Advice Please From You Horsey K9ers

[Rebecca Claire]

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I hope you don't mind me asking but my 16 year old thoroughbred Storm who I retired 18 months ago due to pedal bone problems, may need a change to his diet especially due to this extremely cold weather. He is completely rugged up but I want him to keep his weight on, he has lost his top line due to not being in work but I want him to keep condition (not too much to ask :teehee: ). He's currently having Dobson and Horrell build up mix, chaff and sugar beet and carrots/pears/apples twice a day. Is there something else that he would benefit from? Should I look at giving him 3 meals a day? Ideally nothing that would heat him up/make him fizzy! Just want to do whats right by my boy as he's a wonderful big gentle giant who's now just enjoying a peaceful pampered life :huggles:

Thanks for taking the time to read this and look forward to your replies

 

[allypally]

hi i would be tempted to try super barley, great for maintaing condition some people find they make there horses fizzy but we,ve never had any problems

 

[posh totty]

try alfa oil, and there is a food which the name total evades at min :clown: suitable for laminitics too,which looks like pond pellets but very high in nutrition and excellent for older horses also soaked feeds are much easier digested, :thumbsup:

 

[dabroad]

Im no expert on thoroughbreds that are in work or working mixes. But i know oats keep them warm but do make them nutts lol. I just had a pony for sevens years and she was laminetic. but as for thoroughbreds im not sure? might help? :wacko: xx

 

[haycroft]

we use baileys feed for our TBs Xs hers a link..All the horse are kept out 24/7

http://www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk/index.htm

 

[posh totty]

ive remembered!!!! outshine!!! thats the name!! :thumbsup:

 

[WIGGY]

I WOULD THINK YOU ARE SPOT ON WITH WHAT YOU ARE FEEDING NOW REBECCA, WITH AS MUCH GOOD QUALITY HAYLAGE AS HE CAN EAT,WE HAVE A CATTLE FEEDER IN OUR FIELD AND KEEP IT CONSTANTLY FILLED AND OUR 17YR OLD IS LIKE A BARRELL. YOU CAN PAY LOTS OF MONEY FOR BAGS OF FOOD WITH FANCY NAMES WHICH WILL GIVE YOU NO BETTER RESULTS THAN WITH THE OLD FAITHFULL FEEDS YOU ARE FEEDING.

 

[kierpark]

I feed my 19 year old mare benevit in her feed, that gives her extra minerals Etc without overloading them with hard feed,

 

[peppermint lady]

i had a TB gelding that didnt hold weight over winter, i was told barley rings would do the job without fizzing him up :thumbsup: and that did make a difference :thumbsup:

 

[Debbie Reed]

I swear by Allan and page weight gain and the best one ever, IMHO, Baileys NO 1. Both non heating and very good for top line. Beware of to much sugar in feed for the older horse as digestive system cannot always cope with it but any sort of oil (up to a teacup full) is excellent.

My own hose is 24 TBx and 2 of my liveries are 25 and 29 respectively and this is what they get fed.

Good luck. It really is a question of finding the right feed for each individual horse and there is no set system.

Debbie

 

[jinnyfizz]

I don't think there's much wrong with what Storm is having now, Rebecca :thumbsup:

I have always been a Spillers fan, and give mine conditioning cubes when they need that little

more, and then knock it back to horse and pony cubes when required. I always add Alfa-oil and

sugar beet to dampen plus vegetable oil and seaweed powder.

Ad-lib haylage too.

The only other thing is to get his teeth done, if you haven't already, as that can help immensely

with older horses :thumbsup:

My shetland is 42 this year (I think we've talked about her anyway ) and she is doing really well,

bless :wub:

My TB broodmare is now 13 and lives out all years round (well rugged in winter), presently she has no extra at all but she

will be getting haylage if this freeze continues - she is a good doer!!

 

[Rebecca Claire]

Fantastic, thank you for your wonderful replies :thumbsup: I didn't think I would get so much advice. I am going to go through and re-read them. I will do some more replies too

 

[Rebecca Claire]

hi i would be tempted to try super barley, great for maintaing condition some people find they make there horses fizzy but we,ve never had any problems

I must admit Storm hasn't ever got too fizzy on feeds but don't want to start him off now!!!!! (w00t)

 

[Rebecca Claire]

we use baileys feed for our TBs Xs hers a link..All the horse are kept out 24/7http://www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk/index.htm

I've had a look at this site thank you - baileys feed are popular so may change him to this. Storm is so rugged up, he's out during the day but by the gate by 3.30pm wanting to come in, clearly he loves his stable way too much!!!

Posh totty - will look up Outshine, haven't heard or used this before - nice one :thumbsup:

 

[Rebecca Claire]

I don't think there's much wrong with what Storm is having now, Rebecca :thumbsup:
I have always been a Spillers fan, and give mine conditioning cubes when they need that little

more, and then knock it back to horse and pony cubes when required. I always add Alfa-oil and

sugar beet to dampen plus vegetable oil and seaweed powder.

Ad-lib haylage too.

The only other thing is to get his teeth done, if you haven't already, as that can help immensely

with older horses :thumbsup:

My shetland is 42 this year (I think we've talked about her anyway ) and she is doing really well,

bless :wub:

My TB broodmare is now 13 and lives out all years round (well rugged in winter), presently she has no extra at all but she

will be getting haylage if this freeze continues - she is a good doer!!

I must admit Spillers is very popular and maybe worth me trying Storm on this. Conditioning cubes I suppose I could add to what he has and reduce a bit of build up do you think? Like the extras too that you have suggested - will get this at the weekend - THANK YOU :thumbsup:

Storms teeth were done every 6 months but now he only needs them annually, now due in March, how time flies!!!

I am still in shock that your shetland is 42 years old (w00t) - fantatic age. I won't tell my OH as he won't want me to have another horse lol!!!!

Haylage I think maybe the way forward - once haylage is opened, how long would it last do you think? Storm has half a bale of hay every night, however if haylage he will never eat hay again lol!!! :teehee:

At least I'm on the right track and can only improve what he's eating. Thank you Jinnyfizz x

 

[Rebecca Claire]

I feed my 19 year old mare benevit in her feed, that gives her extra minerals Etc without overloading them with hard feed,

Good point made actually, as his feeds have increased loads so having to try and spread his feeds out so he doesn't get to eat too much in one go!

 

[Rebecca Claire]

Im no expert on thoroughbreds that are in work or working mixes. But i know oats keep them warm but do make them nutts lol. I just had a pony for sevens years and she was laminetic. but as for thoroughbreds im not sure? might help? :wacko: xx

Love the idea of oats keeping him warm but the idea of him going nutts doesn't take my fancy he he!!!!! He may only be 16.3hh but when standing on his back legs think I would have no chance controlling him (w00t)

 

[Rebecca Claire]

I WOULD THINK YOU ARE SPOT ON WITH WHAT YOU ARE FEEDING NOW REBECCA, WITH AS MUCH GOOD QUALITY HAYLAGE AS HE CAN EAT,WE HAVE A CATTLE FEEDER IN OUR FIELD AND KEEP IT CONSTANTLY FILLED AND OUR 17YR OLD IS LIKE A BARRELL. YOU CAN PAY LOTS OF MONEY FOR BAGS OF FOOD WITH FANCY NAMES WHICH WILL GIVE YOU NO BETTER RESULTS THAN WITH THE OLD FAITHFULL FEEDS YOU ARE FEEDING.

Thank you, its good to know I'm on the right track, always different when he was in work. I do find it hard seeing him lose muscle and top line as I feel he looks older than he is. I use to have him on Blue Chip when I first bought him and that was expensive but it did work - I agree on the old faithful feeds, but like to make sure I am doing the right thing.

 

[jinnyfizz]

Haylage I think maybe the way forward - once haylage is opened, how long would it last do you think? Storm has half a bale of hay every night, however if haylage he will never eat hay again lol!!! :teehee:

With haylage for horses, the drier the better so that there is no problem with fermentation.

I find that a small bale of haylage (same size as normal hay bale) lasts about 3 days for 1 horse,

whereas a big round bale might last about 10 days before it starts to "turn". With one horse you are better

off buying the ordinary small bale haylage. I pay £4.50 a bale from a farmer who makes haylage

specifically for horses. Don't get the Horsehage stuff - that doesn't go anywhere!!!!! (w00t)

I used to use big round bales, but I was feeding 4 horses at the time and it went fairly quickly. Even so

the centre of the bale was still getting warm by the time I got down to it

Bet he will still eat hay .......... especially if it has that lovely new hay smell :thumbsup:

 

[Rebecca Claire]

Haylage I think maybe the way forward - once haylage is opened, how long would it last do you think? Storm has half a bale of hay every night, however if haylage he will never eat hay again lol!!! :teehee:

With haylage for horses, the drier the better so that there is no problem with fermentation.

I find that a small bale of haylage (same size as normal hay bale) lasts about 3 days for 1 horse,

whereas a big round bale might last about 10 days before it starts to "turn". With one horse you are better

off buying the ordinary small bale haylage. I pay £4.50 a bale from a farmer who makes haylage

specifically for horses. Don't get the Horsehage stuff - that doesn't go anywhere!!!!! (w00t)

I used to use big round bales, but I was feeding 4 horses at the time and it went fairly quickly. Even so

the centre of the bale was still getting warm by the time I got down to it

Bet he will still eat hay .......... especially if it has that lovely new hay smell :thumbsup:

I will see if I can find somehwere near me that does the small haylage bales - Storm will love this I must admit. Great advice - he is fussy about this hay bless him so the newer smelling soft hay the better!!