What is the best mix of grains for a hot horse?

Question

I bought a 5 yr old Morab mare that had been abused. She came down with pneumonia and we had to mix her medicine with sweet feed. Couldn't ride her for about 3 weeks while recuperating. She has always been nervous when getting saddled, but would behave very well when ridden after being saddled. However, now she has gotten wild and will spin and buck as soon as the saddle is placed on her back (if you can even get close enough with the saddle). The one time I did get her saddled, she wouldn't follow rein commands, was throwing her head, & only wanted to trot.

I think the problem is caused by the sweet feed. We have to bribe her with grain in order to catch her and get her to work with the trainer, so taking her completely off grain is not an option right now. I'm thinking about mixing BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds), crimped oats, and rolled barley. I've heard that corn should be avoided. What mix of grains would you suggest that will make her the least hyper as possible?

Answer 1

I don't like mixing any grains at all.

I use one grain that has a mixture of everything,

and I use it on my young horses, and my old horses.

They don't ever get hot, and it keeps their coats looking nice,

plus it's affordable.

I know a lot of people in my area use it, and love it.

It's Equine Senior.

The website: http://horse.purinamills.com/products/Eq...

We give it to any horse 5 years and up because it keeps their overall heath looking good. I know it says senior but it really doesn't matter.

One thing that will make every horse extremley hot is oats.

Out of all the grain you should I would abseloutly not ever choose oats. They make horses hot, and have energy.

Anyway,

Hope it helped. email me if you have any questions!

[e-mail]

kelly♥

Answer 2

You can add corn oil to the feed to help mellow the horse out.  I know it sounds odd, but it was a really popular thing to do just a few years ago.  In fact all the big publications like Equus, Horse Illustrated, The Horse, and others did big articles on it.

Because of the type of fats, and the horses ability to absorb those fats easier, it levels off the horses behavior.  You can look it up on the net, but it requires a decent amount of corn oil added to the feed.  

before you try that, I would cut the amount of grain in half and see if it makes a difference.  If that doesn't make a difference, the feed isn't making the horse "hot"  The three weeks off did.

Answer 3

Given this mare's age and breed, and the behavior you describe; I would feed her Allstock pellets, NO oats, and no barley.  You can always give a few handfuls of sweetmix to catch her; just seriously limit how much.  That combination should be enough.  Oil will add fat thus add energy so I would avoid that, too.  I'd also avoid the BOSS.  

I would catch this mare several times a day and just bring her in and brush her, groom her, spend time with her on the ground.  Then turn her out again.  Make it more fun to be with you and liking being caught.  

Make sure your saddle fits well; is it wide enough for her?  Are you using the same bit she was in when you purchased her?  Can you go to less bit, maybe a ring snaffle, until you get this sorted out?  

The interpretation I have, if there is no physical problem with her health or your saddle, is too much energy and some confusion and/or fear from the horse.  

I would also try some groundwork before riding to warm her up; some of it while saddled.  Also that she's ridden frequently enough.  This seems like a horse who wants a considerable amount of exercise, needing interaction.  

I think you asked a great question, and are on the right track in general by thinking along these lines.  It sounds like you have a nice mare.

Answer 4

Try something with lower calorie content. You could do about 3 handfuls of A&M and mix medicine into that; it doesn't take much because the medicine sticks to the molasses.

As far as the saddling goes, if she is only reacting to the saddle, it might not fit her or there could be a piece of tack rubbing and making her uncomfortable. Check the saddle fit and also make sure that the tree is not broken anywhere or that the flocking is bunched up somewhere. Also make sure that the girth doesn't pinch anywhere and that the bit you use isn't too narrow and pinching her face. You could also have her back worked on by a chiropractor and give her liniment baths.

Answer 5

if you have a hot horse grains should be used in small amounts.

meadow hay is really good for hot horses i have problems in showjumping, try soaking all the meadow hay in water for about an hour before it gets rid of all the sugar that is not totally necessary. also do try making about half a lit re of chamomile tea cooling it then mixing it with your horses water or with her rough feed. chamomile helps with calming her down. also don't get nervous you muscles will tense and they feel all of our muscles

Answer 6

i would stay  away from oats that will give her more energy and it sounds like that is the last thing u need.

but i that u would b better off by just getting one feed that is s mix of things because it has some different vitamins that horses need

Answer 7

Drop the grain and switch her to a cool mix or non-heating mix or whatever you call it in your neck of the woods.

Don't only catch her when you want to work her, catch her for nice things too- in hand grazing, grooming, handwalking, etc.

Lunge her before saddling her so she's warmed up and relaxed.

Answer 8

I would not feed the mare any whole grains.  If she is out in pasture, which she must be if she has to be coaxed to catch her...then buy a commercial bagged processed feed.  Use it as a treat, when you want to catch her, or even feed her once a day with it so that she gets used to coming in and having some quiet time, food (which is near and dear to any horse) and not always having to work when she is caught.

Answer 9

I'd definately go with a name brand premixed feed as they have  the proper mix of nutrition, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. I personally only use extruded pellets as they are more easily and completely digestable. I prefer the Nutrena Life Design line of pellets, they make a very good feed called Prime for adult horses that are not competeing at a demanding level, also  a Compete 10% that is good for adult horses that are being worked more.

Here is a link to Nutrena's website. They also have a dealer locator there as well.

http://www.nutrenaworld.com/Screens/Bran...

Regarding the oats they are a "hot" feed and are usually fed as an energy suppliment ... hence the reason they are fed to racehorses and showhorses.

With a hot or nervous horse you need to really watch the protien level as well, an adult horse in good health rarely needs more than 12% protien total when you average out both grain ration and hay, for example 10% grain and 14% hay (any good quality hay is that high) averages to a 12% feed ration. With adult horses fat and fiber are the biggest contibuters to putting and keeping weight on them, excess protien just goes to extra energy, which results in the nervousness sometimes.

Boss is a good fat suppliment if she needs more weight but not really a good feed suppliment otherwise, not properly balanced for equines and much is passed through them.

Answer 10

i would remove the oats from her diet right now and replace it with a pelleted form of horse feed. I would take her off all unnecessary grains and seriously give her a cereal or pelleted mix...and further ground work.