Hi... I have been very very kindly given a 15 year old PBA 14.3hh. He has been out of regular work for 6 years. Over the last few months I have lunged him twice a week (sedate lunging) with walking out in hand and now lunging 3 times a week and have up'd the pace a time also riding once/twice a week (walking only. I have been taking it very slowly with him! Considering he has not been out of his field much in the last few years he is doing fantastically! He's carrying a little extra weight, so I'm keen to get the weight off and improve his fittness level. He lives out during the summer. The grass is great quality so I gradually took him off his hard feed (Allen&Page Calm&Condition) and have been feeding him half a sccop of chaff (dengie hifi lite) with his supplements (equiform excel extra/ equiform garlic honey & glucose / global herbs windgalls / cod liver oil). Since taking him of the hard feed I have noticed he has become super super spooky whilst out so I have started to give him a small handfull of the hard feed again. Is this the right thing to do? I have not changed his feed since taking him over. I was wondering if I am doing the right thing and if anyone can give me some hints or suggestions if I'm doing anything wrong! Raz is my first horse and is a very sweet, kind and incredibly easy to look after so I really want to get things right for him (feed & fitness level). At the moment I don't intend to do anythin with him but would like to get him to a level where we can have a good hack and schooling. I would like to show him at some point because I've been told he's a pro!!! Thank you very much! Kirsty
I would think that it's not the fact that you have taken his off the food that is making him spooky. Normally it's the food that enduces 'spookiness'. It just be the Spring/Summer grass that's making him that way.
I would suggest that you could feed him 'slimming' food like Allen & Page Slim & Healthy or something like Safe & Sound, Happy Hoof etc. This gives you the opportunity to give a multi vitamin like Benevit or something similar to make sure your boy is getting 'everything he needs' and any other supplements that you feel are appropriate.
Plenty of walking exercise, whether it's under saddle or in-hand should ease your boy into a fitter life style.
As your boy gets older, it's very important to get the weight off and keep it off. Keeping him fit as he gets older will help him to live a long, healthy and happy life with you
Hi Kirsty, It is probably just the fact that he is getting fitter than when you first had him. If you have been lunging him for a few months he is bound to be fitter and feeling better than when you first started. If he's still carrying a little too much weight don't increase the feed (make sure he is getting a good allround mineral/vitamin supplement) but keep working him. As you build trust you should find that he get's over the spooky stage. Good luck and have fun together.
We have this problem with spring grass. I am tempted not to ride mine in May next year! Have you tried a magnesium type supplement like 'Magic'? I'm not convinced its worked on Spider but lots of other people use it successfully. Now its June he is back to his normal self.
Just a thought (probably wrong) could perhaps the "calm" in calm and condition actually be helping and the fact you have taken him off it be the root of the problem. I am definately not as experienced as most here but just wondered?? Sandie
thats why i but him back on a handful of calm&condition but wasn't sure if it would be best to take him off hard feed altogether (due to his wieght and excellent grazing) and give him a calming supplement????
i would try two things. the cheapest first. i am presuming he is living out 24/7. i would try bringing him in for a little sleep during the day this will give his body time to rest and restore his magnesium levels and then i would try giving him nupafeed - magnesium supplement. i would also feed him Baileys LoCal which will give him all the vitamins he will need and i would not at the mo while he is on good grass feed him anything else. just some ideas for you. good luck and enjoy him.
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England
Posted - 13 Jun 2007 : 10:12:06 AM
