Nutrition for seldom used horse!

We have a 3 yr. Old gelding who hasn't been ridden in a few months but will be used for barrel practice once a week for 2 hours. This trial period will be for Jan. And Feb. What type of supplement would be good for him or is it better to not give any? He has been on hay for the winter months. This riding will be done in an indoor arena and travel is 10 miles or 16 kms. Thank you for any suggestions.

It is best to get him on the proper nutrition. A low NSC, fixed formula feed would be best.

What is he on now? Hay only? How much?

Agree with above. Good, well balanced nutrition and health, low nsc diet is best for horses. But I would notbe doing much riding on a 3yo baby, let alone 2 hrs at a time, let alone high impact stuff like running barrels, and while a joint supp may be a good measure for a high performance work like that, no supplement is going to prevent injury to an immature body from too hard work.. sorry that sounds so negative, just from the research and broad evidence - especially of long term soundness - rather lack of - of racehorses, 'futurities' etc, I just personally wouldnt even consider that with a 3yo if you want him to last.
Posted via Mobile Device

Barrel practice could mean something as simple as walking/trotting the pattern which is good for any horse of any age. It doesn't necessarily mean they are going to rin a barrel pattern for an hr. Any type of slow pattern work really helps get a horse supple and broke.

But, she asked about nutrition, not evaluation of her training/workout regime.
Posted via Mobile Device

How much riding will be done the rest of the week? Once a week at 2 hours is hardly much more than whatever his current workout schedule. Not enough to warrant really increasing his feed. Most healthy horses in normal work do not require more than good quality hay (plus water, salt/mineral, etc.)

Well, YOU didn't say anything about nutrition either.......

OP....if it's rather slow work he'll be doing he should be fine with just hay, maybe add a vitamin/mineral supplement or a ration balancer for the type of hay he's eating.
If he will be working hard, watch him, if he's losing weight, add some feed, or alfalfa pellets, soaked, with a little oil, if you don't want to feed grain.

Thats just silly to say that riding any horse at any age, particularly at a trot or more, particularly for 2 hours at a time, is necessarily good for them! I do feel strongly about this subject of riding babies, based on so much evidence and also research by people such as dr deb bennett. But I did reply about nutrition, got that op wanted a supp to help the horse cope with the work, which in my opinion there isnt one for that purpose.
Posted via Mobile Device

Excuse me? I most certainly did. I also asked for more first info and didn't jump the op about her training practices. Many people do thing much differently than you or I, but I don't condemn them for it. I start my babies at two if I feel they're ready. By 4 they are patterned and ready to start running. But, that's not to say that works with every horse. You have to go with what the individual animal tells you both mentally and psysically. Ther is no one golden rule.

I also didn't jump the op about her trains practices bc really, it's none of my business and she asked about feed.
Posted via Mobile Device

Well, your post, the one I replied to, would have been just fine without the last paragraph......people here voice their concerns not to bash anybody or being just plain rude, but out of honest interest.

Really it doesn't matter that everyone does things differently.....what does matter is that the OP stated that she will be doing 2 hours barrel practice once a week on a three year old that's been out of work for a while. That's a recipe for injury.......by telling her this, by myself and other posters, it might save her and her horse the trouble of an injury and the cost of vet bills....therefore it is prudent to let her know that doing this kind of thing may not be the best idea......have you ever seen a runner who has been on a six month break just throw their running shoes on and do a marathon with a 30lb backpack on??? NO? Thought so......

There is no golden rule....you're right, but there is experience, knowledge and a lifetime of horsemanship to back up the suggestions given in this thread. The OP was asking an honest question and she got an honest answer....no one jumped down her throat.

OP: I would get this horse a little more conditioned before asking for two hours of pattern practice, the pattern practice at a walk and jog is not necessarily the issue, it's the duration that may sour this horse or make him sore. However if you do continue with your plans I would just continue with his hay, add a salt/mineral supplement and watch closely for weight loss.