Which should I cut back on?

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Which should I cut back on?; Hay, grain, or alf. cubes?
Topic Started: Jul 12 2009, 05:40 AM (188 Views)
War Admiral	Jul 12 2009, 05:40 AM Post #1
"Sure doesn't LOOK like an ASB." Posts: 218 Group: Members Member #79 Joined: January 6, 2007	I throw myself upon the mercy of TOC and blushingly admit that my (almost) 3.5 y/o is TOO. FAT. (Not obese mind you - he doesn't have fat rolls on his back or shoulders - but you definitely have to dig in to feel ribs!) He gets 3 lbs TC Complete in 2 feedings; free choice grass hay; and half a 5-gal. bucket of alf. cubes 1x/day in the morning. Has very little grass available since it's been so dry here. What's the best thing for me to cut, or cut out? Cheers...



FlashGordon	Jul 12 2009, 07:27 PM Post #2
Is the meadow on fire? Posts: 1,955 Group: Members Member #2,251 Joined: December 3, 2007	I'd cut back on the TC Complete. Maybe go for their Lite or LS instead, or try doing the TC 30% (at 1-2lbs a day) If he's an easy keeper a Ration Balancer should do the trick, providing he gets plenty of forage.



Trialbyfire	Jul 13 2009, 11:56 AM Post #3
It'll be an adventure! We're going on an adventure! Posts: 2,186 Group: Members Member #250 Joined: January 8, 2007	Not being familiar with the needs of young horses, I'm not sure...but either the alfalfa or the TC Complete. I feed the TC Lite to my group in the summer because they are all fat from grass, but I am sure none of them are growing (or growing in any other way than girth!) as they are 6-15 years old. If grain is essentially as "optional" for horses at 3.5 as it is for older horses (generally speaking, of course), then I'd cut the grain down or switch to something lower in calories for now, as Flash said. In my case the weight gain is definitely due to grass so I typically switch back to TC Senior for my mare sometime in late fall/early winter as she'll drop weight through the winter. Good luck! Personally, I think I could put weight on anything. Not sure how it happens but once our pasture grows in everyone gets fat overnight!



War Admiral	Jul 14 2009, 03:19 AM Post #4
"Sure doesn't LOOK like an ASB." Posts: 218 Group: Members Member #79 Joined: January 6, 2007	Thanks so much, both of you. I'll try the TC Lite!



Witchy	Jul 15 2009, 08:22 AM Post #5
Is the meadow on fire? Posts: 1,675 Group: Members Member #547 Joined: January 22, 2007	I'd skip the alfalfa pellets and change to the lite. The hay is your best bet. Since he's getting very little feed, I'd add a vitamin supp. like the ones Smart Pak makes for grass hay.



headlesshorseman	Jul 19 2009, 07:58 PM Post #6
You're BANNED! Posts: 4,749 Group: Members Member #871 Joined: March 8, 2007	I got this from Nutrena..... Nutrena Horse Feed is starting a new "Product of the Month" program! For July, the Product of the Month offer is $1 off per bag of LiteBalance - the perfect controlled-calorie product for all your "easy keepers", ponies, and mini's! Also, check out Lite Balance if you aren't feeding below the lowest recommended amount of another product!....it's good for the REST OF THE MONTH Maybe you can look into that.... GOOD LUCK!!!! HH



War Admiral	Jul 20 2009, 09:30 AM Post #7
"Sure doesn't LOOK like an ASB." Posts: 218 Group: Members Member #79 Joined: January 6, 2007	Thanks so much everyone! HH, I would loff, loff, LOFF to have this horse on Nutrena; it would be my first choice. Unfortunately the nearest dealer is 75 miles away, so I had to rule that out. TC is pretty much the only game in town. I'm in the process of switching him over to the Lite, so we'll see how that works. Thanks again!



MissBri	Sep 1 2009, 08:01 AM Post #8
Cead Mile Failte ! ! SLAINTE! Posts: 4,011 Group: Members Member #973 Joined: April 20, 2007	YUP I'd cut back on the alfalfa pellets, cut back and switch to TC Lite, and add a supplement for horses on grass hay. You could even try cutting out the grain altogether......but be sure to give a complete supplement formulated for horses on grass hay http://www.smartpakequine.com/productclass.aspx?productClassid=4578 OR switch to Omegatin which is a highly concentrated low starch high fat feed/supplement. A little goes a long way - Bri was a very easy keeper - free choice grass hay, beet pulp mash with grass hay vit/min supplement, sunflower and flax seeds, and a handful of Omegatin as a treat. In the winter I would add hay pellets into her mash, just because..... Edited by MissBri, Sep 1 2009, 08:20 AM.



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