Alternative to sugarbeet...or nothing?

[georgie1]

I am sorry this is going to be a very boring question but as it is coming in to spring (hopefully) and the grass at the yard is still very good and the spring grass is going to come through i dont thing my mare needs sugarbeet really.

She is fed 1/2 scoop sugar beet
scoop of high fi lite
sprinkling of cool mix
Carrots

Ad lib hay overnight

twice a day.....she is not tubby, but dont want her to get that way sooooo
do you think that i can gradually cut out the sugarbeet?

Should i replace it with some other high fibre cube?

Will cool mix & hi fi lite be ok on its own?

She is working lightly at the moment 3/4 times a week, hacking and schooling.

Many thanks for your help.

Gx

[carthorse]

Cool mix & hi fi lite will be fine on their own. The only thing I'd do is add a general vit & min supplement because you aren't feeding the manufacturers' recommended amounts, I like Benevit but there's loads on the market.

[doris]

As already said, both feeds are OK on their own, but personally, I always dampen my feeds and leave to soak for about half an hour. If you are not using sugarbeet, you can just use some water to dampen the feed down.

[georgie1]

Thanks Carthorse & Doris, really appreciate your help. Just have to reduce it gradually as bless her, she really loves her Sugarbeet.

Will look for a min & vit supplement.

Gx

[doris]

You could always make up a weak sugarbeet/speedybeet solution for moistening her feeds - that way she'll get the flavour without the bulk.

[XxXAmeyXxX]

If I was you I would stop using the cool mix as a sprinkle probably does nothing at all and just reduce the amount of spedibeet or maybe use a more watery mix as doris said?

[mogadoga]

Again, your wasting your time with the mix. And a scoop of hi fi light will be nothing. Depending on your scoop size it will only be 1lb if that. Which isnt the RDA.
Is she a bad do-er? If not id even cut out the beet. Again depending on the scoop size it isnt much and when dry will prob be 1/2 lb if your feeding about as much as the others. Twixe a day thats about 3lb a day. Less than would be fed in one meal alone. Not including the mix.

Id personally either:
a) up the amount of chaff to the RDA
or
b) leave it as a scoop with a general vit/min supplement or a balancer such as Baileys low cal, D&H ultimate balancer or top spec feed balancer.

Dampened instead of the beat.

[georgie1]

Thanks loads for that....been fretting about her feed....but have decided to up the chaff, reduce sugarbeet & cool mix & add Baileys lo cal as there has been lots of recommendations for it.

If we start working a bit harder then add the cool mix.

It has really helped to read all your advice....once again NR has come to the rescue and it has been so much help, so THANK YOU.

Gx

[mogadoga]

With the low cal and bulked chaff you shouldnt really need the mix unless in hard work, ie hard schooling sessions/jumping. Generally the work a 3day eventer or racer would do :)

[georgie1]

Mogadoga....the chaff i use is Hi Fi lite so has pretty much nothing in it, does that make a difference?

Gx

[mogadoga]

Its fine as long as used with a balancer/gp supplement.

To be honest unless you want a certain thing out of your feed eg encourage the horse to move more/weight gain then you dont need much more than good quality ad lib forage, and the right amounts of vits and mins. Chaff is generally used as a reward/bulk/slow eating. In your case its more a reward/token feed. As the hi fi lite doesnt contain all the vits and mins you want you need the supplement or balancer for a heathy hoss!

Am i making sense? Sorry if itc came out as babble!!!

[georgie1]

Complete sense.....brilliant!:) Answered my question perfectly,which is why, as you say i want a balancer as i didnt think she was getting enough Vits&mins. Many thanks.

Going to start introducing lo cal tomorrow, slowly. A Handful at a time i presume is ok?

Gx

[Pink's lady]

Pretty much what mogadogs said. However, don't undersestimate the importance of a token reward feed - it's what most horses come in for! A big scoop of hifi lite won't do her any harm (unless she's a right fattie) and will be greatly appreciated.

As the grass is starting to grow now is a good time to start cutting down her food (two months ago was a good time if they're fattied;)) so yep, Id stop the sugarbeet. She will start to slowly loose weight for a bit until the grass gets in full swing - unless she's already skinny that's not a bad thing!

I would get rid of the cool mix altogether - it's rather pointless at the best of times and you're feeding so little of it anyways. If you have a big bag of the stuff left I'd feed it over the next couple of months as hand treats or in a feed ball.

I'd stick with the hi fi lite, and up at to a big round scoop, so she feels she's getting fed, esp after she's worked. And add the Baileys lo cal, a handful at a time as you said.

Feeding isn't rocket sciences - it should be fibre, fibre and more fibre, only feeding hard feed if fibre (inc the high energy stuff like Alfa-A Oil) isn't keeping the weight on. And sugarbeet is a wonderful thing, but fattening;)

[mogadoga]

Pretty much what mogadogs said. However, don't undersestimate the importance of a token reward feed - it's what most horses come in for! A big scoop of hifi lite won't do her any harm (unless she's a right fattie) and will be greatly appreciated.


Dont worry PL i know it alright!! Alex goes nuts for his scoop of munch with balancer:D

Also how big is she?You should feed 1/2 lb up to 300kg 1lb up to 500kg and 1 1/2 for anything over this. Ask for a mug when you get it! If you dont get one ask baileys. Each mug holds 1/2 lb of low cal :)

[georgie1]

Thanks Pink Lady & Mogadoga........totally understand & take on board what you are saying and have taken your advice and am implementing it as we speak!!!:)

I will stay with the hi fi lite & balancer, she does enjoy her food and as you say is a good enourager for her to come in!

I cant say enough how much you have helped me....THANK YOU

Gx