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Post by eskimo on Dec 30, 2006 22:14:33 GMT 1
Has any one else suffered this when using Topspec? I have been using Topspec for 10 months now and during this time my horse has had a bit of an attitude & Excess bad energy. I read another thread on here about problems with topspec and it got me wondering.
So i have steadily cut down the Topspec and now I'm not feeding it i haven't been feeding it for a week now. He seems like a different horse much happier in his attitude behavior and much more switched on to his work. He's fed SS feeds. I was feeding the right amount and have clarified it with Topspec.
I'm looking at just switching him to a Vit/Min Supplement instead, as he is fed a fibre only diet.
My other 2 horses are doing really well on Topspec and there hooves have never been in such good condition.
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xrachx
Olympic Poster
Posts: 600
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Post by xrachx on Dec 30, 2006 22:24:54 GMT 1
I havent had any experience with topspec but my lad flipped out on allen and page calm and condition. He went from quite naughty to uncontrolable in about 3 weeks and had a terrible nasty attitude too. I cut out the feed and he was back to himself within 2 weeks. He only went onto c&c as he drops weight in winter but he wont be getting it again !
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Post by jes on Dec 30, 2006 22:27:08 GMT 1
No, I've been feeding it for a year now and had no problems. Horse is more relaxed if anything, although that could be to do with the magnesium.  |
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pip
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 3,797
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Post by pip on Dec 30, 2006 22:30:58 GMT 1
Never had any problems with Top Spec, either the Balancer or the Comprehensive Supplement. It says on the feeding instructions to feed half rate is OK. I did this with a mature, fizzy TBX, who really wasn't doing much work at all, although I did Riding Club competitions, lessons and Pleasure Rides on her, and she was fine and looked great on a half-amount (and had good feet and did not get mud fever).
If they are not doing a great deal, in good condition generally and getting high quality feed (as in SS) then for that particular horse the half-amount is probably sufficient.
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rosie
Grand Prix Poster
stroppy mare
Posts: 1,153
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Post by rosie on Dec 30, 2006 23:14:27 GMT 1
I started using Top spec anti lam about 3 months ago. I would say after about 6 weeks, I thought that my horse was very lively ! She is quite forward going anyway, but out hacking, I would ask her to trot and she wanted to gallop ! She was also very spooky, shying at things she wouldnt normally bother about. Also generally, messing about, jogging, snatching reins - that was just walking back down lane into farm - where we are normally ambling along on a loose rein then. All she was getting was top spec, a little bit of hi fi lite and a few carrots. I cut down the carrots to 2 carrots a day and started her on mag ox after reading about it on here. About 10 days ago, I decided to stop the top spec just as an experiment, and was giving her just a handful of hi fi lite and a handful of high fibre cubes. I have ridden her about 4 times this last week, in company and alone and she has been really good, very calm and well behaved. I dont know if its just coincidence or not. The last couple of days I have given her a tiny bit of top spec am & pm - not ideal , but am just trying to use it up really - it cost enough !! So I think I will see how it goes, but when its gone I dont think I will get another sack. Its a shame because she looks well and her feet are doing well, but I cant cope with her being unsafe to ride - which she was, the way she was acting a few weeks ago.
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Confuggled!
Olympic Poster
Who among us has not as a child asked Father Christmas to bring us a pony on Christmas day?
Posts: 968
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Post by Confuggled! on Dec 30, 2006 23:17:15 GMT 1
Ive had the opposite, too laid back with topspec! Back to bluechip for me!!
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Post by jen1 on Dec 30, 2006 23:19:37 GMT 1
i gave up on top spec last year, your reason was one of mine, so i gave up "just to see" and sure enough he went back to him normal self, im using pink powders this year, with cal-mag, and all seems fine so far, my broody eats them with no problems
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Post by fin on Dec 30, 2006 23:22:31 GMT 1
Yup--I had horrendous problems with TopSPec--laminitis, stiff hindquarters, horse attacking people etc. And he's bursting with energy now he's off it--he was a total sloth while he was on it (although actually that was an improvement in some ways).
Still, all that's detailed on the other thread--I think we came to the conclusion that it did affect a tiny proportion of horses very badly, but most are OK.
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Iona
Advanced Poster
Blondie Boy
Posts: 424
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Post by Iona on Dec 31, 2006 11:04:34 GMT 1
i had the same problems with topspec too.
my mare is on a fibre only diet aswell as anything else heats her up. i was worried about her min and vit intake and she drops weight in the winter. so i put her on topspec comprehensive at the start of september. she got strong, pushy, lively etc and a pain to ride.
i took her off topspec and i had my sane horse back.
i'm not going to try it again. just sticking to chaff and beet. seems to be doing ok for her now.
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Post by Pauline on Dec 31, 2006 11:29:18 GMT 1
Used Topspec for a while but found that horses either ran out of energy or one was loosing weight.
I have now changed to Nesler Solid Gold and have found a great difference. I need to feed very little to maintain weight and energy.
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Post by Yann on Dec 31, 2006 11:38:43 GMT 1
I definitely found this with Rio, but supplementing magnesium helped counterract it and I've carried on feeding it for the other benefits. Tess wasn't as bad but just had way too much energy in the summer, grass seems to be enough for her then anyway.
I'm feeding both of them antilam rather than the comprehensive now and it doesn't seem to be as bad. I haven't been the only one with the problem at my yard so I suspect the quality and type of grazing have some bearing on the issue.
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Post by mags on Dec 31, 2006 11:52:50 GMT 1
Finn How did you find yours was stiff behind. I like Dan on the top spec as he is calmer not it is posible its contributing to our other problems ATM Gonna stop feeding it tomorrow just incase. Not sure what to feed instead though other than more sugar beet.
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Iona
Advanced Poster
Blondie Boy
Posts: 424
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Post by Iona on Dec 31, 2006 12:09:25 GMT 1
mags: new product out called fibre beet. like speedi beet but much higher fibre content and contains alfa-alfa. not sure if thats a help but maybe worth looking into. i'm certainly going to.
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Nessie
Intermediate Poster
IH Member
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Post by Nessie on Dec 31, 2006 12:15:49 GMT 1
I havent had any experience with topspec but my lad flipped out on allen and page calm and condition. He went from quite naughty to uncontrolable in about 3 weeks and had a terrible nasty attitude too. I cut out the feed and he was back to himself within 2 weeks. He only went onto c&c as he drops weight in winter but he wont be getting it again ! Not used TopSpec on my girl but had similar problems last year with C&C - not as bad as this but certainly noticed a change in her. Reverted back to Allen & Page Ride & Relax and normal service resumed after about a week. |
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Post by fin on Dec 31, 2006 12:25:02 GMT 1
Finn How did you find yours was stiff behind.
Well--both the osteo and the chiro commented on it and watching him walk across the paddock he always looked like two horses glued together--the front half was all limber and supple and the back end looked like it belonged to a geriatric donkey, poor chap!
To be fair it's not just the TS that caused it--haylage, grass, and unsoaked hay all seem to stiffen him up too. I think its a very mild form of tying up--toxins in the muscles, I suppose. He usually gets it just before his feet get sore....
It may be part and parcel of the mag deficiency problem too. My EP has a horse that tends to get stiff in his poll just before the onset of laminitis, so it's possible they're all linked.
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