forage, fodder, supplements - implusive

Question
QUESTION: hello ma'am, what fodder, forage and supplements make a horse more impulsive?

ANSWER: Hello Rohit,

Thank you for your question.  I'm not sure what you mean when you say impulsive?? Generally when we refer to impulsion in horses we are talking about their way of going but I'm not certain that is the context in this case.  If you are asking for a feed type that makes a horse more 'lively' or 'hot', the answer would be starch based feeds.  If you are looking for energy rich foods that provide more energy then you are want to feed fats (vegetable fat). If this doesn't fully answer your question please follow up with a bit of an explanation of what you need from your horse.

Thanks, Corlena

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: ma'am, i meant impulsion regarding gait. when the rider uses leg cues, how well the horse responds. is there any fodder that makes a horse more impulsive? once i had been to a riding club which has mostly of the ex-racehorses belonging to thoroughbred breed. there were so lanky, so i was sat astride and told to kick in its ribs for moving forward, the horse didnt respond. it annoyed me. the handler took the reins, looped it and gave a hard slap on its neck. horse ducked and got spooked, turning in a semicircle. i felt pity for the horse.

these horses at riding club are fed only hay. no fodder. they became very weak and less impulsive.

Answer
Hi Rohit,

Thank you for the follow up.  There is no feed that makes a horse more responsive to a rider's cues.  That comes with patience and training.  Horses are not born to automatically identify what a human's cue is supposed to make him do.  You have to train him to associate the cue you are giving with the movement that you are looking for.  Then, over time, the horse responds quickly; associating the cue with the movement.  But patience is key and harsh training methods can quickly build resentment and confusion in the horse.

Thanks, Corlena