Nutrition Info

Question
Hello.
A mnth ago i bought an arab/welsh filly (sire is unknown). She is currently 2YRS old and stands approx 12hh. Her breeder was adamant she'd make 14hh. She looks a victem of malnourishment as she's spent most of her life in a 'bush' paddock with a skint amount of grass and no suppliment feeding. But she does have nice coverage and is not typically 'ribby', as well as being dappled (a sign of health).
My question is, what foods are the best to accelerate her lost growth? She is currently being fed a mix of chaff, equilibrium, copra, calcium, breeda pellets, as well as flaxseed and canola oil.

Answer
Hi Erin,

Thank you for your question.  Horses are genetically patterned to grow to about 67% of their adult size in their first year, 86% by their second year and about 95% by their third year.  Unfortunately, if they are not fed sufficient amounts of energy and protein (in a well balanced diet)they will not meet that growth rate and it is extremely difficult to make up for lost time.  Trying to formulate a diet to gain back lost growing time can be difficult, and generally ends up recommending large quantities of grain.  

I realize this sounds a little negative and I'm not trying to skirt the question, but it is difficult to defy the genetics of growth patterns.  The only thing that I would suggest is that you formulate a ration for optimal growth at the age she is now. You have chosen all of the right ingredients for a mare of her age...you will just need to establish the proper feeding rates to balance the diet properly.  I could run a ration for you using my new 'Ration-X' software, I will just need to know your mare's body weight (and work load if any) and her exact age in months.

Horses do experience a growth spurt when they first start a training program, so it may help to introduce some round-pen or lungeing work once she is on her new diet.  It may help give her a little more size.

I hope this has helped, and if you would like me to run the ration just get back to me with the specifics about your horse.

Thanks, Corlena