What to feed

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bootsandmud

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My 7yo has had a lot of time off over winter so I'm bringing her back into work (three weeks of hacking then starting on schooling again) and I'm not too sure what to feed her.

When she wasn't being ridden she just had chaff so that she could still have breakfast. Before, when she was in consistent work, she had Alfa-A Oil and Ready Mash. However since she is coming back into work I don't know whether I should be feeding her differently.

Any advice please?
 
It depends how she looks, while she is just getting fit if she looks well I wouldn't change anything, the grass will be coming through so she probably doesn't need any more, if she has lost a lot of muscle then maybe a token feed and vit/ min supplement will help.
 
be positive said:
It depends how she looks, while she is just getting fit if she looks well I wouldn't change anything, the grass will be coming through so she probably doesn't need any more, if she has lost a lot of muscle then maybe a token feed and vit/ min supplement will help.
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Would something like Spillers Conditioning Mix be suitable?
 
Conditioning mix is a high energy feed intended for horses in hard work or for weight gain, so only if you want her to gain weight!

You could always ask a nutritionist for advice if you're unsure, but personally if you're happy with how she's looking I'd leave as is (except for adding in a vit/min supplement)
 
Just been through all this with my new boy. He's turned out more than in his previous home, and the previous owner reduced his hard feed of competition mix (he was showjumping etc) as what with weather and my lack of transport, plus how I was intending to keep him, it was too much. Interestly he has never been fed a balancer.

He's a good doer, so at the mo he's on a token feed of chaff/hay replacer, non mollased, soya free.

As his work has increased i did wonder about adding and supplementing, but with grass about to go wild I won't bother. He looks and feels great.

If anything I will add things over winter when the quality of grass goes and bad weather starts, linseed if needed, some vits and mins.

Tbh, I'm letting him guide me.

Oh, and I also add dried nettles and cleavers which are growing in abundance and he loves them!!
 
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MrsMurs said:
Just been through all this with my new boy. He's turned out more than in his previous home, and the previous owner reduced his hard feed of competition mix (he was showjumping etc) as what with weather and my lack of transport, plus how I was intending to keep him, it was too much. Interestly he has never been fed a balancer.

He's a good doer, so at the mo he's on a token feed of chaff/hay replacer, non mollased, soya free.

As his work has increased i did wonder about adding and supplementing, but with grass about to go wild I won't bother. He looks and feels great.

If anything I will add things over winter when the quality of grass goes and bad weather starts, linseed if needed, some vits and mins.

Tbh, I'm letting him guide me.

Oh, and I also add dried nettles and cleavers which are growing in abundance and he loves them!!
Click to expand...

This is very sensible, more problems are caused by over feeding than under feeding, most horses get more than enough to do light work from decent forage and grass which has most of their dietary requirements, I never use balancers as in many ways they are used to make the owners feel better and are not needed by the horse.
 
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