I have a now 4 yr old OTTB who I got earlier this year, straight off the track, but has since been let down and restarted. The farm I board at (small private farm) has excellent pastures and he had no problem gaining weight and then maintaining that weight (BCS 5/9) over the summer, even as he continued to grow and fill out. However, now that the summer grass has died, he looks to have started to lose a bit of weight so I would like to proactively ensure he maintains his weight throughout the winter.
For background, he currently gets 2lbs Sentinel LS AM&PM, along with an 8oz cup of wet beet pulp AM&PM. When I come out to the barn (I go out 6-7 days/week), I give him 0.7lbs of Gro N Win as well as 1.5lbs (dry weight) of soaked alfalfa cubes. On the days I ride him, he gets an extra 0.75lbs of the LS after our ride. He is out 24/7 (only comes in to eat) in a 4acre pasture that he shares with 2 other horses (my other horse and the BO’s horse) and the pastured is seeded with winter rye. I have used Amplify in the past to add/maintain weight in the winter and plan to pick up some this weekend to begin adding to his feed. The BO has just started tossing 1 flake her hay (coastal) in the PM and will eventually work up to 2 flakes (1 coastal, 1 timothy/orchard mix (my hay)) AM&PM as they eat down the winter rye.
I would love to just add more hay to his diet (and I think that’s what he needs). However, he is out 24/7 and the other 2 horses in the pasture as easy keepers and do not need any additional hay. There are only two pastures at this farm and the horses in the other pasture are even easier keepers (they only get fed once per day) so changing pastures isn’t an option. I was thinking I could give him extra hay (of my T/O or pick up some alfalfa maybe?) in his stall for the 1-1.5 hours I am working my other horse every day. Any other suggestions? Anything I can add to his feed? Should I increase the alfalfa cubes? Or should I focus on ways to maximize his hay intake? He is a good eater (licks his bowl clean every time) and the BO is very good about giving any additional feed, supplements, etc. that I supply.
Thoughts?