Advice needed about feeding and supplements

[xxxkristinaxxx]

Our 5 year old horse is a good doer. He is turned out 24/7 and gets a small feed at night. He has a general coarse mix and garlic chaff, and apples or carrots.

This winter I would like to give him some kind of supplement to ensure he will have a balanced diet.

I was thinking about getting him some cod liver oil this winter, as I found this infomation about it:

Benefits of the Omega-3 Found in Fish Oil and Cod Liver Oil ·Helps fight and prevent heart disease, depression, arthritis, diabetes, ulcers, hyperactivity and many other diseases. ·Increases energy levels and ability to concentrate ·Provides greater resistance to common illnesses.

He is generally quite a calm horse, but can get excited when ridden so we wouldn't want anything making him fizzy. As hes young we are going to be taking things back to basics but he will get ridden and lunged regularly.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Roofio]

your best bet for a general supplement IMO is something like benevit, feedmark usually have good offers and its a good all round multivitamin. Failing that, i'm a big fan of baileys lo-cal - it hasn't put an ounce on j, apart from improving his topline a touch :)

[redcomet]

i think we overfeed and supplement our horses. good old quality grass and hay should supply all the vits and mins they need.

[puzzles]

The oil highest in nutrients, other beneficial properties and omega 3, is Linseed oil.
Global herbs produces a fantastic, very pure Linseed Oil, called 'Flax Oil': http://www.globalherbs.co.uk/horse/2004_pages/suppliments.htm#Flaxoil

Oil is an ideal energy/conditioning supplement as it is very enrgy dense (containing around 2 1/4 times the energy found in a traditionla mix or cube) yet this is slow-release so is unlikely to exaggerate your horse's natural temprement.

:-)

If you have any other queries concerning feeding, please PM me.

xxx

[carthorse]

I totally agree with Roofio on this & Benevit includes Omega 3 & Omega 6 fatty acids. I've used it for years & mine always have nice coats :)

[sarah76]

In winter mine have chaff, fibre cubes and equivite general purpose sup made by spillers. oh and oil:)

[puzzles]

i think we overfeed and supplement our horses. good old quality grass and hay should supply all the vits and mins they need.

Ideally, yes. But looking at modern pastures, horse are fortunate if they have more than a few different grasses to graze on. In the past/wild, horses can graze on a hugely diverse variety of grasses, herbs and other plants, whereas in domesticated or 'manmade' fields they usually do not have this choice, and therefore we must make up for that by supplementing their diets with feeds designed to do just this. :)

[happy haffys]

Where in Shropshire are you?

There's a feed place not far from M6 jct 11 & M54 jct1.

They do their own high-oil supplement & it's fab.:)

[puzzles]

Could you tell us more about it, please?

x

[happy haffys]

Can't tell you what's in it (get it back from farm & throw it in a tub :o), it's a reddish powdery type stuff, but it gives the coat a lovely shine.

It was recommended to me by some people on my old yard when we had Rhi's 1st pony Whisky. His coat gleemed, and he had a nice top line (fed on Safe & Sound with garlic & high oil once a day through winter only). He was never ill, & it definately didn't make him fizzy!

I really should look what's in it next time i get some,:rolleyes: but i know loads of people who swear by it.

[xxxkristinaxxx]

Sorry I haven't replied, I have a really bad internet connection at the moment.

The benevit sounds really good, as I think he needs a multivitamin as he is still young and growing.

We are based on the way to Pontesbury, and there is a local feed shop (can't remember the name), but they sell and can order all sorts of products so I will pop in soon.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

[carthorse]

If you're thinking of Benevit look on the Feedmark website. Ypu won't get it any cheaper in the shops & their price includes delivery to your doorstep so it really couldn't be easier :)

[CurlyWurlyRach]

i use FeelGood 30 general supplement and i think its great. Has biotin for hooves etc.

[welshymad]

Hi, horses are vegetarians and so naturally wouldnt go seeking a fish oil based product. If the horse is happy on the course mix which has been formulated by a nutritionist and balanced to give the horse all the vits and mins the horse needs so therefore the horse shouldnt need an extra supplement, especially if they are a good doer. if more food is needed just feed good quality forage eg hay over the winter aswell. hope this helps :)

[xxxkristinaxxx]

Have spoken to the vet, and the corse mix at the moment is not suitable for him and has probably been why he had been bucking (too much energy). However we did not realise this at the time so it was a good job the vet pointed this out.
Anyway went shopping today and have got him an easy mix feed and I spoke to the man who was selling it and he said it won't make him fizzy or anything like that so I will see how it goes. It also has vitamins and oils etc. in the feed, so I wont need a supplement.

Thanks for your advice!

[blues mum]

flax oil from global herbs that puzzles recommends is the best oil you can get in my opinion.
mind you am biased, i think their stuff is so good i should get a job promoting the stuff

[puzzles]

flax oil from global herbs that puzzles recommends is the best oil you can get in my opinion.
mind you am biased, i think their stuff is so good i should get a job promoting the stuff

:p I'm like that too - when I like something, I really like it; especially when it comes to feed products :rolleyes: (I'd love to train as an Equine Nutritionist) and I have been 'accused' of trying to advertise the product ;)

xxx