Horse Feed Recipe

Question
Hello and thank you for answering my lengthy rambling question.

I recently bought a 22 month old registered quarter horse gelding.  He was in an one acre enclosure with no grass with 2 dominate mares - he ate last.  He was fed 10% sweet feed and had unlimited access to a large roll of hay (rained on - open to the weather).  He is now in a 3000 square foot enclosure with grass (limited - now winter in southern U.S.) and is turned out for 1 - 2 hours to munch green grass everyday.  He is still on the 10% sweet feed (5 lbs per day) and receives 2 - 3 cakes of hay (grass hay) daily.  I plan to work him light to moderately 3 - 4 days per week as weather permits.  He has very little energy and seems very stiff - he will not trot or run (he absolutely is NOT under saddle).  I have been told by 2 trainers that he needs oats and soybean meal.  Basically I would like a "recipe" to mix my own horse feed.  I have concerns about sweat feed - so much added sugar.  I want him to have the best diet possible.  I have had him one week.

Answer
Dear Sandy,

Congratulations on your new horse.  My first question is what are these 2 trainers basing their advice on that he needs oats and soybean meal?  Personally I would not make such a drastic dietary change in a horse so soon after moving him especially as he is young and less seasoned to adapting to new surroundings.  I would give him more time to settle in, get to know him more before deciding to change his diet completely.  
I understand your concerns about sweet feed and 5lbs a day depending on which one you are feeding is quite a lot. 10% sweet feed just reflects the % protein in the feed and says nothing of the ingredients. It could actually be a very fiber dense sugar  beet based feed with soybean meal in it for the protein or it could be a grain based sweet feed so I can't really say whether you should be concerned about it or not.

Is it possible that he doesn't understand the work you are asking him to do and that along with his needing to adjust to a new place and routine and diet that he is "stiff" and unwilling?

I would be happy to help you further and if you are interested in putting together a diet totally tailored to your gelding I could do that too and we could also chat by phone if that would be helpful.  To find out more about that check out my website www.equilibrateequine.com

If you can give me more specific details on the sweet feed along with your horses estimated weight and condition I can be of greater assistance.

Regards,

Clair Thunes, PhD.
Independent Equine Nutritionist.
Equilbrate Equine Consulting.
clair@equilibrateequine.com
www.equilibrateequine.com