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[RC] Hard Keeper and Competition Horse... two questions - Mike LewisI have an older Arab gelding (27 in May) who is a very hard keeper and am starting to see ribs and bony hips. We've picked up his feed to half a 3lb coffee can of 10% sweet feed, half a can of senior feed, and 1/4 can of alfalfa pellets twice a day, plus free choice hay. He is given light work as a school horse on weekends only. Feed is top dressed with about 3/4 cup of corn oil. What can I add to help him put on some weight? Are there any special feeds targeted to older horses who are hard keepers? Perhaps I should cut sweet feed back and increase the senior formula? When I had Nafal in New Mexico I could put him on Alfalfa hay and he'd do just fine in the wintertime. Second issue: my new endurance mount is an 11 year old mare who I'm just now reconditioning. She has completed some very tough races in her younger days, but recently weaned a baby and is just now getting back into shape. I am very wary of any feed targeted for endurance horses as my expectation is that such feeds are "designer feeds" that are overhyped and overpriced. Still, I'm willing to consider such a feed if it provides proven nutritional advantages. Are there any endurance feeds that really provide an advantage over normal performance feeds from the standard suppliers? Thank you, Mike =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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