what oils, if any, in feed?

[MitchyInge]

have decided this will be the year of shinier coats - everyone seems to swear by a different product and I was overwhelmed by the choice in feed shop yesterday so what do they all do?

linseed, flax, omega 3, cod liver, soya - think there were plenty more besides, do you have a favourite you'd recommend?

[DressageNut]

I used supermarket corn oil which is loads cheaper than the specific "equi-oils"...the intention was to provide slow release energy without explosions, which it did, and yes it did have a lovely side-effect of a shiny coat.

The only disadvantage I heard of is that as they are high in calories oils might not be suitable for anything that's very prone to porkiness.

[MitchyInge]

do not want any explosions of energy - things are absolutely lovely in that department, podge might be a consideration in summer but obviously this will also be the year of working them more often and for longer

[DressageNut]

oh gosh maybe I phrased that wrongly - we didn't have explosions (like you that was something I wanted specifically to avoid!) - I think the oil "works" in the hindgut rather than the foregut hence energy being released slowly.

[Owls]

Mitch, I used this last year with one of mine. Started using it mainly in the hope of stopping him scratching his mane away. Side-effect was an absolutely lovely coat have to say.

Took about 6 weeks before we noticed a difference. Started to use it on my other horse then but did he did start to get a bit hyper. Could be co-incidence as they weren't getting that much work then but the coward in me stopped using it! Still have big bag left so might try again this year now they are better schooled and getting more work.

[Pixel]

We used this last year. They loved it and did look very shiny, but didn't go mental. You could feed it with your Blue chip .

[oldernowiser]

We're using Codlivine for pony's joints (he's 16 and gets a bit stiff occasionally) and his coat is lovely and glossy.

He's feeling all fit and well now so is a bit faster than when we got him!

[MitchyInge]

even more stuff to choose between! I like mollichaff garlic/herby one - well I don't personally like, you know what I mean

someone was saying an egg in their feed now and then can be good too, could just try that

[Pixel]

Well we used to own a pub so ours got a lot of beer. Now we have to buy it so they only get it at Christmas, probably just as well cos dhorse is under 18 .

[Pixel]

We used to make linseed jelly, brilliant for coats and condition. You have to soak the seeds and then boil to kill the cyanide, and then it turns into a gooey jelly that boils over if you so much as blink! I remember it was vile to clear up, like egg white but worse. Anyhow, I'll let you into the secret. If you add a handful of pearl barley it stops it boiling over, don't ask me how or why.
God I feel old.
(and yes, I like knitting too!)

[MitchyInge]

linseed jelly recipe sounds fun to make, bit scared of the cyanide though!

might just pick an oil at random and see if it helps, they're both pretty lean at the moment anyway (nicely so)

hope Project Shiny Coats will not be like Project Topline of last year which turned into Project Belly

[Pixel]

Project Belly is what I see when I look in the mirror . I've decided the time has come to take myself in hand so when I do get a chance to ride I will hopefully be a bit fitter. So, the last few days I've been on dd's Wii Fit while she was at school and now I can hardly get up and down the stairs. Think I might have overdone it .

[MitchyInge]

ah, forgot, was going to be new year resolution to go on wii fit in the mornings and improve my balance and um core stability and that stuff

is so much to DO in the morning tho, cats, chickens, dog(s), children, late for work etc

[Pixel]

Working from home has its advantages .

[MitchyInge]

(I always seem to have time to chain smoke in the garden for about half an hour each morning though )

[Southwestwhippet]

When I took my stage 3, I remember that linseed jelly is the one you are supposed to feed to show ponies to get condition and a shiney coat. (by 'supposed' I mean that is the standard correct BHS answer to that question).

Personally I prefer to feed corn oil as it is very palatable, not too expensive and apparently contains plenty of protein so helps with fittening as well as a lovely coat.

[Pixel]

I was buying feed today and saw some ready-cooked linseed. Didn't buy any, was just interested.

[MitchyInge]

bet stage 3 is massive leap from 2, I watch their lessons and realise what a long way I still have to go!

still undecided about oils

[Southwestwhippet]

I was terrified about stage3 riding as I am not into jumping any sort of height, especially on horses I don't know. I actually did a 8 week course at the center where I took the exam in the end. Was just a lesson once a week but gave me a chance to get to know some of the horses and the set up.

Although when I took the exam I ended up, out of the five horses I rode only having ridden 1 of them before, I had at least seen them before and I LOVED the exam. I finished the XC and the examiner asked me how I thought it had gone and I asked if I could do it again! I would say go for it, stage 3 is the first exam where they actually ask you your opinion and let you get on with riding rather than structuring you all the way through like a glorified RS lesson!

[MitchyInge]

argh do not like the exams though, but really enjoy the courses so might just keep doing/repeating those for the rest of my life!

did look at the ridden part of the syllabus today and think the fixed jumps are 3' max, bit higher for the others

[Southwestwhippet]

I love doing the courses as well. I really want to do a stage 4 course although I don't think I would take the exam (the showjumping is 1.10m ) but the nearest one to me is Huntley which is miles away.

For stage 3, the XC is 3' which isn't too bad, the showjumping is a max of 1.05m. However, when I took the exam I think only one fence was up to height and that was the back part of a double so you were set up on the right stride, the rest were more on the 95cm mark.

To be honest, the most important part of the stage3 is the flat I think. They want to see that you can really work the horse into an outline if he is capable (most are at this level), analyze his strenths and weakness and come up with a schooling plan.

I think you should go for it!

[MitchyInge]

flat work is just not my thing, although am improving my attitude to it as ability improves - what's in the theory side of stage 4 then, must be horrifically detailed anatomical things?

1.1 about 3'6? are they v technical jumping courses?

[Southwestwhippet]

1.10 is about 3'9 I think but certainly if you take it at Huntley which is the nearest place to me for stg4 they build the SJ as high as 4'. Too big for me really - I'm such a wuss these days!

The stage 3 course wasn't that technical. A one stride double, a couple of related distances and a dog leg. Not sure about stage 4. The XC was easy - one ditch, a couple of nice inviting spreads, a bank etc etc. The only thing that worried me slightly was a big hunt kennel at the top of a hill - I'm not mad keen on jumping down hill LOL - but it rode really nicely.

Don't know much about the stg4 theory really - I think it has a big breeding section.

[MitchyInge]

ahh it sounds heavenly, though blatantly I would fall off and die or at least break something!

actually 4' though - bet I would be quite scared, riding into it, is better when they put the jumps up while you're not looking or already underway and concentrating on staying alive

[orienteerer]

Linseed - ideally cooked overnight in the bottom oven of an aga (no need to watch as per Pixel's post)

[MitchyInge]

thanks - general consensus (have been canvassing opinion everywhere ) seems to be linseed, and if not the jelly (which must be an occasional thing?) then the oil

but oil not so good as jelly

but have only asked BHS people so they WOULD say that wouldn't they!