what to feed

[SAL66]

As you have been so very helpful in my previous posts, I thought I would run this one past you, my new horse is unfit and as the vet had said on the porky side, he seems to be a very good doer . My question is his previous owner had him on grass during the day and in at night with a small feed, adlib hay, with what seems little excercise, I/m think at the moment until his work load increases to do away with the hard feed, there is plenty of grass on the fields and if he comes in at night a mixture of haylege/hay is available.
What do you think?

 

[AmyMay]

Think you are definately along the right lines. However, I would feed hay if poss not haylage.

 

[SAL66]

Why is that AmyMay, ?

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
Why is that AmyMay, ?

[/ QUOTE ]
Because haylage contains more calories and is therefore more fattening.

 

[SAL66]

Gosh, I knew it is richer and it smells lovely, hay it is , certainly until he has lost his excess weight, more work less food, watch his grass intake and we will be a step closer to getting him fit.

 

[Petrie]

I have one that's gone a bit porky over the summer (too much grass this year) so he's had his hard feed taken away, poor chap!

However, I do think it's important to make sure that if you are not giving them additional feed they're are getting the correct levels of vits and mins - your grass and hay may not be giving him this. Mine has a handful of chaff with D&H Daily Vits and Mins mixed in twice a day while the others get fed.

That way I can relax, knowing he has everything he needs, because I do worry about these thing!

He's being ridden about 3-5 times a week, mix of hacking and very light schooling as he's just coming back from an injury. If he drops weight as his workload increases, he will have some pasture nuts, but if not, he'll stay on just forage.

 

[grandmaweloveyou]

mine too is a good doer but i do give him a token gesture of hard fee each day, apples, carrots, garlic, brewers yeast and oil so he gets a thank you and something to nibble on whilst the others have their brekkie and tea. gosh im really late with this post, bored you see, sorry!