What to feed...

[JackDaniels1]

... sorry i know i've posted about this before but got mixed few responses so thought i'd try again when more people are online!

What would you feed my girl? She's a 11yo TBX (16.2hh) worked 3-4 times a week - schooling, lunging and hacking. I personally think she is a little underweight but a couple of horsey people have said they don't think she is, just that she needs some topline.

She lives out with access to shelter in a small paddock, has eaten more or less all the grass already

Would you feed hay or haylage? or mixture of both? Would you also give her hard feed? If so, how much of each.
If i start feeding her hard feed already, would i then have to feed more come winter?

(I would like her to put on a little weight)

Thank you

 

[Hoofprints in the Snow]

If she has no grass, then I would feed hay or haylage, horses need forage.

 

[TGM]

First you need to assess whether she is in the correct condition at the moment. Ideally, you want to be able to feel her ribs easily, but not see them.

If you can see her ribs then start to give her hay or haylage to supplement the grass. You might want to give her a vit/min supplement in a handful of chaff if you want to ensure she gets all her vit/mins.

If you can't see her ribs, then I wouldn't give supplementary feeding unless it is just a vit/min supplement as suggested above. Remember that as the grass keeps growing, the horses keep nibbling it down, so just because the grass isn't long doesn't mean they are not getting much to eat, it is often just that they are eating all the fresh growth!

I would only give her hard feed if you can't keep the weight on by giving her supplementary hay and/or you feel she is lacking energy in her ridden work.

Whether you will need to increase the hard feed in winter depends on whether she will eat enough hay or haylage in the winter to maintain her condition. Those with small appetites often don't eat enough forage, so then more concentrated feeds are necessary to maintain bodyweight.

ETA: Consider using a weigh tape on a weekly basis to monitor whether she is losing, gaining or maintaining weight and adjust her feeding accordingly.

 

[Hoofprints in the Snow]

What she said is better. [ QUOTE ]
First you need to assess whether she is in the correct condition at the moment. Ideally, you want to be able to feel her ribs easily, but not see them.

If you can see her ribs then start to give her hay or haylage to supplement the grass. You might want to give her a vit/min supplement in a handful of chaff if you want to ensure she gets all her vit/mins.

If you can't feel her ribs, then I wouldn't give supplementary feeding unless it is just a vit/min supplement as suggested above. Remember that as the grass keeps growing, the horses keep nibbling it down, so just because the grass isn't long doesn't mean they are not getting much to eat, it is often just that they are eating all the fresh growth!

I would only give her hard feed if you can't keep the weight on by giving her supplementary hay and/or you feel she is lacking energy in her ridden work.

Whether you will need to increase the hard feed in winter depends on whether she will eat enough hay or haylage in the winter to maintain her condition. Those with small appetites often don't eat enough forage, so then more concentrated feeds are necessary to maintain bodyweight.

[/ QUOTE ]

 

[JackDaniels1]

Thank you

Yes, I can see her ribs - she is not in poor condition or terribly underweight or anything. She is fine in herself with a lovely glossy coat. I just would like her to put on a little weight

My next question, IYO would you feed hay or haylage? Or i was thinking a mixture of both? She would be the only horse eating the haylage so i'd have to buy the really small bales.

 

[TGM]

[ QUOTE ]
My next question, IYO would you feed hay or haylage? Or i was thinking a mixture of both? She would be the only horse eating the haylage so i'd have to buy the really small bales.

[/ QUOTE ]

It really depends on your budget, what is available locally and also what your horse likes best! If you can get excellent quality hay easily, then that would probably be the most cost-effective option, but if the hay available is mediocre then small bale haylage may be a better choice if it doesn't blow your budget! You also have to consider whether your horse has a dust allergy or not, as then haylage would be easier than soaking hay.

Personally, I prefer haylage as it is usually less dusty than hay, plus the small bale stuff is usually marked to give you some idea of energy content and the grass type it is made from - so more of a known quantity than hay.

(I only feed small bale haylage in the summer though - as I only need it in small quantities so cost isn't too much of a worry. In the winter, I either feed big bale haylage or hay (depending on cost and availability), as to feed three with small bale in the winter would cost the earth!)