What do i feed him?

[Chloe95]

What would you NR peeps give a 14.2hh welsh cob (quite fine)gelding who looses a bit of wieght in the winter and sometimes gains a bit in the summer?

he has garlic in his foods.

when should he be fed?

he normally does about 5 1/2 hrs a week split up into to flatwork/jumping/occasional hack.

NO energy foods he got enough!!

ta chloe xx

[puzzles]

Compound mixes and cubes need to be fed in kilos in order to provide your horse with a balanced diet.
Many people feed just a handful in a feed, for lots of reasons, but this merely provides unnecessary calories and does nothing to balance the horse's diet.
Therefore I recommend that, instead of a mix or a cube, you feed a balancer. These are very energy-dense and are fed in small amounts (usually 100g/100kg bodyweight, so about 400-500g/day for a 400-500kg horse like yours).
They are often designed to top up the nutrient levels of a horse's current diet, for example if he is not being fed the recommended levels of a compound feed - or to balance a forage-based ration of a good doer/laminatic, too. The feed balancer can be mixed in with a small handful of low-energy chaff for improved platability.

Your horse will be able to maintain the correct weight, without compromising on vital nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Many people fidn that their horse perks up when his diet is fully balanced, as his body makes the most of the improved formula.

I recommend Baileys Lo-Cal or Blue Chip Original/Lami-Light Feed Balancers:

http://www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk/whatproduct/general/no14.htm
http://www.bluechipfeed.com/products/original/original_home.htm
http://www.bluechipfeed.com/products/lami/lami_home.htm


As for winter, a slow-release energy feed would suit your horse best, so as to encourage correct condition and energy without exaggerating his natural temprement or resulting in excessive weight gain/loss.
I recommend introducing, at a manitenance level of 1-1.5kg per day, Dengie Alfa-A Lite (http://www.dengie.com/pages/products/fibre-feed/alfa-a-lite.php[/url]). Alfa-A Lite is approved by the Laminitis Trust, being low in sugar, yet it provides enough energy for light-medium work. Also, you can (gradually) increase and decrease the amount fed according to your horse's workload/time of year/routine/weight, etc, without unbalancing his diet as the balancer will still be fed.
Alfa-A Lite is based on Alfalfa (Lucerne) for slow-releasing energy with other, added benefits. it is very high in fibre - higher than cubes and mixes - and very low in starch.

Sugarbeet (Speedibeet, or another unmolassed version, would suit best) may also be useful.

Good luck!

If you are still unsure or having any other questions, please don't hesitate to PM me.

:-)

xx

[millie n pride]

Speedi-beet (quick soaking sugar beet) is good for keeping weight on and really easy to soak. It's only about £7-8 a bag and lasts ages. I used to feed my welsh D on it as he is prone to weight loss in winter. It kept the weight on well but did give him too much energy, which is unusual as it isn't an energy feed. I don't think many people have a problem with excess energy when feeding it :)