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Post by horselad_21 on Feb 23, 2015 19:17:13 GMT
Hi, Just looking for some advice on feeding?! We have a traditional cob that has a very sensitive stomach. He his fed hay as his main folage with 2 hard feeds a day consisting of redi grass and lo-cal. We're looking to give him a form as balancer top spec, blue chip or something similar. We have tried calm and condition and this just seemed to go through him. Anybody got any ideas on what may be the suitable balancer for him? We feel he just needs something else. Thanks in advance Sent from my GT-I9505 using proboards
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Post by dogandbone on Feb 23, 2015 20:56:45 GMT
Are you trying to put on weight or why do you feel he needs extra food? Normally cob types struggle to keep the weight off!! How old is he? If Calm and condition goes straight through him as you say, I would be looking to see if he has a digestive problem e.g. ulcers or similar? Why is he so sensitive in his digestion? Perhaps you have had tests done - in which case - more information needed!!
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Feb 23, 2015 22:35:38 GMT
Balancers are not designed to put weight on, but to supply all essential micronutrients in the diet. Any diet is only as good as its weakest link. Often a pony that looks OK on its normal diet will look so much better with a balancer added - all "bright eyed and bushy tailed" but not fatter.
As for his sensitive stomach - using one with probiotic included could help with that, might be worth a try.
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sues
Junior Member
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Post by sues on Feb 24, 2015 11:13:37 GMT
We had a similar problem with an elderly Section B stallion. He was on redi grass but he couldn't manage to digest hard feed. Someone recommended Ready Mash which worked a treat - if your chap need weight try Ready Mash Extra.
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Post by carrie17491 on Feb 24, 2015 22:49:55 GMT
It's quite difficult if he has a sensitive stomach as a lot of weight gain is rich.
What exactly causes the stomach upset? As you can base his diet around what doesn't, usually a fibre rich diet helps with weight. Balancers don't help gain weight as Sarahp says. I've got mine on slobber mash, Alfa a oil and build up with fenugreek to increase his appetite.
Probiotics will help with his stomach, but is that the reason he isn't holding weight?
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sarahp
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Post by sarahp on Feb 25, 2015 6:56:46 GMT
Rereading the OP, does the poster's horse actually need to gain weight - he doesn't say so, just that it has a sensitive stomach and he feels he may need something extra and asks about balancers?
carrie17491 do we know the horse isn't holding weight? If probiotics increase the amount of nutrients he's actually digesting they could well help him retain weight if this is the case.
Suitable feeding is NOT always just about weight gain!
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Post by carrie17491 on Feb 25, 2015 12:24:19 GMT
Rereading the OP, does the poster's horse actually need to gain weight - he doesn't say so, just that it has a sensitive stomach and he feels he may need something extra and asks about balancers? carrie17491 do we know the horse isn't holding weight? If probiotics increase the amount of nutrients he's actually digesting they could well help him retain weight if this is the case. Suitable feeding is NOT always just about weight gain! My mistake, I didn't read OP properly
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Post by fanfarefan on Feb 25, 2015 12:58:07 GMT
If he has a sensitive stomach then a suitable probiotic may help him in that repsect, as for a balancer i have used , top spec , and Blue chip ,and havent had any adverse effects from them, and they have all eaten it , it will be a case of reading the nutrients on the bag to see which one you think will be most appropiate for you animal
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sarahp
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Post by sarahp on Feb 25, 2015 13:02:00 GMT
We've all done that carrie17491!
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Post by Jenna on Feb 25, 2015 13:07:32 GMT
i think top spec is amazing, i converted to it last year and wouldnt feed anything else, my ponies looked amazing on it!
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Post by horselad_21 on Feb 25, 2015 13:12:40 GMT
Hi everyone,
Thank you for your replies.
The horse does not need weight on him as such we are just wanting him to have that something extra to bring him back into condition and help with his topline. He has had 6 months turned out over winter and came in January time.
He is worked regularly in the school, hacked, pessoed even the odd jump here and there. We just feel as he could do with a little bit more of something in his feed. Only until hes back on grass as he seems to do well on grass.
Thanks
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sarahp
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Post by sarahp on Feb 25, 2015 14:57:03 GMT
Thank you for clearing that up for us all. Sounds like a balancer with probiotic to try then! I use Top spec too and would recommend them - they have a very good telephone helpline if you felt like ringing them to work out the best from their range for you cob, otherwise read the ingredients on the white label sewn into the bag seam.
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Post by robrocks on Feb 25, 2015 17:23:47 GMT
Blue chip pro has a pre and probiotic. It can make some gain weight so you could cut back on other feeds which might run through him.
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