[luvs2ride79]

Alfalfa pellets are a great safe way to add nutrients and protien, and they're not that expensive. The young horses at our barn get them with stabalized rice bran, and lots of bermuda hay. They are doing beautifully on it!

[MyBelgianAzzy]

That's an interesting suggestion- are you talking about the alfalfa pellets people commonly use in place of or in addition to hay?

[luvs2ride79]

Yup. Most horses love the taste, and since it's a forrage, it's very safe to feed. Even horses sensetive to Alfalfa don't have a problem eating it in small quantities. Since switching from grain to alfalfa pellets, my horses have calmed down, my mare's heats are more tolerable, and their feet and coats are better. My easy keeper mare gets 3lbs of Alfalfa pellets a day and 1/2 lb of stabalized rice bran. My harder keeper gelding gets 5 to 6 lbs a day with 1 lb of rice bran. They get good bermuda hay and access to a mineral salt block. They are fed no other supplements. I give them a scoop of whole oats on work days really as a treat . Our whole barn is on this diet (minus the oats, I'm the only on that does that, lol), and all of the horses are looking great! Even the now lactating mare and old senior guys are doing well. The seniors get some added beet pulp though, and it's wetted down so the poor guys can chew it, lol.

I am a big fan of forrage based diets. I won't ever go back to commercially prepared grains or pellets again!

[MyBelgianAzzy]

I'm not challenging you, so please don't take it that way ... I'm curious what the advantage is to feeding rice bran (which is rather expensive in my area) and alfalfa pellets (economical) over a product that has the perks of both? Or is this somehow superior to feeding a ration balancer?

[rageandglory]

to consider the consistancy of availability of any given grain or foodstuff is a good point to consider along with the obvious nutrient bases and purposes. nothing worse than finally deciding on a programme and then having to dash it cos the product is no longer available or whatever. 'specially urks me when things of a sensitive nature are involved, like equine diets. and the price of gas atm.

[MyBelgianAzzy]

Originally Posted by rageandglory

to consider the consistancy of availability of any given grain or foodstuff is a good point to consider along with the obvious nutrient bases and purposes. nothing worse than finally deciding on a programme and then having to dash it cos the product is no longer available or whatever. 'specially urks me when things of a sensitive nature are involved, like equine diets. and the price of gas atm.

I'm so sorry... I read and re-read your post, and I'm not understanding it... can you please try to be more clear?

[rageandglory]

hmm... it's not a bad i dea to consider the availability of a grain/food product from a reputable company, with a reputable product. i am an avid TC fan and more than once in my area it was suddenly not available. the quality of grains at that time wasn't as broad or specific as it is now and i was left with less than desirable choices. didn't do much for my horses to change that quickly, either. my point i guess, is that when choosing a new feed programme, considering how available and accessable your new choice will be is a good idea.

sorry to sound ambiguous, been a long week.

[MyBelgianAzzy]

That's quite alright! I understand what you mean now, and you're absolutley right. Thank you for coming back and clarifying.

[rageandglory]

thank you for your grace: )

i applaud your desire to and awareness of not grow/ing him up too fast.

[luvs2ride79]

Originally Posted by MyBelgianAzzy

I'm not challenging you, so please don't take it that way ... I'm curious what the advantage is to feeding rice bran (which is rather expensive in my area) and alfalfa pellets (economical) over a product that has the perks of both? Or is this somehow superior to feeding a ration balancer?

I do not like feeding grain. Corn, barley, wheat, and molasses are just not good for horses. They are not natural to their systems and can cause behavioral problems, metabolic problims, ulcers, and founder.

Alfalfa is a forrage, very safe and natural to a horse's gut. Rice bran balances the calcium phosphorus ratio in Alfalfa and provides added fat and nutrients. It's not a very expensive additive as you don't need to feed much. It is VERY dense in its powdered form, so 1lb is barely over 1 cup.