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Post by gordo on Dec 21, 2011 9:11:26 GMT 1
Advice please folks. Both mum and I are the owners of field ornaments: Gordo 17.2hh 25 yo ID/TB and Pepe 13.2hh 20+ yo conny. Both are 'in' most of the time on a fab yard where they have large stable with a 'porch' area to move about in and the concrete yard out back so they are not left standing still. Fields are wet and hilly so, when they do go out, it can be a nerve-wracking time as they will run off like loonies slipping as they go!! However, feed. Both have arthritis and I have tried sooo many things with G to no avail. So bute is given but its the main foodstuff we could do with advice with. They have hay ad lib but are on a basic coarse mix twice a day with bit of beet for mums fella. We both know they ought to be on a senior mix but which one is the most effective for their age? Like most of us, we are keeping them on low finances but want to feed them the best we can. I have a bag of Senior Balancer someone gave me but not sure if its enough for them. Any constructive advice appreciated!
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steve
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 1,640
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Post by steve on Dec 21, 2011 10:37:04 GMT 1
My Casper is nearly 20 and is just starting to show his age - I have had him on D&H senior mix for a couple of months but he is just holding his weight, but could do with a bit more coverage I think as he is looking ribby.
He is currently in at night with 30lbs of hay, and a evening feed & breakfast and out on ok grass for this time of year all day.
I have been recommended Pure Condition, and looking at the spec it looks ok to me, but I have 2 bags of feed to get thru first. Don't know what to say re the arthritis, I have tried all the supplements going and massages/physio treatments etc but nothing seems to help him at this time of year better than keeping him warm. I use thermatex leg wraps at night to keep his legs warm!! Spoilt old goat!!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2011 10:38:27 GMT 1
Try the Winergy Equilibrium Senior mix............they revamped it last year and we were chosen to trial it for them for 2 months Crystal 25 thrived on it, balanced no need to give any additional supplements either as it has everything they could want..................we stuck with it ever since
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Post by alivetnurse on Dec 21, 2011 12:14:17 GMT 1
HI there, I have a 33yr old who struggles with her weight and due to cushings can't have conditioning feeds. My life saver has been top spec cool and condition cubes, alfa oil and either fibre beet or fibre soak from the soft and soak range. She loves it and does really well on this combination. She also has a massive trug of fibregy as she has few teeth left so struggles with hay!!! She also has pink powder on a daily basis and when finances allow I splash out and buy a bulk load of lineseed powder as well. Once you have the condition back on you can swap the cool and condition nuts for fibre nuts as they are slightly cheaper.She will never be 'chubby' again due to all the old age probs she has but it keeps her looking well. She is on danilon daily as well due to arthritis x
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Post by jill on Dec 21, 2011 12:16:24 GMT 1
They could be insulin resistant at that age which means cut down sugars and starches (cereals) - Sabria is and gets grass nuts, Speedybeet or other low sugar beet, and Top Spec Cool Condition. She can't eat hay though, so most of that is hay replacer. For yours I think I would go with a small amount of unmollassed beet, grass nuts and Top Spec balancer, especially if they do one for veterans. Maybe some yeassac for digestion.
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Olivia
Olympic Poster
Sparrow's Flight
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Post by Olivia on Dec 21, 2011 17:03:56 GMT 1
Rowan Barbury soft and soak ready mash feeds are really good They look like bran mash but arent. Theyve got a new one, Solution mash, which is cereal free, low sugar/starch etc if thats a problem. Mine live out and they had that last year and came into spring a bit podgy
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madmare1
Grand Prix Poster
The Gruesome Twosome
Posts: 1,500
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Post by madmare1 on Dec 21, 2011 19:56:02 GMT 1
like Mum said, Winergy Equilibrium Senior or Condition is fab for older horses, it's fibre based, and is low sugar and OK for IR ponies as well (Winergy really did their research on it!)
Currently have Crystal on the 16+ Mix and Senior Mollichop, with 3 nets of good quality hay, and she's bouncing! If she does get stiff, I use Alphabute, the natural alternative to Bute from Global Herbs...got turmeric and stuff in it, but no Devils Claw..Crystal had a sprained tendon last year..and with the Alphabute, she was sound and back in work in about 4 days....and at 25, it normally takes a few weeks!
Emma xx
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eden
Olympic Poster
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Post by eden on Dec 21, 2011 22:25:34 GMT 1
I feed Vix slow release energy cubes as she is lami and conditioning chaff I phoned spillers and they know her past and recomended that, they are very helpful and send you money off vouchers. She dropped weight last year this year she looks great.
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Post by horsefeed on Dec 22, 2011 10:23:54 GMT 1
I love Simple System, I've fed it to all mine for about 3 years and they all looked fabulous on it. Last summer he dropped a bit of weight and at the recommendation of my vet I tried Calm and Condition and barley rings and it was 3 months of hell with my old boy. He started refusing to eat his dinners and dropped more weight. I put him on 1kg of Top Nosh a day (which is double the reccommended dose for his size) and he is piling on weight so I am not going to play with his feeds again
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Post by anastasia55555 on Dec 22, 2011 12:47:20 GMT 1
Rowan Barbury soft and soak ready mash feeds are really good They look like bran mash but arent. Theyve got a new one, Solution mash, which is cereal free, low sugar/starch etc if thats a problem. Mine live out and they had that last year and came into spring a bit podgy i use the ready mash extra for toffee and a little bit for apollo over winter. Toffee is looking good on it :-) mix with some hot water, nice warm mash
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Post by anastasia55555 on Dec 22, 2011 12:50:48 GMT 1
Meant to say its not mega expensive and lasts a good while and it expands when soaked :-)
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Post by lazhorses on Dec 24, 2011 16:51:51 GMT 1
I have just started my 23 yo on 16+ mix as he is just starting to lose condition and as he is still gently hacked out a couple of times a week he needs something to keep his weight on (TB too which does not help). With regards to the arthritis he is on Cider Vinegar and Buteless and has leg wraps on at night to keep his joints warm. He seems to be thriving on this as he is so much happier and even cantered in the field the other day which I have not seen him do for a long time. Fingers crossed for the 16+.
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Post by mandal on Dec 24, 2011 17:03:36 GMT 1
What about micronized linseed? It will help with weight and may well help joints. I believe it's around £20 for 25kgs from Charnwood. A mug a day would probably be enough for Gordo, less for the pony. Just add a balancer and salt in beet. Keeping weight off Dommi (25+) is my problem.
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madmare1
Grand Prix Poster
The Gruesome Twosome
Posts: 1,500
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Post by madmare1 on Dec 24, 2011 18:02:45 GMT 1
mandal..I have the same problem...trying to keep weight OFF Crystal is hard work!
Emma xx
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Post by portiabuzz on Dec 26, 2011 23:59:17 GMT 1
Casper is 18 and a recovering lamanitic, he is fed speedibeet and pure easy from pure feeds. He is doing really well on it and is maintaining his weight well.
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