What to feed ex racing mare with no history?

[zoon]

I recently got an ex racer that we know nothing about. She is 8 years old and in good condition - nice weight and shiney coat. Hooves were overgrown, but farrier is sorting out foot balance and horn quality seems good for a TB. Took shoes off at the back and she hasn't batted an eyelid. Teeth were awful, but dentist has been today and she seems happier eating now. He did note that she is very anaemic though - gums are white so needs treatment asap. Back is very sore - seems like sacroiliac injury affecting stifles and hocks, but again this is being treated. Will involve lots of walking in straight lines for a while to build muscle up. She is a very stressy mare, so this might be interesting!

As she has no history, we started feeding her ad lib hay and 2 feeds of hifi lite with baileys lo cal balancer. I have no idea if she'll hold her weight on this or not - had her for 3 weeks now so not long enough to tell. I've added in micronised linseed in small amounts in the hope that I can spot any weight loss as soon as it happens and up this to stop it if needed. At the moment the amount she gets will just promote coat health and hopefully be good for her joints, esp hocks.

Not sure really if what I am doing is right. Certainly not doing any harm at the moment. Considering adding magnesium oxide to see if it calms her a bit. I want to keep everything starch/sugar free so what can I add if she does turn out to be a poor doer? Was thinking speedibeet. Don't like alfalfa so don't want to be using that (I know hi-fi lite has a little in it, but anything alfalfa free seems to be a molassed chaff - can't seem to find a plain one anywhere!) How about using readigrass as a chaff?

Also, any cheaper alternatives to lo cal balancer? Someone said just use a powder vit/min supplement - are they just as good as pelleted balancers? Seen one called ProHoof which has higher levels of Magnesium so could I get away without adding extra? It also has yea sacc in it so similar to pink powder.

Basically - looking to feed her a cheap, but balanced fibre diet with magnesium! Help!

 

[tallyho!]

I would add beet to that mix, full fat of course if you have been reading current threads on issue... linseed good idea...

 

[zoon]

Trying to stay clear of sugar - she is certainly the type that would react and don't want to risk it. So adding molassed beet would not be the thing to do! Other than the extra calories in the sugar and the lower cost - what is better about it compared to speedibeet?

 

[tallyho!]

I feed speedibeet and tbh, apart the sugar, it has everything else in it so I think you are probably ok. As long as she has good amounts of forage, I can't imagine she will lose condition on what she is on now x

 

[Mince Pie]

I use Readigrass as a chaff, my mare did really well on good grazing alone this summer so figured that readigrass would be a good idea - she does seem to look good on it. She has grass nuts, readigrass, speedibeet and wheat middlings.

 

[zoon]

Ok - so how about the balancer and the magnesium?

 

[Mince Pie]

Was that aimed at me? If so I don't bother but I have a friend who swears by Suregrow.

 

[tallyho!]

what are you balancing exactly? a balancer is just vits and mins and if lo cal has the vits n mins you want then fine. Magox for calming is used widely, magic has magox and brewers yeast. If general supplementation then I think you're fine.

You seem to be panicking for no reason. Just see how she goes and if she loses a bit, give more forage and increase the feeds abit.

I notice you don't feed grain which is good, but don't be afraid to add oats or barley if your mare *needs* extra calories.

 

[Mince Pie]

Whilst I agree with barley for condition it does sound like the OP's mare could well blow up on it.

 

[tallyho!]

Whilst I agree with barley for condition it does sound like the OP's mare could well blow up on it.

yes you could be right

 

[zoon]

Was that aimed at me? If so I don't bother but I have a friend who swears by Suregrow.

Nope - just aimed at anyone who was reading. Think suregrow will be too high in protein. I feed it to my youngsters

what are you balancing exactly? a balancer is just vits and mins and if lo cal has the vits n mins you want then fine. Magox for calming is used widely, magic has magox and brewers yeast. If general supplementation then I think you're fine.

You seem to be panicking for no reason. Just see how she goes and if she loses a bit, give more forage and increase the feeds abit.

I notice you don't feed grain which is good, but don't be afraid to add oats or barley if your mare *needs* extra calories.

I am just thinking about swapping the lo cal for a cheaper option - which would be a powdered vit and min rather than a pelleted balancer. Wondering what is so good about the pelleted ones? Our grazing is poor and yard buy in hay from where ever is doing the best deal so a forage analysis is pointless.

 

[Stacey6897]

I've been feeding mine mollichaff, I think it's got magnesium in, she was stressy, tense and highly reactive when I got her but has started chilling out and relaxing now

She was fit and lean when I got her and she's still not fat but she's shaped much more like the pet horses I'm used to!

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Do you know anything bout the mare at all? Name? Parents? Et al?

 

[Trot_On_Dressage]

Sugarbeet has virtually no calories in it when it is soaked so dont add it in if you want calories.

Tb's more often than not do not hold their weight, esp if they are just out of racing as they are super fit. I would be inclined to go for a high fibre diet, high fibre cubes and chaff and a full ration of 3-4kg per day first to ensure weight loss does not happen. If weight is gained just reduce the ration and take it from their. Alfa a and a balancer will be very low calorie i would imagine weight loss on that for a exracer.

Fibre will not cause excitability either.