What to feed my horse ?!

[Sineadmurphyx03]

Hi I’m looking for some advice I have had my horse for the last four months he’s a 16.1 Irish draught slightly fat and he’s ridden medium to heavy he gets ridden five times a week usually jumps twice and competes regularly as well as when we school we school hard as winter comes we are hoping to keep him in to let the fields dry but I noticed his legs filling we got vet out and they checked everything heart lungs kidneys u name it they checked it and it was all fine the said it’s probably to much hard feed and no enough work/forage he gets fed a big scoop of cool and easy mix (blue grass) and big scoop of beat pulp (soaked) can anyone help me on how much I should feed him and what brands and what I should feed him as he’s comfort and happiness is my priority he needs to lose little weight and his legs fill If to much feed he’s 14 years old and needs a little kick as he’s dead when just on forage ??x

 

[Sineadmurphyx03]

I’m only feeding what he’s currently getting bcs the yard supplies that feed and I’m clueless on what else to give him

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Stop feeding him anything, he doesn’t need it. Hay and grass should suffice.

 

[Sineadmurphyx03]

He does need feed hay and grass isn’t enough for the work he’s in he goes dead and needs a little energy boost

 

[HappyHollyDays]

If he was working hard he would be lean and the fitness would follow. You don’t feed to up the energy you get them fitter, leaner and lighter and they will go up a gear if that makes sense. If you really think he needs a boost them oats are a good energy source just don’t overdo it.

 

[windand rain]

Grass nuts soaked, grass chaff linseed if needed. Basic for all mine a double handful of chaff and a mug of unsoaked grassnuts but soak before feeding. Turnout is vital to prevent his legs filling even if only during the day. 24/7 would be ideal. If fat he needs less food and more work if he was working hard enough for his feed he would be dropping fat and increasing muscle and would look like a racehorse in training

 

[Widgeon]

My horse is fat too, and he's struggling with hill work and more than half an hour of proper schooling. He's slowly improving though as the weight comes off - I'm feeding him practically nothing except grass, I need to keep getting more weight off and then he won't have such a hard job heaving himself around! It sounds like you're in a similar position? I would definitely focus on the weight loss first, then once he's not fat he will probably start to get fitter and find more whizz. Good luck!

 

[Sineadmurphyx03]

Yes thank u so much I’m gonna slowly cut his food and get him losing a bit of weight we have time now that all shows are cancelled and see how it goes from there

 

[Sineadmurphyx03]

Thanks so much he’s had a two week holiday in the field I’m gonna cut his food slowly and get into fitness work as we have time as there’s no shows any advice on getting the weight to drop would be amazing

 

[windand rain]

Turn out as much as possible clip and rug lightly dont feed hay in one spot and make sure he runs out while outside so has to move to find grass, Biggest problem is horses living out with a big round bale of hay that just stand and stuff themselves. Even the baldest field has pickings in it unless it is knee deep mud

 

[Sineadmurphyx03]

He will be moved In for the winter as that’s what they do at my yard he will have turnout in the arena for awhile but that’s about if I’m trying to make up a fitness plan for him I’m gonna cut food slowly down to none and slowly try a new diet that’s less bulky and will give him energy gonna get advice from vet

 

[windand rain]

That is awful all horses should have several hours outside except if in for medical reasons my suggestion would be move yards at least for winter or better still just move
you are highly unlikely to stop his legs filling unless he is out for a lot of hours

 

[Starzaan]

Move yards so your horse gets turnout, his legs are never going to stop filling if he’s just stuck in all the time. He is only in light work, so stop feeding. Hay and grass will be plenty. You say he needs energy - that comes with fitness. Get him working more and get him fitter, then his energy will pick up. If, when he’s properly fit, you still think he needs yet more energy, oats are a good source but be careful not to overdo it as you sound fairly inexperienced and could end up with a fire breathing dragon with too much oomph for you to handle.