I was aware that Mac needed something more to help his muscle development and was considering going to 3 feeds a day - Although I need to be careful as he can very easily become neurotic and silly. Mac had over 2 years of hit and miss work due to injury; during this time he went from a muscle bound horse to looking like an 18 year old horse. I think his age has made it more difficult for him to recover his muscular condition so it was extremely timely being offered the chance to do a tried and tested for Baileys Horse Feeds. I have fed and used their products for many years and the opportunity to see a nutritionalist was fab……and of course feeding has come a long way over the past few years.

Emma obviously knew her stuff and I appreciated her willingness to listen and take on board the information I gave her about Mac. Emma came up with a way of topping up Macs nutrient content. His weight is good and we don't want fat, just the stuff to help him build muscle. So we have introduced him to the new Baileys Performance Balancer. I did not really expect to see much of a difference for a while but I was wrong! He was shiny before but now he has a real deep bloom to his coat. I can also see a difference coming over his back - I think I will be able to remove a pad from under his saddle soon as he is bulking out more over his withers. But the greatest thing is mentally he is ab fab.

While she was their Emma noticed the Alfa A I feed. She suggested I try Baileys new AlfAlfa Blend which has some straw and clover in it. Mac really likes it and the bags are really quite big and well filled so good from an economy point of view.

All in all I have always been a fan of Baileys and after this trial I will be converted I think completely to the Balancer. Its early days yet but I will keep you informed.

MAC'S WEIGHT:
27 September: 582Kg
4 November: 603kg

Having spoken to Di we are going to reduce the amount of Top Line Cubes as Mac has a little too much energy at the moment. As the nutrient contribution of the diet will be reduced by reducing the amount of Top Line Cubes I have suggested to Di to increase the Performance Balancer by 0.5lb (0.25kg/1mug) per day to make up the difference. This allows us to reduce Mac’s energy intake whilst still supporting his nutrient requirements.

Mac has come a long way in just 4 weeks. He has noticeably developed more muscle and better topline particularly over his quarters and neck. He still needs to build and fill out from his neck into shoulder and I would like to see more topline over his wither but this will develop in time, it’s still very early days.

MAC'S WEIGHT:
27 September: 582Kg
4 November: 603kg
6 December: 603kg

MAC'S WEIGHT:
27 September 2010: 582Kg
4 November 2010: 603kg
6 December 2010: 603kg
10 January 2011: 603Kg

Before I start please let me thank Emma from Baileys Horse Feeds and Equine Affairs for putting me forwards and on to this trial. Mac would have been even bigger had he not had a bout of colic just prior to the final weigh in; a total shame and nothing to do with his feed. The weather was so wet he had to stay in when normally he would have an hour or two on grass, and he just got a bit bound up. I had weighed him 2 weeks earlier and he was an inch and a half bigger.

I have been so pleased with the way Mac has built up. He is doing so well with his training Inga Bryant suggested we go PSG. It has been a long haul with this horse, through Injury to getting him back looking like the horse he used to be. And now thanks to Emma and Baileys Horse Feeds he is really looking great. On top I can look down at a huge neck and bulging shoulders.

Mac is an older horse 19 this year. Emma took his age into consideration when formulating his diet - after all, older people can get a bit saggy too! The feed balancer has made all the difference as Mac was already on the No. 4. I use the energy from the number 4 and get the muscle development from the balancer. . . It’s great!

This year will be Mac's year. As Feb comes round we will be back out competing after a very hard winter of training. I am pleased to report we achieved 4 single time changes for the first time last week. . . . Inga was jumping up and down! and I nearly cried as we have been stuck at 3 for such a long time. He is getting stronger all the time and this has to be attributed to the Balancer which is giving him everything he needs to build muscle . . . and that means strength!

Mac will be continuing with the balancer and the No. 4 Conditioning Cubes after the trial has finished - after all, why change something that works. I hope you will give it a try yourself although I would recommend a chat with Emma as every horse is different and Baileys range is huge. I think you will be very happy with the help and advice you receive.

Thank you Baileys!

Mac has come a really long way in such as short space of time and I have been really pleased with his progress. Mac still needs to gain a little more muscle from his neck to shoulder and over his wither but this will come with work and continued nutritional support. Mac also has plenty of natural energy, therefore when less energy is required Di can reduce the Top Line Cubes to cut back his energy intake and increase the Performance Balancer by 0.25kg (0.5lb/1 mug) to ensure that Mac’s nutrient requirements are still being met.

Mac and Di are doing so well there is no need to adjust the diet currently and as the season progresses Di should hopefully see some more improvement with further muscle development.