What would you feed this horse?

[Bea332]

I won't make any changes to his feed immediately or drastically. Any changes will be done slowly.

Just for a bit of fun/an insight/an eye-opener.

What would you feed the following horse, including supplements:

8 year old gelding.
Connemara x.
13.3hh.
Good-doer but currently at a good weight.
Lives out 24/7 on average grass.
Ridden 4/5 times a week - mixture of hacking, jumping & flatwork.
A bit sluggish occasionally in the school and can be a bit spooky.
History of gastric ulcers.
No known history of laminitis, but obviously a concern due to type.
Barefoot.

 

[PSD]

Absolutely nothing apart from a handful of chaff/pink mash before being ridden.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Absolutely nothing apart from a handful of chaff/pink mash before being ridden.

This exactly! A good doer in what is essentially light work doesn't need anything extra. If you desperately need/want to give a bucket feed, a small handful of Agrobs Wiesencobs doesn't add many calories.

I would work on fitness to combat the sluggishness.

 

[milliepops]

I would add a vit and mineral supp of some description, and salt.

 

[Goldenstar]

Some basic balancer .

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I would add a vit and mineral supp of some description, and salt.

This. I mix mine with Agrobs wiesenflakes - they soak faster than the cobs. Don't need much, really.

Mine is is spooky if his magnesium isn't balanced and they can be a bit flat if missing a vit/min or arent replenishing what they sweat out.

 

[Lipglosspukka]

A carrot.

 

[Bea332]

This is my problem - he's currently on full livery and they all get fed at the same time. If he's not getting fed, he winds himself up. For something with a history of ulcers, I'm a bit worried that he will make his ulcers return/worse.

He's currently on 1/2 scoop lo cal balancer and a handful of molasses free chaff twice a day when everything else is being fed. He also gets magnesium & omega vitality in his evening feed. I've bought him some electrolytes in the hopes that they will help him feeling a bit flat.

I would love to not feed anything/feed just an evening feed!

 

[milliepops]

what you are doing sounds ideal then.

 

[Surbie]

I'd just go with salt mixed with a small handful of something low in calories. Vit and mins possibly. Otherwise nothing.

 

[BeckyFlowers]

If he's out 24/7 how are they all getting bucket-fed at the same time? They're not all fed in the field, surely?

 

[pansymouse]

Nothing.

 

[Bea332]

If he's out 24/7 how are they all getting bucket-fed at the same time? They're not all fed in the field, surely?

Yes, but they're in different fields. My boy has got a field behind him, one across the walk-way and one next to him so he can tell when they're being fed.

 

[HobleytheTB]

Any sort of chaff is good to use before riding to help prevent acid splash and thus ulcer formation. Something like hifi molasses free is low sugar/ starch so won't be adding much calorie-wise...

Speedibeet is also low sugar/ starch and high fibre, ulcers friendly etc. That could be an option whilst everyone else is fed? Depends if he will eat mash type feeds though.

 

[PurBee]

A carrot.

??

 

[PurBee]

I agree with others - a mineral/vit balancer to balance whats commonly lacking nutritionally in hay/grass, all year round.
May add magnesium if its low in the balancer.
Salt.

Omega 3 linseed in winter when off grass if intake is low/nothing.

 

[PurBee]

This is my problem - he's currently on full livery and they all get fed at the same time. If he's not getting fed, he winds himself up. For something with a history of ulcers, I'm a bit worried that he will make his ulcers return/worse.

He's currently on 1/2 scoop lo cal balancer and a handful of molasses free chaff twice a day when everything else is being fed. He also gets magnesium & omega vitality in his evening feed. I've bought him some electrolytes in the hopes that they will help him feeling a bit flat.

I would love to not feed anything/feed just an evening feed!

if hes grazing grass in summer im not sure you need the omega vitality. Depends on generosity of grazing...bare very short grazing maybe keep him on omega....lusher grazing ty him off it. (Theres such a thing as too much of a good thing, so too much omega 3 in ratio to omega 6/9 has its own issues - theres plenty of omegas in fresh grass.)

 

[alibali]

Low sugar chaff before riding and salt in response to your original post. With the update you put on I'd feed similar to you but in extremely small quantities. I'm pretty sure horses can't judge quantity so as long as he's getting a bucket containing a mouthful of something at the appropriate times that would do for me.

Ideally I'd feed any electrolytes after work rather than before so he's got access to water after eating them but with my get fat on thin air types I only feed once a day and so have to give them before work with their chaff (unless I know we're going to be out for hours or working very hard)

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

The feed his on sounds fine if his doing well on it.

 

[Auslander]

If he's out 24/7 how are they all getting bucket-fed at the same time? They're not all fed in the field, surely?

I feed all mine in the field with no issues. 5 in one field, and two pairs. I use molasses free chaff tactically to make sure the greedy ones finish last

 

[spotty_pony]

Basic balancer and access to a salt lick, that would be it and obviously hay depending on how much grass you have.

 

[holeymoley]

If he’s doing fine then don’t fix what ain’t broken as they say.

i agree with a scoop of chaff or such before riding. I like simple systems lucie cubes which i soak before riding. Gives him a buffer in his stomach and also gives some fluids.

 

[BeckyFlowers]

If it's just to stop him going mad while the others are having their food then I'd feed something like Honeychop straw, or if he's a bit fussy then HiFi molasses free chaff. Only a handful to keep him calm. It sounds as though he doesn't really need anything if he's on decent grass. Plus I would let him have a small soaked net of hay whilst grooming before exercise.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I’d feed a good balancer and some chaff daily, before riding on those days.

 

[Palindrome]

I am now feeding mine a balancer that comes in the form of apple flavored treats (it's called Reverdy Oligovit) as they are all on good grass and at a good weight. The plus is they all come running at the gate to get their treats and no mixing of powders or soaking for me.