Winter Feed Advice

Mlini

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8 August 2011
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Well summers nearly over, so it's time for me to think about what to feed my boy over winter!

Last year he was very underweight (I just got him) so he had conditioning feeds over winter. First Alfa A with C&C which he went off after a while, then Alfa A with Baileys no4 which fizzed him up a bit too much. He hasn't had any feed over summer and has been out at grass and in light work. I have started giving him a scoop of Alfa when he comes in, just to use the rest of my Alfa up really before October when he will come in and need proper feeds.

He is a 16.3 TB, 6yrs and will be in light work over winter. I try to ride most days but it is usually 30mins schooling, a little bit of jumping or a small play on the XC (sometimes a combination of all three) but never anything too demanding! He is pretty laid back for a TB, but still has his moments some days!

I have been looking at feeds but don't really want to be spending a fortune feeding him over winter if its not really required! What would you suggest trying him on? I have seen Dengie have brought out 'Healthy Tummy' and am interested in that but not sure it'd give him enough energy and I'm worried he may drop the weight if I dont feed him something conditioning. He could still do with more topline and more muscle, which I am working on with my instructor so I am thinking he may need something a little more than just a complete fibre feed. I don't want to use C&C as he will just go off it in a few months and not really wanting the baileys conditioning cubes as dont want him too fizzy.

Here's a couple of pictures of his current weight after a summer of just grass..

socks1.jpg

socks2.jpg
 
I think that his weight looks good, I personally would like a little more coverage going into winter though. As he seems to have done well on the grass I'd be inclined to feed something like grass nuts by graze on or something similar soaked, sugar beet or speedi beet if sugar beet is too much, then Alfa a oil. Also ad lib hay would be very beneficial.
 
Firstly i would be feeding adlib hay/haylage - including in the field if needed over winter.
Then i would be aiming for a fibre based diet without too much sugar and starch so he doesn't get too fizzy.
Have you tried feeding linseed?
I would perhaps try the c&c with linseed and some speedi beet.
Try and give 3 feeds a day if possible but at least 2 :)
 
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