what would you feed this horse?

[atot]

15hh Cob type. Certainly doesn't need anything heating. ridden 5 times a week, does a bit of everything, and can manage a small xc comp etc... but currently not fit enough to hunt. Doesn't need any supplements, hooves in good condition. Holds weight a bit too well. On haylage atm, and about 8hours turnout a day.

This is the most recent picture I have of her, It's not very good:

Taken at an event in September. She's not changed much since.

Am starting to wonder whether she should have anything...she's on a bit of chaff and cubes atm, mainly just to keep her happy at feedtime...

She can manage most things, but does sweat buckets out of excitement. Really want to get her fit for late hunting in about Jan, but don't want to 'starve' her of energy needed to get her fit....She's my first horse, so haven't really got an established 'fittening' programme for her.
She's been in light/medium work all the time, so she's never been really unfit. Is is even possible to get her hunting fit on 5 days a week exercise?

Any fittening/feed advice much appreciated....Sorry for the long ramble...just looking for suggestions and tips, thank you!

 

[lilym]

vitamin and mineral supplement, to top up what you are already feeding, unless you are feeding at the manufacturer's recommended levels your horse will not be getting it's full quota of vits/mins. although she has good hooves now, a year's time may tell a different story! i would also add an electrolyte if she is sweating excessivly.
interval training is good for getting horse's fit - post in comp riders as lots of hunting/eventing peeps lurk in there!

 

[lucemoose]

QR/Looks really good, arent You Truffles?! Keep the chaff, ideally a low sugar one to keep her getting 'hyped'something like Dengie HiFi or a similar product. Rather than just give her cubes, unless they are just fibre cubes to add to the fibre ration- try a balancer to get all her levels right. Try D+H Suregrow, its practically exactly the same as their Ultimate Balancer but £30 cheaper!!
When she settles into her fittening work like when you have more time around the xmas hols, add a little oil to her feed , or unmollased sugar beet to give her slow release energy.
Remember to increase her work load before increasing the feed!

 

[Pasha]

I agree - you should feed a broad spectrum feed supllement or balancer if you are not feeding the recommended levels of concentrate (who does?)...... also went to a talk by a nutritionalist and vet last night - they said all horses over the age of 6 should be fed a joint supplement to prevent joint problems later on in life

 

[pottamus]

I would just feed a all round supplement in chaff and nothing else. My Welsh has a supplement in a couple of handfuls of chaff and he then lives off grass and hay all year round. He happily does endurance rides of up to 20 miles each week in summer on this and will trot the entire way and still have bags of energy after! I feed Feedmark's Benevit...it is great!

 

[atot]

[ QUOTE ]
vitamin and mineral supplement, to top up what you are already feeding, unless you are feeding at the manufacturer's recommended levels your horse will not be getting it's full quota of vits/mins. although she has good hooves now, a year's time may tell a different story! i would also add an electrolyte if she is sweating excessivly.
interval training is good for getting horse's fit - post in comp riders as lots of hunting/eventing peeps lurk in there!

[/ QUOTE ]

Okay, will definately get on to a supplement - any suggestions for a broad spectrum one? Have been looking into electrolytes too....
thanks for the reply - will post in comp riders!

 

[atot]

[ QUOTE ]
I agree - you should feed a broad spectrum feed supllement or balancer if you are not feeding the recommended levels of concentrate (who does?)...... also went to a talk by a nutritionalist and vet last night - they said all horses over the age of 6 should be fed a joint supplement to prevent joint problems later on in life

[/ QUOTE ]

Cripes - 6!!!! Well, little horse was hammered into the ground when she was 3, she was a hunting hireling in Ireland, her legs are very happy though - suppose a joint supplement to maintain her legs wouldn't do any harm.... Will deffo look into it... thanks for the reply.

 

[atot]

[ QUOTE ]
QR/Looks really good, arent You Truffles?! Keep the chaff, ideally a low sugar one to keep her getting 'hyped'something like Dengie HiFi or a similar product. Rather than just give her cubes, unless they are just fibre cubes to add to the fibre ration- try a balancer to get all her levels right. Try D+H Suregrow, its practically exactly the same as their Ultimate Balancer but £30 cheaper!!
When she settles into her fittening work like when you have more time around the xmas hols, add a little oil to her feed , or unmollased sugar beet to give her slow release energy.
Remember to increase her work load before increasing the feed!

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks, yes am indeed truffles! *changing name back sooooon* She's on the dengi low-fi chaff stuff. I might just keep it like that till she gets a little fitter, then change to DH something or other....oil is a great idea...linseed oil I have heard is the best...
thanks for your help x

 

[atot]

[ QUOTE ]
I would just feed a all round supplement in chaff and nothing else. My Welsh has a supplement in a couple of handfuls of chaff and he then lives off grass and hay all year round. He happily does endurance rides of up to 20 miles each week in summer on this and will trot the entire way and still have bags of energy after! I feed Feedmark's Benevit...it is great!

[/ QUOTE ]

Blimey...he sounds fit as a fiddle! Bless, mine tended to jiggle and joggle for 5 miles on sponsored rides, and then begin to realise none of the other horses were doing it, and that it was easier if you just went at the pace the rider wanted

. Have never heard of feedmark...will check it out...thank you!

 

[xk3lLix]

if she was mine i'd give her Hi-Fi or Alfa-A and pony cubes and some carrot dont give her to much otherwise she'll end up like my pony with laminitis beware!!