Feeding Youngstock
How to Feed Your Youngster: Essential Tips for Supporting Growth
Proper nutrition is one of the most critical factors in ensuring your youngster grows up healthy and strong. In this guide, we’ll cover essential tips for feeding your youngster, focusing on their specific needs during this crucial developmental stage.
The Importance of Forage in a Youngster’s Diet
Forage is the cornerstone of your youngster’s diet. High-quality grazing and forage should always be available to support their growth. For youngsters, we recommend using a good-quality hay product over haylage. Hay provides essential fibre and nutrients, which form the foundation of their diet.
At Carharrack Farm and Country Store, we stock a range of premium forage products that are ideal for growing horses. Check out our hay options here to ensure your youngster has the best start.
Supporting Growth Without Overfeeding
Youngsters will achieve approximately 90% of their total growth in the first year of life. It’s crucial to support this growth without forcing it too quickly, as rapid growth can lead to developmental issues.
Different breeds have varying nutritional needs, and understanding these requirements will help you choose the right feed and supplements for your youngster.
Feeding Native Breed Ponies
Native breed ponies thrive on good-quality forage and a balanced vitamin and mineral supplement. These breeds are prone to gaining weight easily, so it’s important not to overfeed them. A suitable diet for native ponies might include Alpha A combined with their vitamins and minerals. Alpha A provides protein and calcium, which are essential for muscle and bone development.
Explore our range of vitamin and mineral supplements and Alpha A products to create a balanced diet for your native youngster.
Feeding Warmbloods
Warmbloods can also gain weight easily, so their diet should focus on steady, controlled growth. Overfeeding warmbloods can lead to rapid growth, which places unnecessary strain on their joints. For this reason, ad lib access to high-quality forage is ideal, paired with a balancer.
Balancers are a modern and efficient way to provide youngsters with the higher levels of vitamins, protein, lysine, and calcium they need. We recommend Saracen Stamm 30 and Spillers Gro ‘N’ Win as excellent options for warmbloods.
Shop our selection of balancers to support your warmblood’s growth safely and effectively.
Feeding Thoroughbreds and Similar Breeds
Thoroughbreds and similar fast-maturing breeds often require more nutritional support. A stud mix, such as Saracen Level Grow, is a great choice to pair with their forage. This complete concentrate feed supports their rapid growth and ensures they receive the nutrients needed to maintain healthy development.
Browse our range of stud mixes to find the perfect match for your thoroughbred youngster.
Transitioning to an Adult Diet
By the time your youngster reaches two years old, they will have completed about 95% of their total growth. As they approach their third birthday, their growth rates will slow, and they can transition to an adult diet. At this stage, their nutritional requirements decrease, and a standard adult horse feed will suffice.
Explore our full range of adult horse feeds to support your horse as they mature.
Why Choose Carharrack Farm and Country Store?
At Carharrack Farm and Country Store, we are passionate about providing top-quality products for your equine companions. From forage to balancers, supplements, and complete feeds, we stock everything you need to ensure your youngster grows into a healthy, happy adult. Visit our online store or stop by in person to browse our selection and get expert advice.
Final Thoughts
Feeding your youngster properly is one of the most important investments you can make in their future. By providing the right balance of forage, supplements, and breed-specific feeds, you can support their growth and development while avoiding common pitfalls like overfeeding. For all your feeding needs, Carharrack Farm and Country Store has you covered.
Have questions about your youngster’s diet? Get in touch with us today or visit our store for personalised advice.