Looking for some advice! How do you add protein to the diet of a young horse who tends to fat? He is on a very limited amount of grain; we’re based in Texas, so on coastal hay but we add 1 flake of alfalfa 2x a day because he has had an impaction colic (non-surgical) previously. He’s also on Platinum CJ fed at dinner only.
It’s a boarding situation, so grain options are limited.
Any advice is appreciated!
What is “limited amount of grain” - what and how much? Protein comes with calories, there’s no way around that. Ration balancers are good for high nutrition, good protein, and not a ton of calories.
Is there a chance the Coastal is tested? How many pounds of alfalfa, and are there any other hay options?
You have to increase his workload to account for the extra calories.
I usually use a ration balancer if more protein is needed since it adds minimal calories compared to protein.
Also - what makes you feel he needs more protein?
To answer your questions - he gets 1/4 scoop of grain AM/PM, free choice coastal (it hasn’t been tested), not sure the weight on the alfalfa, it’s Texas, so no other hay options.
He’s in full training, so ridden 5+ days a week. I’m curious about needing more protein because his topline is looking a little weaker recently than it has been.
We’ll consult with his vet, but was just thinking on it.
What type of “grain” is it? How big is the scoop that he’s only getting 1/4 of at each feeding. Horses should be fed by weight instead of volume. Unless the “grain” is a ration balancer, it’s very likely that he’s not getting his minimum nutritional values met. Coastal hay is not known for a high nutritional value either. It’s the only thing grown local to me too, but I refuse to feed it as my gelding gets impacted on it and just doesn’t look as good as he does on higher quality hay. I feed a timothy-orchard mix that is trucked in from out of state. It’s pricier but I don’t have to feed near as much hard feed because the hay is so good. In my experience, feeding the highest quality hay possible will produce the best topline.
I have an air fern with PSSM2 so she has very high protein needs. I add protein through two ways:
There’s other hay that grows in TX, you just might not have (easy) access to it 
Alfalfa is typically in 4-6lb flakes, which is pretty signficant calories for a super easy keeper. That’s why I was wondering if you can get any other type of grass hay, to cut some calories here.
It’s also pretty significant protein. If we assume a low 4lb/flake, and a moderate 16% protein, that’s 290 calories. If he’s in the 1100lb range, his work says he needs 700-800gm protein, depending on his actual size and actual work. If he’s eating 22lb of Coastal that’s a lower 8% protein, that’s another 799 gm, his entire protein need. Even if it’s a low 6% protein, that’s still 600gm, so still enough protein with the alflafa
Assuming the “grain” is a regular fortified feed, and the “scoop” is a typical 3qt scoop, you’re way under-feeding the feed.
Switch to a ration balancer. Unless he’s in seriously heavy work (doesn’t sound like it) or he’s huge (1400lb+) then 1lb
If you feel that’s still too many calories (it’s really not, but…) then you can use ProElite Topline Advantage which is a ration balancer that’s even more concentrated than a typical one. 1/2lb is the typical feeding rate
How old is he? If older than 10, I’d test for PPID. When did you start noticing the weaker looking topline? Any chance you have a conformation-type picture?
When was his saddle fit last properly evaluated?
You could just add tri amino or nutriamino for the limiting amino acids. That often addresses this sort of “just not seeing the muscling I’d expect based on work load” thing.
Another option would be whey isolate. I had one who improved more in this department on that vs triamino.
He’s 7 coming 8. I noticed the topline looking weaker this past weekend when he was braided for a show, he’s been in the same amount of work, the feeding regime is the only thing that has changed recently.
Saddle is brand new, just arrived 3 weeks ago, so hasn’t been evaluated by the fitter yet but it is custom to him and trainer is happy with the fit thus far. He had been in a loaner from the saddle company for a 2 months prior to his saddle arriving, not custom to him but was customized using shims.
We had been feeding tri-aminos but combined with the PP and the limited grain, it was too much powder and not getting eaten.
I believe he weighs around 1300 lbs
It’s a boarding situation, so hay choices are limited to what they have access to.
Hope that helps!
Can a little water be added to his meal?
Or you try Super Sport which is a pellet: https://shop.purinamills.com/products/purina®-supersport®-amino-acid-supplement
Or maybe this https://www.smartpakequine.com/ps/smartmuscle-mass-pellets-11814
How much whey protein do you add? I’m removing soy from my MFM horse’s diet for other reasons so I’m not using SuperSport anymore.
I add a scoop – I target 60g additional protein each day and she gets half of that through the supersport and half through the whey protein. If I took out the supersport I would do 2 scoops of the Whey Protein.
I just order 5lb bulk containers from Amazon in the unflavored version. Took a couple weeks before she accepted it. At first I had to:
But now I just dump a scoop of the protein powder directly onto the dry speedi-beet and alfalfa pellets, add water, slosh around to get the worst of the clumps out, let sit while I ride, then feed. She LOVES it…a little too much as she’s a brat after rides demanding it.
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