Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
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Dr. Getty
hi i have a 20 year old thoroughbred, he is in good condition but i was wondering if the feed i am currently giving him is nutritionaly balenced. i use a litre scoop and he gets;
3.5 scoops of oaten chaff
3.5 scoops of lucern chaff
1 scoop of micronised rolled oates
1 scoop of AV horse pellets
1/2 scoop of bran
he also gets;
4 teaspoons of trackmen arthritis compound
4 teaspoons of vitagram (multi vitamen and mineral suplement)
2 teaspoons of dolimite
2 biscuts of oaten hay or a hay roll when the grass dies down in summer he is out 24/7
and 1 scoop of boiled barley in the winter.is this ok for a 16 hh tb he is 20 and weighs 530kgs and looks good fo his age.
Where are you from? Australia
Hi Vanessa,
At first glance, it appears that your meals are too large. Since a horse's stomach is relatively small, you should limit the size of your meal to no more than 2 kg. A liter scoop likely weighs approximately 1 kg, depending on the feed. So, a scale is a good idea.
The types of feed that you are offering is quite good. I would suggest that you feed a different calcium supplement, however. Dolomite has trace levels of lead in it.
All the best,
Dr. Getty 
thanks Dr getty
so do you recomend that i cut the whole feed down to 2 kgs or just the oats, pellets, and bran? or the whole feed including the chaff? i have weighed the chaff before and it weighed 2kg so should i half that and then add 1 kg off the other stuff or have 2 kgs of the other stuff and leave the chaff? i can only feed him once a day, will he get enough? what other calcium supplement do you reccomend?
thanks for your help
vanessa
Where are you from? Australia
Hi Vanessa,
You can feed the chaff first, since it is mostly fiber and will push past the stomach rather quickly. Then, reduce the oats, pellets and bran to 2 kg in total size. Since you are feeding significantly less, you may find that he loses weight. So, you may want to add some oil to his diet to boost his calories, or some linseed meal (not the defatted version, since that has all the fat removed).
About the calcium supplement -- he likely does not need this, since you are feeding a lucerne chaff. And, if you can offer some lucerne hay, that would be even better.
All the best,
Dr. Getty