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Topic: Nutrition for weanling (Read 1380 times)
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Amanya
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Preliminary
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Posts: 96
Life is Choices
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OK, as a first-timer with the raising up of a "horse-child", I have been finding a bunch of contraditive "advice" on how/what to feed my just-weanled colt. Even the vets don't seem to agree!!!
WHAT is a mother to do? 
The thoroughbred and arabian are four and five generations back, so my boy is really a warmblood and I want to feed him as such -- I'm not wanting to promote fast growth and then, opps, end up with OCD or other metabolic bone issues.
The ranch where he lives prefers to feed 1/2 oat and 1/2 alfalfa. The breeder of my mare said she fed her all grass and a pelleted feed until she was four, even though grass hay can be really pricey here in California.
What do the rest of you feed and why?
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EclypseSporthorses
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Old Hand
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Posts: 994
Go The Distance
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It has been over 2 years since we brought our weanling home, so, I'm rusty on this.
I agree that no one can agree on this!!!
I did notice that when I pointed out that I didn't want fast growth, and I'd be patient, the opions changed.
We settled on
Nuetrena John Lyons Mare & Foal Signiture feed, and had great success with it, even though we fed alot less than suggested on the bag, I think we only gave him about 2 cups of feed, twice a day and gave him as much good hay as he wanted. Too much alfalfa is not good. Try just one flake alfalfa and two of mixed hay.
The main thing, whatever you choice, study up on the calcium, phos. ratio, ect. on line just search online.
One of the main things with youngsters is shots.
MAKE certain you are deworming EVERY month UNTIL they are ONE YEAR old. Our vet did an autopsy on a foal last year, when she opened the abdomen, masses of worms flooded out, they had ruptured the intestinal wall. Don't forget, worms also invade blood vessels and major organs.
Good luck
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"Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 37:4
~*Ride-Far-Ride-Well*~
*^The Sky's the Limit^*~
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Karim
Guest
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There is a lady who brought Dressage home to this Country, and has been breeding Trakehners for years. She is very experienced, learned & knowledgeable horse person, and recently given recognition & awarded for her lifetime contributions & accomplishements to/in the sport by CDS (This past Saturday, January 11, 2003 @ Glendale Hilton with the presence of a few olympians, judges & other famous characters in the field). Although I hate to admit it, but she has been right every single time with her sometime painful, but always truthful opinions/calls about your riding or your moun! If you like, give her a call or write to her for her formula of success. She represented America in the Olympics twice. Her name is Hilda Gurney and she can be found @ Keenridge, at Moorpark, CA, or look her up under Leonidas on the ATA site for her contact info.
Among other american or european knowledgeable & experienced horse people on this forum, you may try Debra Tyler of Tylord Farm (Enrico Caruso, Laiken & Unkenruf). She may keep a low-profile but she definitely knows what she is doing.
PS: I have no vested interest in any of these individuals, although I have dealt with them in the past/present!
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sherry
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FEI
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Posts: 223
I love Trakehners!
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I can only tell you what I have done--and it has seemed to work for me--I've had very little problem with OCD, etc. Grass hay is very pricey in CA--so it is not a good option for me. I feed a very low protein alfalfa when I can get it--otherwise I feed 1/2 alfalfa and 1/2 oat hay. My babies are started on a combination of calf manna and strategy GX at about four weeks, when they are purged with strongid and begun on a daily worming. After weaning I continue with the calf manna for about another four weeks. By that time, they are eating strategy--we only feed other supplements when there is some indicated reason to do so. I think that perhaps the best guide is to watch condition--we really don't want these babies to be pleasingly plump--those little ribs should be visible.
It's difficult to get any concensus on this issue--the path I chose is the result of experimentation, and the need to feed many horses with differing needs in as simple a manner as possible. I don't think that there is any right answer--other than to be diligent about veterinary care and condition--and to adopt suggestions of those people you trust on this issue who have gotten good results which will work for you in your particular location and situation. A mare and foal food is usually excellent--but it is generally too expensive when you are talking about feeding a herd.
Good luck with your young one--and feel free to contact me if you think I might be of assistance.
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fuzzy
Guest
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The best thing I've found is to use hay (or pasture if you have it) as the basis of the horse's diet and adjust whatever grains and/or pellets you feed accordingly. I had been taught to feed babies a rich diet, but found that that is a BAD idea with any WB, including the Trak - lucky for me l learned this before I had my own foals. The protien shouldn't be any higher than 13% or 14% . I usually keep it around 12% unless the horse is having a hard time keeping weight from either growth or work. And don't coddle babies too much with life in a stall. Their bones and tendons develop better when they can be out 24/7 with buddies and a run-in shelter.
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sherry
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FEI
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Posts: 223
I love Trakehners!
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fuzzy-EXACTLY!!!!!
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Equine Connection
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Gold Medallist
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Posts: 444
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We follow the same thought as Fuzzy - making an excellent quality hay the primary focus with grain being supplemental. This has worked very well for us for many years. We feed our weanlings with the same basic thought in mind - not too high of a protein content as we don't want to encourage too rapid growth and potential bone (and other) problems down the road. We feed a mix of Timothy and Alfalfa hay - no straight alfalfa for anyone (with the exception of our pregnant mare as she's getting into the later stages or pregnancy, but still, we're cautious not to feed her too much and typically we mix it in with the Timothy). Obviously, she's become quite spoiled and her "preference" is, of course, the alfalfa... 
Here in the east, we have an excellent brand of feed - Blue Seal. It's very consistent in quality, and we feed a blend of an "extruded" (for better digestion) feed, part steam-crimped oats, and part pellets. None of our feed contains corn. This seems to work very well for everyone. Also, about 6 months ago, we started using Glanzen supplement (contains flaxseed), and I must say, we're very happy with the results - and our best guage are our horses and how they look and feel.
As previous posts indicated, a weanling's (or adult horse's) diet will definitely vary depending upon geographic area. I think what's worked so well for us is to always keep their protein intake around 12%.
Hope this helps you out. 
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Warm Regards,
Renee & Happy Hour
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