Feed dilemma (bit long sorry)

[Jakandy]

Hi
Last winter my boy lived in barn as part of gelding herd. They have adlib haylage but no turn out is allowed til march due to waterlogging of fields. He is a very good doer so after riding each evening he had 1 scoop good doer, carrots and his vit supplements he did fine. I now have another boy as well who needs to have more condition. I've been advised to give him build up cubes + beet in addition to what I give my other horse.

My problem is I can only go up in the evenings and can't persuade anyone else to get him out for a feed in the morning wait while he eats it then put him back.

I know the ideal for horses is little and often and feed should be split up into small meals. Would i be doing him more harm than good by giving him only one hard feed per day.

Thanks for your help

[AJB]

I dont think you have any choice!!-if you cant get anyone else to do a morning feed and you want him to live in the barn herd then he has to have what you can give him.....with no turn out and adlib haylage you will need to watch the calories in and calories out so maybe you should just see how it goes, if they are in presumably they are warm and dry so less likely to loose condition in very cold weather...

[nat17]

i would agree, if they are warm and dry and having haylage then they should be ok, if not try Dengie Alfa-a instead of the good-doer. It has slow release engery but has more calories than good doer and will aid in putting and maintaining condition;)

[tarkia]

He should be ok with that, but it is always better to feed little and often but I suppose you have no othe choice :(