What do you feed your 2YO?

[teddy_]

Whilst I understand the school of thought that youngstock may not require a proper bucket feed if quality forage and grazing is available, people who do provide bucket feed for their youngstock - what do you feed?

I am posting this out of interest, as I may be purchasing a 2YO that in my opinion needs more than he's been getting (he isn't super poor, but he does look a bit lackluster compared to the rest of the colts in his herd) - and yes, before anyone says it, if he does pass the vet, I shall instruct them to conduct a faecal egg count to ensure his lack of condition is not owing to a heavy worm burden.

 

[TGM]

Ours just got a balancer and a bit of Speedibeet at that age. Plus, of course, ad lib good quality haylage. Youngsters do go through some ropey phases sometimes, especially if they are having a growth spurt, see pics below.

 

[TGM]

At 2 years old



At maturity

 

[teddy_]

View attachment 108894

At 2 years old

View attachment 108895

At maturity

Thank you - useful as he is not a dissimilar type to your horse.

 

[Starzaan]

Ad lib haylage, good quality balancer, NAF Superflex Senior (everything gets this from day one with me, thanks to too many years working in rehab with veterinary nutritionists, it's magical stuff as a preventative measure), and a handful of Alfa A Oil.

They also always get a course of Protexin Quick Fix when they arrive.

 

[Horseysheepy]

My youngsters, up until they turn 2 are on Spillers Gro and Win balancer. It really made my yearling bloom last year he looked fab!

Once they turn 2, they are put on Dodson and horrell Suregrow, which is a little lower in protein than the Spillers, but has everything a growing horse needs.

Once 3, they are fed as an adult.

A late born foal, I will keep it on the higher protein ration a bit longer, which is the case of my rising 2 year old at the moment.

We don't have high quality haylage on the farm, just seeds hay which didn't make too well last year!, so they get a balancer according to age, mixed in with Honeychop and speedibeet.

 

[teddy_]

Ad lib haylage, good quality balancer, NAF Superflex Senior (everything gets this from day one with me, thanks to too many years working in rehab with veterinary nutritionists, it's magical stuff as a preventative measure), and a handful of Alfa A Oil.

They also always get a course of Protexin Quick Fix when they arrive.

Thank you, all very useful info.

 

[teddy_]

My youngsters, up until they turn 2 are on Spillers Gro and Win balancer. It really made my yearling bloom last year he looked fab!

Once they turn 2, they are put on Dodson and horrell Suregrow, which is a little lower in protein than the Spillers, but has everything a growing horse needs.

Once 3, they are fed as an adult.

A late born foal, I will keep it on the higher protein ration a bit longer, which is the case of my rising 2 year old at the moment.

We don't have high quality haylage on the farm, just seeds hay which didn't make too well last year!, so they get a balancer according to age, mixed in with Honeychop and speedibeet.

Thank you, I had been looking at D&H feeds as they appear to have good fibre content compared with some other big brands.

He is a later foal (end of June) so good to know !

 

[Horseysheepy]

Lovely horse TGM!

 

[Horseysheepy]

He may go a little backwards when you bring him home, that's a good suggestion from Starzaan to support his gut with protexin to help combat stress and support his gut when you worm him.
He could be a bit wormy if he's poor compared to the others, maybe he's lower in the ranks and didn't get as much food as his mates?
Worming and very gradually introducing some good food into him and with spring around the corner with good grass, he will blossom.

 

[tda]

Ad lib haylage atm, with salt licks.
Personally I wouldn't go mad with feeding at this time of year, if he's going to be grazing, the grass will be growing soon.
Our yearlings are all growing and look a bit lanky/slim just now

 

[teddy_]

He may go a little backwards when you bring him home, that's a good suggestion from Starzaan to support his gut with protexin to help combat stress and support his gut when you worm him.
He could be a bit wormy if he's poor compared to the others, maybe he's lower in the ranks and didn't get as much food as his mates?
Worming and very gradually introducing some good food into him and with spring around the corner with good grass, he will blossom.

Yes, it would be a big change for him - having run in the same herd since he was more or less weaned so Starzaan's Protexin tip is very helpful.

He definitely isn't the boldest colt in the herd, so yes, there's scope he isn't getting as much hay as the others.

I do have a sneaky suspicion that a few months of TLC and the spring grass will make him unrecognisable.

 

[Starzaan]

Yes, it would be a big change for him - having run in the same herd since he was more or less weaned so Starzaan's Protexin tip is very helpful.

He definitely isn't the boldest colt in the herd, so yes, there's scope he isn't getting as much hay as the others.

I do have a sneaky suspicion that a few months of TLC and the spring grass will make him unrecognisable.

Just make sure it’s Quick Fix you use rather than the gut balancer. The guy balancer doesn’t really get absorbed where it should do. Quick Fix is amazing stuff though.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I fed suregrow from 6months up until he was four then switched to Baileys lo cal balancer.

He got that with hifi lite 100mls of linseed meal and some water in summer and that with readigrass and a mash made with grassnuts/alfalfa nuts/sugarbeet and the linseed meal in winter.

 

[Horseysheepy]

Just make sure it’s Quick Fix you use rather than the gut balancer. The guy balancer doesn’t really get absorbed where it should do. Quick Fix is amazing stuff though.

It is great stuff, I always give any horses that refuse to eat hay on the trailer, a syringe before loading.

 

[Btomkins]

As much good quality hay as they want and a small feed of dampened grass chaff, baileys youngstock mix (not the recommended amount - just a sprinkle to make the feed appetising) and salt.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I used to feed grass chaff unmolassed sugar beet and micronised linseed with a balancer and ad lib hay.

If he needs worming don't use pramox seen a few youngsters get quite ill from it it's far too strong.

 

[teddy_]

I used to feed grass chaff unmolassed sugar beet and micronised linseed with a balancer and ad lib hay.

If he needs worming don't use pramox seen a few youngsters get quite ill from it it's far too strong.

I will probably drench him with Panacur (Fenbendazole 10%) - had success with this in the past for a seriously wormy and poor horse.

ETA: only if he needs it, ofc!

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Unlimited hay, grass, and a balancer.

 

[maya2008]

Mine are natives - bucket feed is a little beet and some chaff with vitamin/mineral powder mix and extra lysine. They’re growing well with shiny coats.

 

[TPO]

I bought mine as a 2yr old and had every intention of feeding grass, hay and a good vit/min balancer supplement.







Unfortunately he arrived in very poor condition. Here are my old posts

Feeding underweight 2yr old *also in Healthcare & Feeding

Looking for feeding advice for an underweight 2yr old QH. He arrived last week and was most definitely NOT in the condition he should have been. I have lots of grass; its long, old grass so not short, sweet, sugary grass so Dr Green will work his magic but I feel he needs something else to help...

forums.horseandhound.co.uk

Feeding an underweight 2yr old *update*

Some of you might remember this thread I posted a year ago about the 2yr old I'd just bought from the stud... http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?668925-Feeding-underweight-2yr-old-*also-in-Healthcare-amp-Feeding&p=12509340#post12509340 I just wanted to say thank you again...

forums.horseandhound.co.uk

S, hort answer- spiller gro n win, alfabeet and linseed initially because he was so poor

 

[teddy_]

I bought mine as a 2yr old and had every intention of feeding grass, hay and a good vit/min balancer supplement.







Unfortunately he arrived in very poor condition. Here are my old posts

Feeding underweight 2yr old *also in Healthcare & Feeding

Looking for feeding advice for an underweight 2yr old QH. He arrived last week and was most definitely NOT in the condition he should have been. I have lots of grass; its long, old grass so not short, sweet, sugary grass so Dr Green will work his magic but I feel he needs something else to help...

forums.horseandhound.co.uk

Feeding an underweight 2yr old *update*

Some of you might remember this thread I posted a year ago about the 2yr old I'd just bought from the stud... http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?668925-Feeding-underweight-2yr-old-*also-in-Healthcare-amp-Feeding&p=12509340#post12509340 I just wanted to say thank you again...

forums.horseandhound.co.uk

S, hort answer- spiller gro n win, alfabeet and linseed initially because he was so poor

Thank you, very helpful .

I think I will be in a similar place to you - whilst the horse I am looking at isn't quite as ribby, he does look as poor in terms coat, etc.

Fingers crossed he passes his vetting this morning!

 

[maya2008]

I forgot to add to my reply that when one of mine dropped weight at the end of last summer, I brought her in overnight and stuffed her full of ad-lib haylage. Worked beautifully to put a little more weight on!

 

[Horseysheepy]

Good luck with the vetting!

Let us know how it goes.

 

[teddy_]

Good luck with the vetting!

Let us know how it goes.

I will do !

Provided the vet is satisfied with the initial two stages, she will then do the blood work and worm count - so won't have a 100% pass or fail for a couple of days, but I'll know if she's happy with the external examination this morning.

 

[teddy_]

The vet was happy with the two stage examination - wasn't able to do flexions (not overly concerned about flexions on a 2YO) as we have gale force winds, so he was feeling a bit fruity, but she saw him move in the arena and commented that he is an amazing mover. Now just need to wait until his bloods and worm count come back tomorrow / Wednesday.

He does have lice, but I suppose that is easy enough to nip in the bud.

 

[teddy_]

Ad lib haylage, good quality balancer, NAF Superflex Senior (everything gets this from day one with me, thanks to too many years working in rehab with veterinary nutritionists, it's magical stuff as a preventative measure), and a handful of Alfa A Oil.

They also always get a course of Protexin Quick Fix when they arrive.

Would you be happy to DM me about why you opt for the Superflex Senior, over the standard Superflex ?

 

[Starzaan]

Would you be happy to DM me about why you opt for the Superflex Senior, over the standard Superflex ?

Of course!