Feeding a foal

[haym]

HELP! I've had loads of conflicting advice when it comes to feeding my section c colt foal. I have spoken to my vet who says if he is doing well (which he is) not to feed or if i do want to feed then to feed a cheaper mix which would be lower in protein which could be bad for skin etc. I have spoken to one nutritionalist who recomended that i use the specified amounts of stud balancer, which would have a high amount of protein which he would need for growth. I have spoken to another who said he would just need a supplement eg a lick to make sure he got all his vitamins and minerals. Any ideas would be great. Thanks

[frecklesmum]

Was the nutritionist independent, or did they work for a feed company?

I agree with the vet. I think feed companies would happily have us believe we need something from a bag - their bag - or our horse won't be properly cared for, especially breeding stock, youngsters or veterans which they mainly peddle bags of sugar and starch for!

I'm wary of balancers because they can't "balance" a diet when they don't know what else is in it. Many supplements are close to the rda for their vits and mins and can cause imbalance or excess depending what else is in the diet.

So long as he's getting grass and plenty of good quality hay and is in good condition I wouldn't look to provide a huge amount more energy or protein. If your worried about providing enough vits and mins and your on the same pasture long term, likewise if you have a big batch of hay, I'd get it analysed so you can supplement only what's needed. Simple systems, Roger Hatch and these guys all do analysis www.bioparametrics.com.

[haym]

Thanks. X

[denis]

Is he still on the mare?

[haym]

No. He's over six months now and was weaned 2 weeks ago.

[sjc]

My little man is 7 months now and has been weaned for about 3 weeks. He has plenty of hay and two small feeds a day of alfa a oil and youngstock mix. He looks fab on it xx

[boothsdale]

Our Section A foals have been weaned onto Top Spec balancer with a little alfa oil They have ad-lib haylage at night and are out on grass during the day. The 2 who need a little more have a small measure of Frickers conditioning mix.

[dogsanddonkeys]

D & H Suregrow, is good for native foals, we feed it with mollichop and sugarbeet, they do not heat up and go all fizzy on it, but it has all they need for good growth and a level head.

[Nightshirt1111]

We feed our TB sport horse foal D and H Suregrow anf D and H mare and youngstock mix and like Dogsanddonkey says ours don't heat up but yet we know they're getting all the right mins and vits

[Deleted]

My mare and foal are just about to go to live out. I was going to feed them stud balancer - cos its little tiny pellets, so thought it would be easier for Velvet to manage? She is only 10 weeks old?

[Nightshirt1111]

That would be a good choice lovepink we sometimes stand and feed our foals at the side of the mares just out of a scoop then the mare doesn't have to eat all the expensive stud balancer