should i cut one out?

[No_Angel]

at the moment im feeding my mare alfa a, conditioning cubes and barley.
i cant help but think that this is too much hard feed for her.
shes a ex racer tb and was very thin when i got her, shes put on alot of weight and looks almost normal now.
i need to get more feed tomorow and i dont no what, if anything, to cut out.

[NoviceNic]

I am no expert on feed. But when I got my cob who was ridden everyday in a riding school, he was being fed alfa a ,beet and pasture mix. Now I would be more tempted to start to cut out the barley little bit at a time. Your mare will get condition from the cubes and energy from the alfa a. With water to make it more pallatable. Maybe introduce beet?? Hope I have helped?

[No_Angel]

sorry, forgot to mention shes on beet aswell. i was thinking of keeping the cubes as its a compound feed and cut out the barley as its a straight.

[NoviceNic]

Then I have to agree I would cut out the barley bit by bit. Taking into account you have got her upto a happy weight. :) Do you do much work with her?

[No_Angel]

shes not doing anything for another 4 weeks as im injured, but shes out all day and only in at night from about 8 till 9, but when im back riding again im going to try to fitten her up over winter to attempt some distance rides.

[NoviceNic]

Then I would definately knock the barley off. I hope I have helped. I just have had a bad experience with barley. My first horse was underweight and unfortunately due to my lack of knowledge was fed barley. Put on the weight but also turned her into a nutcase. Lack of turnout and exercise. Another story though.

[No_Angel]

ive heard a few people say they have a bad experiences with barley, but ive never had any myself. one of my other horses can go insane on anything more than a handfull of pony nuts in hardwork, but can eat barley till it comes out her ears.

[SarahC]

Barley is usually in most conditioning feeds, so I would check if your cubes contain it anyway. It can also make horses 'hot up' and get excitable. There are feeds like Allen and Page Calm & Condition that don't contain the barley because of this.

I would agree with everyone else and say knock it off. Alpha A has more calories and energy levels in than most chaff's and with the cubes and beet, she should be fine.

S