29 August 2008 17:20
I have an 18-year-old Connemara x cob mare. I ride her five times a week for about 40 minutes per session. Many years ago she had laminitis. She also had a problem with side bones, which made her lame – both problems have now totally cleared up. I’d like to do more with her, so I want to give her more energy. She is currently on a handful of Bailey’s No 1, cod liver oil, MSM and a handful of ReadiGrass.
What can I add to her diet to give her more energy without the laminitis returning?
Answer
By Your Horse
Nutritionist Katie Williams replies:
The quantities you are giving are very low, so it seems as though your mare is a good doer. However, her diet is not balanced as she is getting straight feeds without a broad-spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement. You need to provide a balance of nutrients plus a bit more energy without risking laminitis or weight gain.
To ensure the diet is balanced, I suggest feeding small quantities of a balancer such as Top Spec or Baileys’ Lo-Cal, which provide very low levels of calories, starch and sugars. To provide energy, you can use fibre, plus oil if required. I suggest a low-sugar fibre feed such as Dengie Alfa-A Lite or Badminton Alfalfa Light, as they have a similar energy value as a low energy cube.
The recommended rate of 1.5 to 2kg is a lot more than you are currently feeding, so introduce it slowly and increase to about 1kg (two scoops), then stay at that level for a few weeks to see if it has the desired effect.
If you still want more energy from your mare, increase it to 1.5 to 2kg.
If adding fibre doesn’t give enough extra energy, try oil, but be aware that if it isn’t used for work it will lead to weigh gain.
Remember, fibre and oil provide slow-release energy, so they are unlikely to make her livelier. If you are looking for extra sparkle, you could feed cereals – but they increase the risk of laminitis, so do try all the other options first.