Willhegofirst
Intermediate Poster
The wind of Heaven is that which blows across a Spinone's nose
Posts: 158
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Post by Willhegofirst on Dec 28, 2010 21:55:24 GMT 1
My boy is barefoot, at the moment he is feed Alpha A oil, ride and relax, a small amount, Kwickbeet, high fibre nuts and linseed. I have read it is best not to give a feed with sugar to barefoot horses, most of the time he is fine, can be a little footy, I am thinking of drooping the mix and replacing with grass nuts, he is not the most forward going horse, but can spin on a sixpence. Is changing to grass nuts a good idea, or can anyone suggest anything else to feed him to give him a bit more energy without the sugar. Thanks
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Post by jes on Dec 28, 2010 21:59:00 GMT 1
I know some people add a handful of oats for extra energy to mainly fibre diets. Literally a handful. My two do well on Lo-Cal balancer, TopChop Lite, plus magic barefoot powder (linseed, seaweed, brewers yeast, rosehips & mint) and both have plenty of energy.
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Willhegofirst
Intermediate Poster
The wind of Heaven is that which blows across a Spinone's nose
Posts: 158
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Post by Willhegofirst on Dec 28, 2010 22:07:51 GMT 1
Thanks jes, who makes the magic barefoot powder? I had wondered about straight oats, used to feed them years ago, before all the bags of mixes were available.
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Post by jes on Dec 28, 2010 22:15:04 GMT 1
I buy all the ingredients separately and mix them together myself.
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Post by KoLaTo on Dec 28, 2010 23:10:04 GMT 1
All mine are barefoot and thrive on Baileys Lo-Cal on it's own.
However for extra forage in mid winter i add TopChop Lite and Speedibeet.
For extra Ooomph then i feed Tiger Oats, sustained energy release used for endurance usually, mine are hardy natives and these oats do the trick just right for them and keep them ticking over enough energy thru winter. I chose Tiger Oats as i didn't want the sudden head rush that plain oats can give then the let down afterwards.
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Post by jen1 on Dec 28, 2010 23:24:47 GMT 1
i think and im sorry to say schooling in oomph is better than feed, it just doesnt work like that, oats are high starch and not good for some barefooters, i see lots of people locking my very forward shire x to the floor , im usually pretty good at having a jolly on the less that forward going horse with energy and chi up and rewarding forward , apart from my freinds cob who i seem to lock to the floor,do you see what im getting at, he could also be just feeling his feet a little which is fine i remember barney having days like this before he got his feet of steel,
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2010 23:52:24 GMT 1
Oats only work if you want to ride 2-2.5 hours after feeding because they're a very quick release feed. If you don't intend to ride in that window they're useless. As Jen says oats are also high in starch which is just as bad as sugar for barefeet. Grass nuts are usually high in sugar too - call the manufacturers and ask for combined sugar and starch content. Depending on how much linseed he gets I'd try upping that but I suspect as Jen says schooling might be the answer. If his weight is ok, then that's a clue he's being fed enough
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Post by Yann on Dec 29, 2010 8:21:55 GMT 1
Do you have boots? I agree, make sure the lack of forward isn't caution on his part.
Other than that you could try upping the linseed, or just making the dinners bigger generally, and see what effect that has. I've fed grass nuts (the red bag ones) in the past for oomph, and got it, but my horse was shod by then. I suppose if you're adding extra calories it's not such an issue if you're burning them off.
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Post by jes on Dec 29, 2010 11:35:32 GMT 1
Sorry. Forgot to say make sure he's entirely comfortable on his feet, and other areas like his back are fine too. The only times my gelding has been lacking oomph it has turned out to be his feet or his back. He doesn't tend to show it in lameness, he just slows down! If everything has been checked out and you're sure all is fine, make sure he's getting all the nutrients he needs from his feed. Re the oats, I didn't mean feed loads, literally a handful can be enough and the starch would not be so much to be detrimental. Saying that, I wouldn't dare feed them to my gelding, he'd go through the roof!
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Post by jill on Dec 29, 2010 11:54:26 GMT 1
I recently read two relevant pieces of information - oats only have the oomph effect on horses who have a low grade allergy to them (ditto barley), but yes, as cereals they do contain starch. And the other is that energy comes from fitness then keeping it supplied with carbohydrates. Not sure where you would get the carbs from without sugars or starch though. That wasn't from her but Jackie JA Taylor is the expert on feeding - ask her.
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Post by Yann on Dec 29, 2010 12:14:49 GMT 1
Good point, I think it's too easy to end up thinking of sugars and starches as 'bad' when they're actually essential to life.
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Post by taklishim on Dec 29, 2010 12:42:13 GMT 1
can be a little footy,
I would be going down this road to start with ie he lacks impulsion as his feet are not good enough. Before considering food I would try and check this out. Is he for example a lot more lively if booted with pads when ridden. If you turn him out onto hard frozen ground with a friend does he move easily and happily around the field or is it obvious he is slightly unhappy. If you lead him in hand at a trot does he happily trot over gravel etc. Does he go better when ridden on soft grass or any other soft surface rather than say gravel, rutted ground etc. It is not always easy to get a totally definite answer as to whether it is a slightly lazy horse or one hampered by poor feet. Have you double checked your frogs?
Before adding anything to his feed I would remove alpha a oil just to check that alfalfa is not your problem. Most horses should surely be able to work willingly and keenly for a short distance on just hay. Obviously if you want to do a lot more or go a lot faster then something else may be required. What make are your hifibre nuts? I think (from experience) that spillers and D & H are safe for the more sensitive horse.
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Post by Yann on Dec 29, 2010 12:50:16 GMT 1
Another likely sign of issues would be your horse seeking the grass verge over anything remotely rough or stony, something a lot of people seem to consider normal in a barefoot horse when I don't think it really should be.
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Post by bertie666 on Dec 29, 2010 13:05:06 GMT 1
thunderbrooks basemix and either their organic bran/live germinating oats ;D
I cannot recommend this stuff highly enough!
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Post by taklishim on Dec 29, 2010 14:42:58 GMT 1
seeking the grass verge over anything remotely rough or stony, something a lot of people seem to consider normal in a barefoot horse when I don't think it really should be.
absolutely Yann. The sound ones seem to really resent it when you try to shift them from the gravelly road they are trotting on over onto the nice comfortable grass verge. ;D ;D
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