what do you feed your friesian?

Question

Just curious what others feed their 'pets' to keep them fit... mine has such a fast metabolism it's a bit of a struggle to keep weight on... and with the cost of timothy around here it's a bit pricey! And what kind of supplements do you feed?

Thanks!

Around here, timothy runs over $30 a bale, compared to cheaper oat & alfalfa. However, just about everyone with Friesians around here advises against feeding alfalfa because of the high protein content (in any big horses the risk of excess protein is more likely to contribute to kidney damage & tying up, supposedly). So, has anyone else avoided feeding alfalfa? Anyone feed alfalfa with no problems? Thanks :)

Answer 1

That's wierd that alfalfa is cheaper by you- it is a dollar or two more expensive here (We get 50lb bales for $1.50-$2.00 timothy, $3-3.50 alfalfa).
I have never heard of the problem that you said of- contact your vet though, maybe it is something else in the Alfalfa that makes horses get sick. Switching to alfalfa- do it very gradually. Mix some in over a couple weeks especially if your horse has a sensitive stomach. Me, and all of the stables I work at, feed a timothy/alfalfa mix (the ratio depending on the quality) to all of the horses- whether grand prix dressage fresians and warmbloods, to the backyard western horse. My full draft mare (I do dressage) gets 4 flakes of alfalfa and 3 flakes of timothy a day.

timothy is the cheap hay-- if he can't keep weight on, you need alfalfa. You can also buy alfalfa cubes and add water. It isn't as great, but it is better for fattening than just timothy. Feed at least 3-4 flakes twice a day, normally for a fresian- and probably even more if he is skinny.
Also- you don't need any supplements, as long as your horse is getting good quality hay (alfalfa mix). Do not feed a weight builder- the only thing those have been proven to do is break down the liver- they are bad and not regulated.
You can increase the grain he eats as well. I have a Gypsy Drum I ride dressage 5-6 times a week. I feed her one gallon of grain in the PM and 1/2 gal in the AM with a mixture of sweet feed and a complete pelleted feed.

Answer 2

I own a paint colt that I fitting for show. I know he's not a fresian but they can't be too different. I feed 4 pounds of whole oats twice a day and about 2 pounds of alfalfa pellets in the morning. He also gets one egg at night in his feed. I know that sounds weird but it does wonders for his coat. I don't do corn oil because it makes their neck fat. I also make sure that he has a mineral block. The kind that is crumbly so he doesn't have to lick it for a long time. I also give him two to three flakes of regular bermuda hay at night depending on if he is starting to get a belly. He always looks great and depending on the size your horse is and the age and feed ask your vet for any advice on the weight issue. It might be his teeth or he may have a parasite.

Answer 3

I rescue and rehabilitate horses that are abused, neglected, and/or hard keepers. The combination I feed that seems to work best with very limited (I have never had any colic cases) chance for colic is the following...timothy hay, alfalfa pellets ($10.99/bag), beet pulp with molasses ($14.99/bag), Nutrena Safe Choice ($11.99/bag) and RICE bran ($23.00/bag) Ifound these help them gain and maintain an ideal weight it mostly digestable fiber-which they need to stay fit and warm. The Rice bran contains in 1 pound the equivalent of fat in 1/2 cup of veggie oil. I have 2 rescues at this time, one that is pregnant, and I go thru about 4-5 bales of hay a week (square bales), 1 bag of rice bran, 4 bags of safechoice, 1 1/2 bags of alfalfa pellets, and about 2 bags of beet pulp.a month for all totals except hay bales. I also provide freechoice salt w/trace minerals block and fresh water. The combination That I have listed can actually be safely fed without feeding hay at all however it is best to provide some hay so as the horses dont get bored and develope other nasty little habits and it is wht it natural to the horse. As a side note remember to gradually change your horses diet do not do it all at once you could upset their metabolism and cause serious problems. Hope this helps

Answer 4

timothy or orchard grass hay is normally the best. suppliment with a 16% sweet feed and oats... alott of people will use alfalfa but its to rich to me and it has a tendency to stock their legs up, also keep in mind that hay is not going to help them gain weight as it is mostly fiber so changing your hay alone will not do it... you could also use a beet pulb made for foals if you want to beef him/her up and or use a suppliment for musclue mass for him/her to help too.. it does not cause liver problems if used properly either!!!!!!

Answer 5

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