Feeding Advice

[Fudgeball123]

We have a 16hh warmblood and a 12hh welsh A.

The Welsh A usually eats grass in the summer and low molasses chaff and topspec balancer in the winter.

We only got the warmblood in September and the vet, when asked, said not to feed it too much initially as she was a step up from the previous pony.

Over the winter we've been feeding the WB Speedibeet (to keep weight on), topspec balancer, Dengue Alpha Oil for the oils, low molasses chaff and linseed oil.

Someone recommended we move to micronised linseed oil as it is cheaper and better than liquid linseed oil.

Is there something we should feed rather than the low molasses chaff? Horse and Pony Mix?

both of them seem happy enough on what they have. I'm quite keen to replace the Topspec with a cheaper balancer as its getting quite expensive..

Many thanks

You need to feed for the condition horse is currently in and the workload being done.
Basis of all feed is fibre so ad lib hay/haylage.
Bear in mind spring grass is now coming through so now isn't the time to increase calorie levels in feed.
I love speedibeet as it is low starch/sugar + energy so forms an excellent basis for hard feed. I would supplement that with a basic chaff + balancer. Linseed is for adding shine to coat in low quantity and adding condition so unless your horse is lacking in condition it shouldn't need it.

Leaving aside it depends on the condition score and behaviour of the individual, my gut feeling would be that you won't need the alpha a oil once the grass starts coming in (I wouldn't feed two different chaffs anyway unless as forage replacer).

I agree with @twistyizzy I'd just be doing chaff, speedibeet and balancer, although I've always managed ok with a powdered vit and min supplement once there's grass about. The micronises linseed you can buy is excellent, a big sack lasts ages and gives a lovely shine. But again is calories you might not want.

It'll be a case of see how you go with what you're currently feedign but I definitely wouldn't be going anywhere near a coarse mix. Many of the feed companies have really good helplines and will chat through with you but they will want a condition score and rough bodyweight (tape is fine for those purposes) to give the best advice.

I always tend towards a philosophy that I want to feed as little hard feed as possible and particularly going into spring if they're both looking well and in good general condition I'd be looking to cut down rather than increase, especially for your little pony (although contrary to popular opinion warmbloods can be good do-ers too!).

Bear in mind that it's perfectly natural, good for them even to drop a bit of weight over winter and that the majority of horses you see these days (esp show horses) tend towards the overweight so we've somewhat lost sight of what a horse in 'normal' condition looks like IMO. If the WB is looking and feeling great right now my worry would be she'll get very fresh and/or fat once they're on the spring grass so you def want to keep an eye on that hard feed.

Most people these days do seem to like to feed a balancer, I'm unconvinced most horses without special needs (like ulcer prevention or whatever) really need one if their hay/grazing is of good quality but I have bowed to peer pressure and feed mine a NAF one which seems reasonable value in just a handful of chaff, that's all he gets. As I say if they're doing well maybe cut down the oil for the WB gradually coming into spring and see how you go? If it's shiny coat you're after you can achieve the same on a summer coat with hot cloths and elbow grease without needing to feed too many supplements.

The exact opposite advice applies to forage of course, they need constant access to as much good quality forage as possible, either grazing or hay/haylage so do pay attention to this...

The advice I give my customers is to set aside some time and phone the feed manufacturers helplines directly.

They have fully trained nutritionists that will go in to great detail with you about the needs of your horse and tailor a feed plan to suit.

There are so many different options these days, and more than one correct answer so speak to a few of them and go with the company you feel fits you best :)

Many thanks for all your inputs.

So unless hosing down both are out 24/7, which they seem to enjoy.

The pony is ideal weight for the time of year. The WB has been a bit on the slim side (ribby) so we were advised by the vet to up the food in January which we have done and she is looking good now and probably fine for start of spring (when it comes!).

So the pony the food is just there to keep her busy whilst the WB is eating. So hence it is just no molasses chaff and the balancer to help build topline.

And the WB the speedibeet is to help with weight, she tied up a couple of months back so the Dengue Alpha Oil is to help with that, the linseed oil was to add condition and the horse and pony mix - tbh I'm not entirely sure what that is for..

I guess I'm concerned if I phone a feed company they will just try to sell me stuff. TBH this is my experience with TopSpec..

I found the Dodson and Horrell helpline surprisingly helpful and not pushy.

Saying that as your main feed product for both is chaff, I'd give the Dengie one a try. They might, for example, suggest their beet product in place of speedibeet but you can check the food label to see if your preference is nutritionally equivalent anyway.

You could try these? https://www.purefeed.com/free-expert-diet-plan/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwwr6wBhBcEiwAfMEQs9-RAdmJxHIvHm3gkw_Qr1MuAvZweviLlnIMwe1Pk1F5U1YoEOmttxoCm1EQAvD_BwE

We use it where I work and the horses all all brilliant. They're a great company too and very helpful.

Go to an independent nutritionist. I agree about feed companies, I had one tell me that feed that was 15% combined starch/sugar was suitable for an ulcer horse 🙄

Seems to me that you are feeding 2 types of chaff (Alfa Oil and low molasses chaff) and 2 sources of oil (Alfa Oil again and linseed oil.) You’ve already got 3 definite sources of fibre in there (2 chaffs and Speedibeet.) I don’t know what horse and pony mix you are using, but if it is a proprietary complete feed it could have all of the vitamins and minerals in it already (you need to check the bag) so you might be doubling up on those too with the topspec. It seems to me that you are feeding quite a lot already without needing to put more linseed in there as well. Having said that, linseed is great stuff and goes a long way for the price.

For me, you need to know why you are feeding each thing, and make sure you are feeding appropriate quantities.

Fibre should be the basis for your feed, and speedibeet is a good source of non-heating fibre and is good for getting fluids into reluctant drinkers when there is little other moisture in their food. Both the Alfa and chaff are also good sources of fibre, but the Alfa will also have a higher energy value.

You need vitamins and minerals. These can come in a balancer, or in a feed mix or cubes, or in a powder supplement. (Top spec will be unlikely to tell you, but they do a V&M powder in bulk which has the same ingredients as the balancer but without the whatever it is that makes it little pellets. It is much more economical to use.)

After that, you would be feeding for a specific nutritional need. Eg doing a lot of work? Need higher energy content. Poor condition? Need something to build horse up. Etc. But know why you need to feed more.

My horses, in a range of work from very light hacking 2-4 times a week up to endurance-type fitness regime for competition all have their basic feed based around speedibeet, vitamin supplement and chaff. 2 of them also get micronised linseed (one for his joints and condition, one for his coat.) The competition horses are getting horse and pony cubes for a bit more energy, I will build these up as they do more work depending on need for energy and condition. I give all my horses salt. Each horse has supplements according to their individual needs (one needs all manner of joint and respiratory stuff atm, he is getting old. The young competition horse does not need anything extra.)

On the whole, you shouldn’t need to be putting lots of different things in your horse’s feed bowl though. Especially if you aren’t doing the work for it.

A last note - you are feeding your pony top spec balancer ‘for the topline…..’ there is no feed that will give a horse or pony topline. Topline is the muscle built up over their back and neck through correct work. If they are doing the correct work, they will need sufficient correct nutrients to help them build muscle. This varies from one horse to another - some will build muscle on forage alone, others will need more feed. All horses and ponies need vitamins and minerals. Wild horses would browse many kinds of plants which would give them access to a range of nutrients, but we limit our tame horses to one field of grass and some hay, which narrows their nutritional range, so we need to supplement their vitamins, in the form of balancer. Balancer will not build muscle. For a Welsh A you need to be careful you do not overfeed, as their necks are often the first place they will show an accumulation of fat (a crest) which can be mistaken for topline.

A balancer and low cal chaff is probably all he needs, but again - as I said above - know WHY you are feeding something.