Feeding Yearling

[paulasmith]

Hi,

Quick question regarding feeding... What do you feed your yearlings/youngsters?

I have recently purchased a sec c colt and wondered whats best to feed him?

He is on haylege and gets 2 feeds one at night and one in morning. He is currently getting young stock mix from dodsen and horrell and hi fi, but i read that young stock mix is from 1-3 years so not sure if i should stop giving him this?

I just want to make sure he is getting the correct nutrients and vitamins he needs.

Any help appreciated

[kermie]

Personally, I'm not a fan of youngstock mixes as I think they are higher in starch than necessary. I feed TopSpec to all of my ponies, including foals, etc and think it's much easier to have a one feed does all approach. I only give 2 handfuls to the mature ponies, but feed the recommended ration to those still growing to ensure they get their vitamins and minerals.

[Lavender]

I'm not a fan of youngstock mixes either!! Ours get plenty Alfa A mixed with a pre-mix of whole oats, vits and mineral pellets, grass nuts and some other stuff and ad-lib Haylage, they all seem to do well on it!

[gill]

What are you feeding for? Is he underweight or needing condition? I'm not a fan of feeding any concentrate to youngstock. When my now 3yo was a weanling she needed a bit of condition on over winter and I fed her TopSpec and Alfa A oil plus ad lib hay.

[bingbong]

I fed mine top spec and haylage and not much else I worried too like your self but he's four now and has grown well and has always looked amazing since going on the topspec. It will prob save you money too

[paulasmith]

Think i will re consider what im feeding him then, he needs a wee bit of condition but not to much and dont want to be over feeding him either as hes only getting two small feeds.

Im not a fan of topspec never have been but thats just personal opinion and that was on a different horse so maybe he would be better on it.

Thanks everyone!

[beryl]

Hi, you should try Primero Total, its a complete feed. Have a look at my web site www.lesmore-stud.co.uk and have a look at the primero page. I cant recommend it enough and I have changed a lot of "old timers" in to feeding this feed! I don't know where you are based? but if your not around Aberdeenshire I can find out a stockiest near you ;D

[bluebelle]

I am also a topspec fan, all my ponies get it although i use the antilam as they dont need anything else but for a baby would use the comprehensive. better to under feed than to over feed him, Vern suffered mild contacted tendons as a late foal/yearling and had to be corrected by remedial trimming. They reconned it was due to good grass intake and irregular feeding, causing him to grow at an unsteady rate.