What to feed a good doer to give him a bit more spark?

[Jingleballs]

My boy has been a bit sleepy and sluggish recently most likely due to the grass he'd devouring.

He's out all night in a small section of field with 5 other horses and in most of the day with a miniscule feed for his vitamins.

When I arrive in the evening, despite being off the grass for up to 8 hours he is often still very sleepy and can then be hard work when ridden (he is usually a dream to ride)

He still has some weight to lose but I'm considering if there may be anything that will still help with weight loss i.e. not too high in calories but will give him more energy.

At the moment he is fed hifi good doer with his supplements.

 

[spaniel]

Whatever you feed on top IS going to put weight on him Im afraid.

Im assuming you are talking about the cob in your signature? If so you may have to resign yourself to the fact that through the summer he is going to feel the heat and the grass and there will be little you can do to make him less sluggish apart from muzzle him when you turn him out.

 

[YorkshireLass]

Unfortunately energy comes from calories. The unburnt calories are laid down as fat. Therefore, feeding extra calories will mean extra fat unless the exercise is upped to burn them.

For extra sparkle, aim for extra fitness! This will encourage weight loss too.

Sounds like the horse is getting all the vitamins and minerals he needs.

 

[rolls1392]

I have a similar problem with my 16.3 mare
She is pretty fit, but I wouldlike to bit more whizz.
I am about to try a Spillers feed(competition feed) and if that doesn't appear to make a difference they advise trying their Instant Energy feed.
Hopefully she won't pork out as that won't help her SJ!!!

 

[Chumsmum]

Someone asked the same question recently but there was no definite answer

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/3215966/page/0/fpart/1/vc/1

 

[EquestrianFairy]

Yey- that was my post!!

In the end i rang baileys and spoke to my vet- they suggested Oats.. Basically i give her a cup full a few hours before im due to ride (she normally comes in anyway during the day for a few hours) then by the time im ready to ride they are working there way through her digestive system and give her that little sparkle i need (although i could do with more).

If im not riding i put the smallest handful in to keep from taking them in and out of her diet.

Shes also a VERY good doer, muzzled, on a tiny bit of vit/mins with a handful of chaff.

 

[hellybelly6]

Getting the weight of was the best way to pep my horse up.Anything you feed will add calories and therefore the potential for fat.

My horse is always tired on 24 hour turnout because he is on alert for 24 hours. He comes into the stable and goes straight to sleep bless him.

In the winter, I had good results with spillers instance energy cubes, you could try a handful of these.

 

[parsley]

My boy has recently been on a diet - in during the day with a bit of hay and out at night with a muzzle. He lost the weight well but was a bit flat. I have been feeding him dodson and hurrel (sp) oats twice a day now that he is a bit slimmer - before a competition he gets 2 stubben scoops a day for a couple of days. In between he gets 1 scoop. I have started him on a little bit of racehorse mix as well, cutting down the oat.

Exercise has been important for getting him to lose weight quite quickly - he gets schooled, or lunged or hacked about 13 times a week - I am just about getting used to the alarm going off at 5 am!

 

[Kenzo]

Allen & Page Sustain...brilliant stuff for horses that are fit but still rather laid back and you want a bit more fighting talk.