What fibre base to use?

[TT55]

I have two horses in moderate-hard work. A 6 y/o TB mare who I wouldn't call a poor doer but she needs feeding to maintain weight and a 14 y/o argentine mare who is a good doer.

I have been trying to keep feeding them simple and currently feed D&H balancer, horse and pony cubes, micronised linseed (more for the TB, just a token amount for the argie mare) and graze on (plus super flex joint supplement). Both horses seem to be maintaining their weight sufficiently at the moment.

The horses are on very poor grazing and currently get haylage daily (although im not sure how much as the yard provides it - not ad-lib, however) so I want them to get as much fibre in their feeds as possible.

What is the best fibre base for feeding? Is graze on ok? Or should i be feeding fibre-beet/ speedi beet/ fast fibre/ grass nuts? How much should I feed? (bearing in mind i can only feed once a day)

Are the horse and pony nuts necessary or are the balancer and linseed sufficient?

Thanks

 

[Micky]

I would say IMHO, any of the beets you've mentioned, plus the linseed and the balancer plus a bit of salt if they are in moderate work..that should be sufficient for them.
.More haylage for the poor doer and bit less for the good doer

 

[TT55]

Thank you for your reply Micky

Coming to the end of my bags now, so will swap the graze on for a beet (the older mare isn't really a fan of the graze on anyway) and scrap the h&p nuts as I don't think they are necessary.