!
Don't want to feed sugar beet or alfalfa as its not a great combination with our soil.
Any bright ideas??

 

[whizzer]

Is it definitely the oats hotting him up? I tried my poor-doer TB on copra & it sent him completely over the top. He's very,very easily hotted up by most feed but does very well on oats & they don't send him crackers.

 

[criso]

I feed almost the same as you (slightly different minerals) to a tb and a wb and I can't feed alfalfa or beet due to calcium levels.

I have heard of people either soaking or sprouting oats. I believe the theory is that it makes them more digestible and you don't get the starch build up which can cause temperament issues.

Not tried it myself though as my tb is fine on oats but hopefully someone will come on who can comment more knowledgeably on the process.

 

[claribella]

You could switch to whole oats and soak them. That way he'd get the energy with out the starch