What do you think to my TB's diet?

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redriverrock

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Hi all, I read alot of threads about feed regimes and sometimes wonder if we like to make things complicated or am I missing something? So my TB who is in medium work gets 24/7 turnout with ad lib haylage and a decent shelter and 2 feeds a day of fast fibre and equi beet with a small scoop of activated charcoal in one feed and a mug of charnwoods linseed in the other. He has nothing else but does have a mineral block and a salt block which he dosent seem to bother with.
So is simple best or am I missing something out...he is looking better coming out of this winter than he has ever done but his skin does seem abit dry, though we ar still waiting for our first spring clean up!
 
Sounds pretty complicated to me :p mine lives out with just a bit of hay when there's snow on the ground
 
Don't worry if a feed sounds complicated or not... as long as the horse is healthy and sound, thats all that matters. Proof is in the pudding as they say.

Some horses do well on just hay but one has to remember, the soils in Britain are far from uniform and depending on where people live, has an impact on what they have to compensate for in forage, and/or, the horses physiological make-up.

All very well saying people make it complicated but unless you know the reasons, you cannot judge.

It would be lovely to think all horses can thrive on a uniform diet, but alas, life is far less simple than that.
 
tallyho! said:
Don't worry if a feed sounds complicated or not... as long as the horse is healthy and sound, thats all that matters. Proof is in the pudding as they say.

Some horses do well on just hay but one has to remember, the soils in Britain are far from uniform and depending on where people live, has an impact on what they have to compensate for in forage, and/or, the horses physiological make-up.

All very well saying people make it complicated but unless you know the reasons, you cannot judge.

It would be lovely to think all horses can thrive on a uniform diet, but alas, life is far less simple than that.
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I wasnt having a go at anyone...I totally understand that feed regimes are all different and yes your right so long as the horse is well and the right weight it dosent matter...I just like to keep things simple if I can :)
 
Goldenstar said:
Not sure now much linseed you are giving but unless it's a fair amount the diet may be lacking in protein .
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Flax/Linseed has a protein content of roughly 12% but you should not increase the amount of linseed to get your protein. It's a relatively poor source compared to alfalfa or grass.

The haylage will be providing plenty of protein so do not worry about protein OP.
 
redriverrock said:
I wasnt having a go at anyone...I totally understand that feed regimes are all different and yes your right so long as the horse is well and the right weight it dosent matter...I just like to keep things simple if I can :)
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Sounds simple enough to me :) in fact it sounds more or less like a very old fashioned straights diet.
 
tallyho! said:
Flax/Linseed has a protein content of roughly 12% but you should not increase the amount of linseed to get your protein. It's a relatively poor source compared to alfalfa or grass.

The haylage will be providing plenty of protein so do not worry about protein OP.
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Thanks for that...probably a stupid question but what signs would there be that he isnt getting enough protein...he is looking well and his feet are amazing which is a joy as we have had problems in the past but he does seem a little scurfy but as I said we havent had a proper bath yet, still abit to cold!
 
A mature horse needs about 10% protein compared to about 16% for growing horses.

Protein is not an energy source, well it's a poor energy source and was long misunderstood that too much causes laminitis! We now know different...

Protein is required for muscle and tissue repair and growth so more important for pregnant mares and youngstock. Very very rare is it that adult horses can become deficient unless they are on poor grazing and the signs are tiredness, no muscle, thin, very dull coats and scabby skin, poor hooves etc basically a neglected horse.

Scurf happens when horses change coats like cats and dogs. It's pretty normal... we all shed skin cells! I'm sure a good bath and some sunshine will make him shine like a conker!
 
tallyho! said:
A mature horse needs about 10% protein compared to about 16% for growing horses.

Protein is not an energy source, well it's a poor energy source and was long misunderstood that too much causes laminitis! We now know different...

Protein is required for muscle and tissue repair and growth so more important for pregnant mares and youngstock. Very very rare is it that adult horses can become deficient unless they are on poor grazing and the signs are tiredness, no muscle, thin, very dull coats and scabby skin, poor hooves etc basically a neglected horse.

Scurf happens when horses change coats like cats and dogs. It's pretty normal... we all shed skin cells! I'm sure a good bath and some sunshine will make him shine like a conker!
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Thankyou...you always give such good advice! Totally agree about a good bath and some sunshine...his coat is normally gleaming by now....please lets have abit of sun. I am encouraged by his hoof quality and always think this is a good indicator of inner health.
 
redriverrock said:
He is having a large mug a day but could give more as he seems to really like it! How much would you rec'...he is a 15.3 tb?
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A cup full of whole seeds is the right amount for him - then you need to either grind or cook it. If already flaked a big mug is probebly fine. How well it works on the skin depends on what has happened to it prior to you feeding it. Flaked linseed is often the leftovers from oil extraction for paint so contains only a small amounts of oils. This is the reason I feed mine freshly ground as I know they get all the oils, all the goodness for both coat & joints.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
It sounds fine to me, if you are particularly concerned about scurfy skin you could feed linseed oil as well.

As you say, keep it simple.
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I might do that but think I will see what happens when we get abit of decent weather...fingers crossed...and re assess then. Would linseed oil be more effective for skin and coat condition than the micronised I am feeding at the moment?
 
redriverrock said:
I might do that but think I will see what happens when we get abit of decent weather...fingers crossed...and re assess then. Would linseed oil be more effective for skin and coat condition than the micronised I am feeding at the moment?
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I think so, the oil is more easily available during the digestion process and as someone above said micronised linseed tends to be what is left after the oil has been extracted. Quite a lot of horse feed is what is left over after the stuff that humans want has been taken out.

ETA, you should probably continue with the micronised as well, as it seems to suit your horse.
 
I think I will order some linseed oil Im due a feed delivery...thinking back I did feed a small amount of this in his morning feeds about a year ago but then stopped...cant remember why but his coat was very good. So I guess my simple just got abit more complicated!!
 
Diet sounds as though it suits him! It is a scurffy time of year because of coat change, but I would wait until his summer coat is in before deciding to change it.

My tb just had 24 hr t/o, hay and Winnergy Balancer and people always commented on how her coat glowed in the summer. Unless you are a nutritionist it is very difficult to tailor all the different supplements to suit your horse.

I would stick with what you're doing.
 
Tammytoo said:
Diet sounds as though it suits him! It is a scurffy time of year because of coat change, but I would wait until his summer coat is in before deciding to change it.

My tb just had 24 hr t/o, hay and Winnergy Balancer and people always commented on how her coat glowed in the summer. Unless you are a nutritionist it is very difficult to tailor all the different supplements to suit your horse.

I would stick with what you're doing.
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Mine is normally gleaming by now but this weather is really not helping! To be honest my hands are really dry aswell...in fact my daughter said I had old lady hands! so I guess we are all suffering....whoever is in charge of the weather needs a serious talking too.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
I think so, the oil is more easily available during the digestion process and as someone above said micronised linseed tends to be what is left after the oil has been extracted. Quite a lot of horse feed is what is left over after the stuff that humans want has been taken out.

ETA, you should probably continue with the micronised as well, as it seems to suit your horse.
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This is untrue - micronised linseed contains all the oil - none is extracted during the micronisation process. Ime, micronised linseed is a better source than the liquid oil and more easily digestible.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
I think so, the oil is more easily available during the digestion process and as someone above said micronised linseed tends to be what is left after the oil has been extracted. Quite a lot of horse feed is what is left over after the stuff that humans want has been taken out.

ETA, you should probably continue with the micronised as well, as it seems to suit your horse.
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I have to correct you pearlsasinger there, only because the whole linseed thing can be terribly confusing!

There are so many linseed products on the market, its hard to separate the wheat from the chaff...

Linseed lozenges - basically what is left after the oil has been extracted. Contains quality protein but none of the good oils!

Linseed oil - contains the good oils (Omega 3 and 6) but none of the amino acids and proteins, plus it goes off very quickly unless refridgerated and the omega oils break down and become unavailable.

Linseed meal - also post-extrusion.

Micronised linseed - probably the closest thing to old fashioned cooked linseed in terms of nutritional value. The best we have on the market and is a WHOLE food I.e. contains all the good oils, all the amino acids etc. the product is already cooked so what you get is a pure linseed product that can keep well in a cool dark place for a lot longer than the oil.

I know you can't get micronised products in all countries so Tnavas has to grind and cook hers :) bit of a faff but linseed is so good, it's worth it. The reason we have to treat it is because it is toxic to horses uncooked.
 
If you want to add an oil to his diet, although I think you will be fine without is perhaps just veg oil. It keeps longer and with summer coming you don't want an oil that doesn't keep well. You will waste your money.

One thing I have learnt from the showing people is Black Oil Sunflower Seeds or BOSS. You can buy this whole and the horse eats it whole complete with husk.

Just be wary of adding lots of high fat products though as you want to give a good omega 3:6 ratio. Too much of omega 6 is not good.

For me, good old Dr Green is the best a horse can get (unless a laminitic or allergic to it or something) so roll on summer!! :)
 
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