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Post by connemaras123 on May 6, 2015 16:50:09 GMT
I know that a few people have this same problem as I do with a couple of mine... so I thought I would post this as possible help!
My coloured traditional is quite a whizzy pony but dies on me after the go round in big hoys classes Even when he is fit, the travelling just seems to take it out of him. My baby Connie seems to be the same too and tires quite quickly.
I have tried numerous feeds and getting them super fit but have only just found a feed that seems to keep them going without sending them loopy!
Baileys no6 all round endurance mix! Its worked miracles for me just half a scoop every other DAy leading up to shows.
I wondered if anyone has found this feed useful. I'm so happy!
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Post by poppyanderson on May 6, 2015 17:51:26 GMT
It's also full of sugar beet, soya, alfalfa, wheat and molasses. You are feeding the equivalent of McDonald's and pick n mix.
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Post by jacksprat on May 6, 2015 17:55:19 GMT
we have been using endurance mix for our fell pony for the last 10 years, the only feed that made a difference
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Post by CarolineNelson on May 6, 2015 18:47:31 GMT
........... "Ponies that run out of steam on the 'go round'..."
Have my Trainer's hat on here.
And, not or the first time today (never mind, the other time was National Politics!!) also my Tin Helmet!
i) are simply not sufficiently fit. Food (any food, any brand, however posh) will not make an animal fit. That comes from decent fittening work at home, over a period of weeks.
or
ii) basically, they hate the job. Most tolerate it. Many love it. Some thrive on it. Think Valegro, who positively laps up his audience.
There has to be a large dollop of positive enthusiasm from on top, too, for the animal to have the desire to succeed. And, comprehend, if they can, the need to succeed.
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Post by connemaras123 on May 6, 2015 20:19:04 GMT
Firstly, I disagree with comparison to McDonald's and also if you read my thread I only feed this in small amounts every other day leading up to a show in any case.
Secondly, my pony is not bored or hates/tolerates showing and he is fit, he does a handful of shows a year for a start. I know a bored pony and i wouldnt show them if that was the case. The travelling itself takes a lot out of him, he tires dependent on distance and atmosphere. If he was bored or unfit, then a little slow release energy mix would not help!
I also do not agree with what you say about fitness levels. SOME horses do need a 'little pick me up' due to travelling and the energy used at a show, adrenaline and chaos of a big atmosphere and chaotic go round of a big hoys class etc all affects ponies differently.
I appreciate everyone has their own opinions on what is/isnt right to feed, not to feed etc but I wasn't asking for opinions on whether I should or should not feed slow release energy feeds or reasons for why he tires sometimes. Just simply stating that this works for my pony and MAY be useful for some others. Also interested if others have found this feed useful.
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Post by connemaras123 on May 6, 2015 20:34:08 GMT
After valegro being mentioned, I was intrigued to see what he is fed. He and uthopia, plus Carl hesters others are fed Saracen enduro 100 and it is increased leading up to competitions. very similar to baileys no6 for ingredients. So strange to think that they would feed top dressage horses the equivalent of McDonalds and sweets. I'm sure they are extremely fit horses too, so why would they need to feed energy mixes.
I think what you are referring to is lazy people who can't be bothered to prepare ponies properly that look for a quick fix or horses that are genuinely bored of showing. Neither apply to mine.
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Post by comanchediva on May 6, 2015 21:02:55 GMT
Caroline I nearly always agree with you but on this occasion I have to disagree. We have the same problem with our 5year old Fell. He gets super excited on the go round (I don't usually use that word to describe things but in this case it fits!) then he's too tired for his individual show and we're talking novice classes not HOYS quals. He's reasonably fit but he possibly enjoys it too much hence the over exuberance and then being too tired.
Anyway he loves jumping so we're going slowly down the WH route and will bring him back to flat classes when he's older and possibly more sensible!.
But connemaras123 thanks for the info x
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Post by bubbles1822 on May 6, 2015 21:59:44 GMT
When do you travel do you travel with a net... (May be strange but I know of people who don't) and have you tried getting their early so could would have time to give them a small feed to boost them and let them rest... I know of a pony (no mine and not showed anymore) that was worked 6 days a week was lunged, rode? Hacked out, circuit trained, hill training the works) and would still only manage a class and normally not even the championship. It was on red cell energy feeds and all the basics too and never made a difference. It loved the show but just couldn't handle it.. No idea why! Yet I have a pony I under work and avoid getting too for otherwise it blows her brains!
A good feeding it the basis and workload on top. But I suppose they are like us. And we wouldn't all make athletes given the same training regime even if we wanted to!
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Post by connemaras123 on May 7, 2015 5:43:21 GMT
Bubbles182 yes he has a net but doesn't really eat much when travelling, picks a bit and I take a little feed for when he gets there and sometimes i will give it depending on time which seems to help. Its not that extreme that he completely runs out for his show, just loses sparkle and gallop lacks a bit. Hence this feed has really worked for me, everything works just right now. Not too whizzy and just enough to keep him going. I am starting to jump too so I reckon that will be great for his stamina as well.
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Post by roxy93 on May 7, 2015 8:28:22 GMT
Have you also tried Red Cell? My friends pony used this after having same problem so needed something that helped and this did a lot in the ring
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Post by sjw87 on May 7, 2015 9:06:42 GMT
Red Cell and other iron rich supplements need to be used with care. Very few horses genuinely need them (need should be determined by a blood test showing anaemia) and too much iron can cause more issues than a deficiency. www.understanding-horse-nutrition.com/iron.htmlSent from my GT-I9195 using proboards
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Post by roxy93 on May 7, 2015 9:11:04 GMT
thinking about it sjw87 yes anaemia as i remember it being spoken about with that pony.
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Post by robrocks on May 7, 2015 22:08:05 GMT
It's late at night and in tired so this may not make sense. If you have a surge of adrenalin it can give you an abundance of energy then you go flat even when fit. I'd warm up early, try cantering round in the warm up after another horse to emulate the go round. Then put said horse in trailer/lorry with a hay net, water and a small half scoop of mix/ fast release cubes in lots water in case they are a big dehydrated about 45 /1hr before class. Come out and warm up and do class. I'm sure your pony is fit as you know your pony but try some interval training just to further develop it.
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Post by sageandonionagain on May 8, 2015 12:47:28 GMT
With all due respect, your pony would never reach the height of fitness of Valegro and ten minutes of serious grand prix schooling from an equine athelete will be more work than your pony will do in a week so comparisons to feed there are not helpful. Perhaps look into your travel regime if it is taking so much out of your pony and see what you can do to reduce the stress that is taking on his body and perhaps his mind. A blood profile just in case.
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Post by kateanne0 on May 8, 2015 12:57:25 GMT
It's late at night and in tired so this may not make sense. If you have a surge of adrenalin it can give you an abundance of energy then you go flat even when fit. I'd warm up early, try cantering round in the warm up after another horse to emulate the go round. Then put said horse in trailer/lorry with a hay net, water and a small half scoop of mix/ fast release cubes in lots water in case they are a big dehydrated about 45 /1hr before class. Come out and warm up and do class. I'm sure your pony is fit as you know your pony but try some interval training just to further develop it. We had a similar issue with one of our horses. We put him on electrolytes in his feed and it made a big difference, even though he was a good drinker at home he very often refused water at shows. Also an early warm up back in the lorry then after a while offering a small very wet feed also helped. Brought him out again when the class before him was in, obviously depending on how many were in the prior class!
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Post by roxy93 on May 8, 2015 13:07:03 GMT
Another we do is get to a show with plenty of time we work in, then let horse eat haynet have a drink relax, when its time to get ready we will get pony and me ready then do a warm up and she has energy!! If we were to work in get ready and go straight in i have a feeling she would be flat in the ring.
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Post by catkin on May 8, 2015 15:12:35 GMT
I am not decrying the requirement for feed/energy in the form of calories, nor the requirement for protein to build sufficient muscle that will help with stamina, but I am also a firm believer in the requirement of fitness, particularly for the heavier types. The difficult bit is the balance between the initial excitement of the ring and then the need for fitness/stamina for completing the go-round. When showing native large breeds, once they were established and sensible in the ring, I had them pretty fit and used to do quite a lot of interval-type training to achieve this. Its well documented, so you can look up and find a method to suit you. The 'colder blooded' equines are more of a challenge than the 'blood' or warm-blood types, of course. Some of the traditionals find canter a challenge, so this will really sap their energy too.
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