Question

I own a yearling Clydesdale/Paint colt that stands 15 hands and weighs 1,050 lb (477 kg). I am pleased with his weight (moderate, a body condition score of 5). He is turned out a few hours in the pasture each day, and then spends the remainder of the day in a stall with an attached paddock. When in the paddock, he has free-choice access to grass hay. He is given 5 lb (2.3 kg) of senior feed daily with no supplements. Does his current diet satisfy his nutritional requirements? Should he be fed less senior feed with the addition of a ration balancer? Should I feed concentrate with a ration balancer until he’s done growing? Once he’s done growing, will just a ration balancer work if he’s only worked lightly?

Answer

If you are happy with your colt’s growth rate and development on the current diet, then it suggests he needs the 5 lb (2.3 kg) of senior feed to meet his energy (calorie) needs. I recommend adding a ration balancer to the current diet to ensure optimal nutrient intakes, including protein, vitamins, and minerals, as the nutritional value of the hay is unknown and the senior feed is being offered at the low end of the manufacturer’s recommendations. The amount of ration balancer fed will depend on the manufacturer’s recommendations. This combination of feeds is appropriate and provides you with the flexibility to customize the diet to meet energy and nutrient needs over time.

The main goal with growing horses is to provide a well-fortified diet that maintains consistent growth rates to support development and reduce the incidence of development disorders.

Young draft and Warmblood horses often benefit from a lower energy, lower-starch feed that provides high-quality protein and complete vitamins and minerals. Diets consisting of high-quality forages may only require the addition of a ration balancer to support desired growth. Forages that are lower in energy such as first-cutting grass hay may need to be supplemented with a concentrate to meet the energy and nutrient needs of growing horses.

Additional reading on Equinews:

Choices in Feeding Young, Growing Horses

Energy Requirements of Growing Horses

Essential Dietary Minerals for Young, Growing Horses

Growing Horses: Energy, Protein, and Amino Acid Requirements