What to feed a talented but bone idle gelding?

J

joy

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8yo 7/8tb he finds jumping,dressage and xc so easy yet he is just too laid back, even schooling is a chore because he just can't be bothered.
Teeth, back, tack ok, brain totally disengaged.
Lives out in the summer but worked in some form every day, he is very fit so that isn't the problem.
Has a barley intolerance so on Power and Performance at the moment.
Any suggestions?
 
sounds familiar. I would get him blood tested, just in case there is a low grade infection, or in the case of my horse, high muscle enzymes (low grade azoturia - thankfully never tied up). In which case, he might need rest and / or treatment.
 
My mums TB was like this when he's out 24/7. It got to the point where my mum was pony club kicking him just to get him trotting in a dressage test!

We brought him back in at nights, this made a huge difference to his energy levels and he was much perkier to ride, however still a bit stuffy at times.

My mum got the vet out and he was dead sound after flexions, on lunge ect but my mum insisted he had a bone scan. They found beginnings of artheritis in his hocks and a mass of old scar tissue on the muscles around his sacroiliac joint. He's had injections in his hocks and a back treatment and he is really wonderful now!

My mums horse is also a boy that finds everything easy and he was dead sound so it goes to show!

Feed wise, my mum uses oil for energy, Baileys Outshine to be precise :).
 
Thanks, but no blood or soundness issues just a bone idle horse winter or summer. He will be going hunting but I want him perky now.
 
i have just started feeding topspec low cal balancer -this has helped stamina - my chap was forward going but easily ran out of steam - not sure if this is your prob or if your chap just v laid back in general - feed helplines are great topspec and baileys were v helpful and advise what and how much to feed.
 
joy said:
8yo 7/8tb he finds jumping,dressage and xc so easy yet he is just too laid back, even schooling is a chore because he just can't be bothered.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

My horse was the same, half asleep at shows until the bell went when he put in that extra bit of energy. I was having to ride in spurs, I was giving him oats to pep him up a bit. Didn't want him silly, just wanted a bit more oomph.

Turned out that his hock was uncomfortable and I'd put off giving him the steroid injection for three years as he'd been going well up to that point, so he had both hocks medicated (bone spavin) and he's been right as rain afterwards, lots more energy and enthusiasm. So you might find its low grade pain.

I also found out with my previous horse (TB x ID) who was five that no amount of feeding up will make them different. If you have a laid back lazy horse they will always be that way.
 
I would bring him in at night a few nights see if that makes any difference. My last horse just didnt sleep properly in the field, it made a huge difference

make sure he isn't too floated from grass when you ride.

Look for something to engage his brains like pole work


Also get him some aloe vera juice 2 bottles from holland and barratt It will give his system a boost and clear up any possible viruses

Then if that fails feed him Tiger Oats :D
 
Mine was horrendously bone idle when I got him and I made the mistake of schooling and schooling - turns out he was just bored! Feeding more just made him sharp and silly. We vary our routine now and he is much better. It is hard keeping him schooling fit when he goes to sleep in the school. But I try schooling on hacks which he much prefers. School once a week in the field and pop a fence in between exercises to keep him perky. Pole work is good. A few good hacks a week and a good blast on the moor or the beach. He is now really lively at competitions so it has worked.
 
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