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rosepa

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What would you feed my horse - do you think I need to make changes to his feed? I've just bought him, and he's an 8yr old warmblood 16.3hh gelding, who's very underweight - hips sticking out etc. :/

Atm, he's fed this twice a day, as well as constant access to ad lib haylage:
1 scoop conditioning cubes
1 scoop mix
1 scoop alfa a
1/2 scoop sugar beet (just started him on this will slowly build up)

He hasn't seemed to heat up when changing his feeds, although is very forward going hacking! He's exercised 5 or 6 times a week, mix of hacking, schooling and jumping.

Thanks in advance for any help x
 
rosepa said:
What would you feed my horse - do you think I need to make changes to his feed? I've just bought him, and he's an 8yr old warmblood 16.3hh gelding, who's very underweight - hips sticking out etc. :/

Atm, he's fed this twice a day, as well as constant access to ad lib haylage:
1 scoop conditioning cubes
1 scoop mix
1 scoop alfa a
1/2 scoop sugar beet (just started him on this will slowly build up)

He hasn't seemed to heat up when changing his feeds, although is very forward going hacking! He's exercised 5 or 6 times a week, mix of hacking, schooling and jumping.

Thanks in advance for any help x
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personally I hate mixes so wont feed mine any kind of mix grain anymore comp mix pasture mix you name it, no mix for my horses, what your feeding seems fine though I would swap your sugar beet to speedy beet.

And a good multi vit
 
could you split down the same amount of feed in to more meals a day? that is supposedly much more beneficial for condition
 
rosepa said:
What would you feed my horse - do you think I need to make changes to his feed? I've just bought him, and he's an 8yr old warmblood 16.3hh gelding, who's very underweight - hips sticking out etc. :/

Atm, he's fed this twice a day, as well as constant access to ad lib haylage:
1 scoop conditioning cubes
1 scoop mix
1 scoop alfa a
1/2 scoop sugar beet (just started him on this will slowly build up)

He hasn't seemed to heat up when changing his feeds, although is very forward going hacking! He's exercised 5 or 6 times a week, mix of hacking, schooling and jumping.

Thanks in advance for any help x
Click to expand...

If you are using round scoops that is far too much in each feed, he will not be getting the full benefit from it as it will move through the stomach too quickly before it has started to be processed, I would cut out the mix and replace with some oil, either veg or micronised linseed, it will not be so bulky but will be high in calories, if you can feed a 3rd feed so each is smaller that will also help.
Make sure he is up to date with worming and teeth are good, get him out onto some good, if you have any, grazing and be patient the weight will come on slowly, I would possibly reduce the work a bit if he is that thin he will not benefit from jumping or too much schooling until he has built up correct muscles, you will also be burning off the calories you are giving him.
 
I don't like mixes either - you never know exactly what is in them, they probably contain a whole lot of stuff your horse dosn't need (molasseses & broll for example) and they are generally designed to seperate hard working owners from their cash.

If he needs condtion then, a fat based feed or some oil will help add weight without adding fizz. And just out of curiosity - how much is a "scoop" weight wise? I have several scoops in my feed room and they are all of different size.
 
if he is very underweight then I would stop riding him and just feed 1 whole scoop of non molassed sugar beet (dry measure), half a scoop of a chaff or similar, salt, supplement and micronised linseed along with ad lib forage and decent turn out
 
I said to yard manager earlier that as we're starting sugar beet we should cut mix but (as I'm only 16 - first horse) she just said to keep it same! Totally agree with two much feed not providing benefit... I think I'll just say to her tomorrow to totally swap mix for the beet, and then think about adding some oil after another week or so. The scoops are pretty big, and his work isn't that high intensity when I do ride (about 30mins)!
 
Adding something like soya oil will help, as long as he'll eat it. Make sure his teeth are in good order and wormed up to date. Best thing to do is give some of the feed companies a call, most of them have help lines to speak to their nutrionists who will be able to help. Bailey's feeds are brilliant. Also, make sure he's warm enough! I moved yards last winter and didn't account for how windy the fields were! Would rug up in the yard then get to the field and decide she needed more layers. Remember it won't happen overnight, tick along with what you're doing and maybe put a weigh tape round him every so often. Good luck :)
 
He's got about 580g of rug fill on atm, had full worming a few weeks back and dentist coming Tuesday :) thank you so much for your help everyone!
 
rosepa said:
Okay thanks! Any reason why you don't like mixes?
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1 a comp mix gave my mare laminitis (along with a couple other things)
2 they are harder to digest (birds have a field day with the poo)
3 my horses do far better ( energy wise and weight wise without )
4 they are much to heating FMH
5 I prefer to give a compound than a straight, I like to know what is going in my horses not pretty looking feeds with peas / carrots (mix)etc to blow their heads off.

Agree with others

linseed - soya oil much better for weight and energy

far better to do 3 feeds or even 4 a day say


7am

12 pm


5pm

10 pm


than 2 humongous feed
 
Last edited:
HGA-12 said:
1 a comp mix gave my mare laminitis (along with a couple other things)
2 they are harder to digest (birds have a field day with the poo)
3 my horses do far better ( energy wise and weight wise without )
4 they are much to heating FMH
5 I prefer to give a compound than a straight , I like to know what is going in a horses not pretty looking feeds with peas / carrots
(mix)etc to blow their heads off.
Click to expand...

Yup can see why you don't like them haha, he does poo an awful lot atm too... Will definitely cut mix out!
 
You need to tell your yard owner how you want your horse fed.
Even on full livery, it's your horse and your say (although we all appreciate their advice and experiences)

Giving him a lunch should be easily possible.
You may have to pay a little extra or come to agreement with a fellow
Livery (?) to give him a late feed or and early pre breakfast!

Good luck
 
Will talk to her tonight about it all! Thing is some days they have a super early breakfast at 5.30 am, where as at weekends it's 9am, but I'll ask if he can have another feed at about 1pm ish. Tea is always 5.30 ish.
 
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