Wondering about feed...

[Scribbles]

Back home at our feedstore you could wander around, read the backs of the feed bags and make your mind up what to feed. However, now I've moved you have to place your order, and they get the feed for you, and there's no list of what they have, so I can't really decide what's best for my boy!

He's a 3-4yo TBX type, light work (obviously) but needing a bit of feeding up as he was a bit shabby when he came. He lives out 24/7, but will soon be in over nights for winter.

I've currently got him on spillers conditioning cubes, with some cod liver oil and garlic, and bought a bag of mollichop to slowly add to his feed as he seems to love it. Our bag of nuts is at the mid way point which I think is ideal for introducing any new feeds (can slowly wean him onto new stuff and off it). And I was just wondering what other people feed their youngsters, esp. youngsters needing a bit of condition (he has quite a belly on him from the grass, so it was more conditioning needed to simply help him 'grow up'!)


Any advice would be much appreciated, as I tear my hair out at the feed store buying blindly!

 

[chocolate86]

Ive got the same problem!! Mines a 3 year old who went through racetraining but never raced, having said that hes coming from a racing yard... im looking at cool mix, baileys no 2, a chaff with molases (my local tack shop does quite good economy stuff), eurobeet (sugarbeet) as its slow releasing energy. Nuts and possibly an all round supplement for minerals etc Still thinking but also feed plenty of hay.

 

[BigRed]

There is no need to buy blindly. Go on the internet and all the feed companies are there. Tell them what your horse is, what he does, etc and they will tell your their recommendations for quantities and feed types.

 

[happihorse]

Why not try one of the free feed company helplines who can provide expert, specialist, personalised advice on feeding? Dodson and Horrell / Allen and Page are both good. (Obviously they will only be able to recommend their own products, but its free so at least it will give you some idea!)

Try these:
http://www.dodsonandhorrell.com/helpline/
http://www.allenandpage.com/healthcare.htm

Hope this helps!

 

[CrazyMare]

TopSpec balancer, AlfaA Oil, and Alfabeet. Doesn't send them whizzy, but helps with weight gain. Plus makes a very shiney coat.

Give TopSpec a call - http://www.topspec.com

 

[Scribbles]

Topspec is pretty pricey though isn't it :/

I've rung spillers - waiting for a call back! But whatever happens, he's going to have to get through a bag of chop first as i've gone and paid for it now =D

 

[CrazyMare]

TopSpec isn't cheap, you are right, however it is fed in cups rather than scoops. Lasts me about 6 weeks a sack, works out the same cost as the mixes I was feeding before.

Mine are on 200g per day and 50g per day, which are my 13.1h mare and 4 month old filly respectively. OH's 17h TB is on 300g per day.

 

[Tinkle]

I'll second the Top Spec, Alfa A and Alfabeet combo. I had my 18yr old mare on this last winter and she did really well weight wise. She was on box rest for a month and because she tends to drop weight easily I kept her feed up - she wasn't daft at all when I first started bringing her out for walks. It's also the first time ever she's continued to eat all her feed when she first goes onto better grass in spring.

x

 

[Scribbles]

Thanks for replies. I'll check see if feed store has topspec stuff in, but for the time being - it's mollichop land!

 

[sleepingdragon10]

Hi. If you're looking for an economical balancer you ought to take a look at D&H's suregrow. I feed my boy a cup a day alongside rolled oats, alfalfa chaff and speedibeet, which at around £13.50 a bag works out to be a very inexpensive and effective way to feed.

 

[Scribbles]

Thanks for your replies. Got no response from spillers (!) So I think (after having a browse online) I'm going to slowly switch him to Baileys No.4 cubes, get through this bag of mollichop and onto alfa oil (as it seems very reccomended!) and speedibeet in the winter. The problem is whilst he is under condition, he has never been given any type of feed before, so I don't want to over feed him and risk colic/laminitis!


Thanks though guys =) You're stars!

 

[sachak]

did you contact them via their website or an individual direct - i have a contact name and e-mail address if you wish

 

[Scribbles]

I rang them up and they said they'd ring me back..

Ah it's no bother, I reckon he should be ok on a scoop of baileys no.4, handful of chaff/changing to alfa oil and scoop of speedibeet. It's just me fretting as usual...........!


Thanks =)

 

[Marchtime]

Just a quick note. I know Alfa oil and other alfa products come recommended by many and I'm sure they have their place but they send my TB loopy. I have known it do the same to others. If I feed my boy alfa chaff he becomes evil to handle and has all the wrong energy.
I feed my TB spillers conditioning cubes and dengi hifi with speedy beet in the winter. Keeps weight on him wonderfully and didn't heat him when he was young. I also find Baileys No4 to be slightly more heating than Spillers but it might be that mine is overly sensitive!