what do you feed your 'hot' horses?

Magic · 02-03-2010, 02:03 PM

One of my horses is very reactive to feeds that create excess energy and unwanted fizz.....

The horse is currently fed 1 scoop (measured when dry) of soaked speedi beet, 1 scoop of pegasus liberty, 2 scoops oaten chaff, 1 scoop lucerne chaff, and equlibrium supplement, plus 3 biscuits of hay a day. My instinct is that is too much 'fizzy food' but when I drop the speedi beet or liberty, weight drops, so what can I replace it with?

SexyRitzy · 02-03-2010, 02:06 PM

I found copra worked really well for my TB. Stacked on heaps of weight and no fizziness!

OBHH · 02-03-2010, 02:08 PM

I would be taking out the pegasus liberty and just adding more bulk. As long as you have your vit/min supp "boring feeds" will be fine. Also soaking your hay to take out the startch and sugars will help as well.

My ponies only get the basics, green and white chaffs and speedibeet.

How much work is the horse doing M? If its not doing alot of work then it doesnt need the energy requirements.

zendor · 02-03-2010, 02:10 PM

Cop rice. I Have fed it to 2 horses who can get hot on some feeds and havent had a problem.Its good for keeping weight on aswell as keeping them sane at the same time.I used to feed coolmax and it was a great allround feed but found for the big guys who needed abit more if not worked they could get abit fresh which was fine but I found liberty just blew one of my boys brains so cut that right back but then had the issue with needing more weight and no fizz.

Magic · 02-03-2010, 02:17 PM

Thanks guys, OBHH, worked once or twice a week realistically, so yeah, energy needs are not huge, but easily drops weight.... so how do you soak your hay? In a big tub or something?

And HATES copra with avengance, wont go near the feed bin if it has it in it.... is copra the same as cop rice??

OBHH · 02-03-2010, 02:21 PM

Just put the hay in the hay net and soak in one of those big blue water drums that we cut in half ,for 2-3 hours then hang to dry and feed later.

Speedi-beet will not fizz, make sure you do not over do molasses as well, all the "sugars" can heat up as well.
2-3 times per week wont need an awful lot of energy intake.
Its amazing HOW many people overfeed there horses.

Merlin · 02-03-2010, 03:07 PM

I had a TB mare who used to fizz on Luserne chaff, I just cut it down and upped the oaten chaff for extra bulk. Magic have you tried Pony Maintenence, weaner and grower or Equijewel?

Cornflower · 02-03-2010, 03:43 PM

Rice bran, lupins, oils, vegetable protein meals (FFS, canola meal). The Speedibeat won't be heating him up, it's just fiber. If anything, it'll be the Liberty, or equilibrium. I would replace it with a good, full, vitamin and mineral supplement. Somrthing that supplies all the mins/vits needed.
Make sure also he's getting enough B1.
Increasing roughage, hay, speedibeat, chaffs. Soaking hay is a good idea.

Bon & Ted · 02-03-2010, 08:44 PM

why don't you drop all the bits and pieces - liberty, speedi beet, and supps and just change for a cool complete feed?

I feed Topstock easy feed, it's complete and awesome! totally cool, does not heat but keeps them in tip top shape.

Or maybe Hygain ice, coolmax etc.

Magic · 02-03-2010, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OBHH

Just put the hay in the hay net and soak in one of those big blue water drums that we cut in half ,for 2-3 hours then hang to dry and feed later.

Speedi-beet will not fizz, make sure you do not over do molasses as well, all the "sugars" can heat up as well.
2-3 times per week wont need an awful lot of energy intake.
Its amazing HOW many people overfeed there horses.

LOL we had a dehydration problem a few months back so I've been giving said horse a bucket of molasses water every night with probably half a cup of molasses in each one ... ooopsy!

Cornflower - I've looked it up to double check, but Equilibrium is just a full vit and min supplement, so my thinking is that surely that couldn't be heating this horse? There's nothing in it aside from vitamins and minerals... Looks like maybe the Liberty and molasses may be the culprits?

Thanks for talking it through guys. I've been sucessfully feeding horses for many years, but every now and then you need to bounce ideas off others and talk through ideas you had previously discounted or tried without sucess. I'll have a think about how to soak and drain haynets without my 'get into any small space to steal it' fat pony can get to it all..... lol....