Re: Feeding Toc

[Abby Bloxsom <goneriding@snet.net>]

I hope y'all will forgive me.  I'm continuing this discussion on the
list in spite of the fact that we're drifting toward a discussion of
eventing, mostly because it's something we deal with in distance riding
regarding adjusting the workload to meet the horse's needs.  If y'all
would rather we go off list with it, let me know.

> I'll onl be able to ride him for one hour per day
> from now on, and some days not at all, but if I plan on eventing him (which
> at the moment there is zero chance of, but anyway...) then he'll need to be
> fit.
> 
What level are you eventing at?  How long is the x-c phase, and at what
speed?

> >>At the moment, he is on 500 grams of concentrates per day.  He looks like
> a million bucks.>>
> >I'd leave him where he's at, at least as a trainer ...>
> 
> Will he get enough from his food?

If he's not losing, and you supplement with a balanced vit/min mix, then
I'd say that's enough.  Again, though, I'm not a nutrition expert.

> >Answering specifically the conditioning question here, I'd say "do what you
> have to do to keep him fit enough for the job at hand.<
> 
> Okay, then he's going to need to be fairly fit.  Even when I'm not
> competing, I do at least one relatively fast 3 hour ride per week (not sure
> of the distance, but it's hilly and ditchy, with jumps and a gallop), I jump
> him at least once a week and then do dressage.

A fast 3 hours is way more than we'd need to do even training level
around here.  Last year at this level, did he finish his x-c with
gallons of fuel to spare? (I assume yes.) 
 
> Hmm, when I just walk him, he can go for ages without incident, then he'll
> explode from nothing (and I mean nothing : he launches himself into the air,
> does a huge capriole-style buck, lands and keeps on walking as if nothing
> has happened, which is a bit irksome) but other days he will buck the whole
> way, jog and generally be a brat.  When he's like that, I MAKE him work in a
> frame and move on from the leg, so that I can at least get something useful
> out of all that energy.  We do shoulder-in, quarters-in, etc.  He still
> bucks like a demon, but I feel better :+)

Sounds like he's just got way more energy than he needs ...
> 
> He gets turned out at about 8 am (weather permitting, I don't mind the rain,
> but don't turn out in a storm).  When it's really hot, he comes in from
> 12:30 to 2 pm for a zizz and a nibble of hay (no grain at lunchtime), and
> he's out until 4:30 when they come in.  Of course, I then ride him for an
> hour, so in fact he's out until about 5:30.  If it's been a hot day, and the
> evening is nice, I'll turn them out in the garden until about 7pm, to make
> up for being in over lunchtime.

Sounds like a reasonable schedule to me, for a stabled horse.  How much
turnout area does he have, and is there a way to give him access to his
stable from the paddock without closing him into it?  
> 
> generally he just puts his head down and grazes.  I used to
> worry that, when we put him out in the morning, he didn't tear around like
> my neighbour's horses, but I guess he likes to conserve his energy for me!

My girls just like to be where they can see what's going on, and keep
track of it.  Very little in the way of playing, but they do cover a lot
of ground even in the paddock.

I think all told I'd probably recommend minimal concentrates and maximum
turnout - 24/7 if you can manage it.  Depending on what your x-c
challenge looks like, I'd go for a couple gallop/jump rides (x-c
training) a week, 30 minutes each, and spend the rest of the time in the
school doing flatwork & jumping gymnastics.

-Abby