I just bought a five year old Friesian/QH cross. He is really gorgeous, but I am having a hard time knowing what to feed him. I bought him from a place down south that said they only fed him a bag of chopped dried alfalfa, and no grain or anything else. When he came to me, he was advertised as “suitable for any level rider” sort of saint being ridden by children. This was why I bought him. I am an experienced rider but do not want a hot horse because I am 67. I have him on grass all day, some hay at night, a cup of alfalfa pellets twice a day and a ration balancer with 26% protein (Poulin E-Tec Balancer). He also gets a scoop of smart muscle. He gets first cut. I also give him vitamin e and some Cruz flax oil. Since getting him in March (two months ago), I have noticed that he looks great and is super shiny but he is gradually getting a little bit hotter. The amount of balancer I am feeding is based on his weight and not his hay, since it is pretty crappy hay. But he does get grass all day. Has anybody noticed that Friesian crosses are prone to hotness if overfed? I would like to hear what people with Friesian crosses feed and how they regard them.
I like alfalfa pellets, or a flake, as an ulcer preventative, especially for a horse I just brought in. Are you feeding it because the previous owners fed it? It might be something to cut out if the grass is good and he has settled in with you. I’m not familiar with the supplements you mentioned other than the oil. A ration balancer would not be making him hot.
A friend has Frisian’s that she rides & drives. I find them to be quite keen horse yet very obedient.
Thanks for this reply. He is really a very kind horse.
Sounds like you are feeding him better so he feels better.
And yes, a ration balancer won’t make him hot, but the additional calories/energy can.
Sounds like he just needs more work.
How’s his condition?
Unless he needs weight, I’d drop the alfalfa pellets and oil, and see if anything changes. He may just be getting too many calories.
He looks pretty fabulous, actually, but is not muscled up. But super shiny and well fed.
He’s getting plenty of protein with the balancer & smart muscle; you can probably drop the alfalfa. Some horses are sensitive to it.
Is the hay tested? Some “crappy” first cut can actually be sky high in sugar, which might not be agreeing with him.
How was his condition when you got him?
He looked ok when I got him but a tad rangey and certainly not shiny. He had no muscle whatsoever.
Crappy hay doesn’t really mean anything if it isn’t tested and could be full of sugar
How much oil? How many hours of grass? What’s his weight?
Enough grass almost guarantees he doesn’t need the Omega 3 from the flax oil, so if you’re feeding more than 1-2oz, drop to that, or even eliminate it if you’re worried about his weight
2c alfalfa pellets is around 300-333 calories, so not significant
What is “some hay at night” - how many pounds? If you’re not sure, how many flakes from what size bales, roughly? Grass hay tends to be in the 2-3lb/flake range is smaller 40-50lb bales, maybe a little more. But they can be 4-5lb if from large 100lb bales. I guess the bigger question is - is he out by morning, or does he still have some left over?
He was “advertised as “suitable for any level rider” sort of saint being ridden by children” but did you test ride him? See video of these kids riding him? What does “getting a little bit hotter” mean? given the description of his condition when you got him, he likely just feels better and you’re seeing the real Him.
