What to feed - mind boggled!

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Lollydog

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Hi all, just after a bit of advice of what to feed my horse. Recently purchased.

16.2 full TB gelding. 6 yrs old. Fairly laid back chap and would like to stay that way.

School 3/4 times a week, hack for couple hours at the weekend. Lesson once a fortnight.

Holds weight well for a TB. Lives out 24/7.

Feet not great, not bad, but not great. Front shoes only.

Not looking for energy food, more nutrition based. Had Top Spec in the past but went a bit crazy on it.

Anyone know were to start?!
 
I presume you are still on the feed from the previous owner so you haven't had a dramatic change? Thats a good start point to move from - but always introduce feed changes slowly.

Then its probably easiest to determine with what is easily available locally. There is no point going for something exotic (and probably expensive) unless you have a particular or difficult need. Then - what price bracket do you want? (Bearing in mind that ultra cheap pellet type feeds can contain a lot of fillers and other nasties which make them a false economy.)

That will land you with probably 2 - 3 options. You can call the nutrition helplines for your final choices and get them to send you samples - or you can just choose whichever looks nicest to you. Start with a fairly low energy feed - something for rest / light work and see how you go. Keep the feeds small and the majority of the diet forage only and then work upward if you need to. But introduce any chnage - other than amounts - over a few weeks.
 
I wouldn't call a commercial advice line for feed advice :D they will sell you everything!

Keep it simple. Forage is the most important thing to get right - if you have good quality hay then you have practically got it sorted.

If you need to feed vitamins and minerals - go for something that does not have "fillers" like wheatfeed etc - all floor sweepings. Try forageplus or progressive earth, equimins are good and global herbs. You can enjoy your own research on this subject.

I don't think you can go far wrong with soaked grass nuts and grass chaff to offer in a bucket with micronised linseed for good feet.
 
tallyho! said:
I wouldn't call a commercial advice line for feed advice :D they will sell you everything!

Keep it simple. Forage is the most important thing to get right - if you have good quality hay then you have practically got it sorted.
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I don't think you can go far wrong with soaked grass nuts and grass chaff to offer in a bucket with micronised linseed for good feet.
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This exactly!
For goodness sake don't involve feed companies, they will want you to use everything they make!
 
1) good iron free vit/mineral supp (I use equimins adv complete, others include forageplus, prohoof, equivita and a couple I have forgotten)
2) if you need something to feed the above (the equimins comes pelleted) then I would go for unmolasses sugar beet or a plain straw or low DE grass chaff. I have a fusspot for whom it is worth shelling out the extra for agrobs aspero (low DE grass, some grasses can be v. high energy but obv depends on the horse and how much you are feeding too).
3) micronised linseed is just good, slow release energy and anti inflammatory.
 
Do you know what he was fed previously? If his temperament at time of purchase is how you like him, id be tempted to find out what he was on and replicate it best you can while you're in the 'honeymoon period' and getting to know each other (unless it's something ridiculous, of course)
 
Thanks - he was on a basic pasture mix with speedibeet before. He has good grazing and ad lib hay, it was more need to get vitamins ect into him, not necessarily energy.
 
If it's just the vits and mins you need you could swap to fast fibre? Much like speedibeet but less sugar and starch and more vits and mins! My shire x tb only needs a scoop (dry volume) to get the recommended amounts :)
 
Lollydog said:
Hi all, just after a bit of advice of what to feed my horse. Recently purchased.

16.2 full TB gelding. 6 yrs old. Fairly laid back chap and would like to stay that way.

School 3/4 times a week, hack for couple hours at the weekend. Lesson once a fortnight.

Holds weight well for a TB. Lives out 24/7.

Feet not great, not bad, but not great. Front shoes only.

Not looking for energy food, more nutrition based. Had Top Spec in the past but went a bit crazy on it.

Anyone know were to start?!
Click to expand...

I REALLY like te forage plus balancer range. My pony looks fab on it. Coat is shiny. He had a stable Cough and that went as well. I feed top spec just now for the extra oomph. Email them as well they're very helpful at what would the best choice of action :)
 
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