Short feed..

Question
QUESTION: I have a 13 yo, 16.3, TB X Cleveland bay mare who's is ridden 6 times a week doing light to medium work, so I was just asking which short feeds you would suggest I fed her? Thank you!

ANSWER: Hi Lydia,

Thank you for the question but before I can make some suggestions, I need to ask some questions.

What is the body condition of your horse currently and what are your objectives in this case?

What is her energy level like?  Is she hot or is she sluggish and what would you like her to be?

Has she had any feed related medical conditions?  Colic, choke, laminitis/founder...those sort of things?

If you can let me know, I'll help you through your selections.

Thanks, Corlena

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

QUESTION: Ok sure..

Her body condition is very good at the minute and I would like to keep her that way.

She can be quite heated sometimes and although I'd like to subdue this slightly, I don't want her to become too subdued.

No, she hasn't had any feed related medical problems.

Thanks again, Lydia.

Answer
Hello Lydia,
Given your horse's description, I would suggest you select a performance formulated high fat/ high fibre feed that uses some controlled starch and follow the feeding recommendations for moderate levels of exercise.
A performance based high fat/high fibre feed will use beet pulp as a fermentable fibre source instead of wheat shorts, soy hull or oat groats (which the maintenance version would use).  It should also use a form of extruded vegetable fat instead of straight vegetable oil as a fat source.  Both of these are designed to increase the rate at which these ingredients are converted to energy by the horse's body.
It should also used some 'controlled' starch.  This means that the starch source has also been treated (extruded or steam flaked) to increase the rate at which it is digested in the body, and cuts down on the risk of digestive upsets created from undigested starch.  This use of controlled starch will ensure that your horse has that sugar needed when it comes time to perform but not so much so that it creates attitude problems.
All of this will allow your horse to maintain body weight while being worked at a moderate level.
I am not sure what feeds you have available to you, but could make some suggestions if you let me know what company you would like to deal with.
Thanks, Corlena