[TravelingGirl]

I'm looking for a good 10% or 11% protein pelleted feed and can't seem to find anything lower than 12% around.

I have a horse that gets hyper when over-fed, but runs out of energy on day 2 of riding. I'd like to try him on a lower protein feed, but feed him more and see if that helps solve his energy problem without making him hot and spooky.

Recommendations?

[luvs2ride79]

Try alfalfa pellets. Alfalfa pellets do a great job of giving my horses plenty of energy without making either one spooky or "hot". They get bermuda hay, 3-5 lbs of Alfalfa pellets, and 1/4-1/2 lb of stabalized rice bran (for added fat and nutrients, and to help balance the calcium phosphorous ratio in the Alfalfa pellets).

Protien doesn't cause hyper horses, starch and sugars do. Alfalfa pellets are generally 14-16% protien, but both of my horses do MUCH better with it than any sweet feed and even feed pellets.

[Ryle]

Starch and sugars also give that "burst of energy and then crash". I would choose a balanced pelleted feed that is forage based.

[shakti21]

Try Something Like Nutrena Safe-Choice. It is 14% but it is derived from barely. Theres almost no chance of that hyping them up. thats what most people miss is that it isnt % that affect horses, its how you get it. Thats like a protein shake with sugar or one without. they metabolize two different ways.

[JBandRio]

Originally Posted by TravelingGirl

I'm looking for a good 10% or 11% protein pelleted feed and can't seem to find anything lower than 12% around.

Protein is the least of your concerns about looking for a food. You can feed 2lb of a 30% ration balancer and provide more protein than 4lb of a 12%.

I have a horse that gets hyper when over-fed, but runs out of energy on day 2 of riding. I'd like to try him on a lower protein feed, but feed him more and see if that helps solve his energy problem without making him hot and spooky.Recommendations?

Protein is not your issue here. The whole makeup of the diet needs to be addressed. Less sugar/starch, more forage/vitamins/minerals, and possibly even MORE protein, but quality protein.

What's his diet now?

[TravelingGirl]

He gets almost no grain now. He's on pasture 24/7 and gets a pity portion of Strategy twice a day.

During our competition season (spring & fall) his feed is increased to 1/2 scoop twice a day (small coffee can) with a cup of BOSS with each meal...still pretty much a pity portion to get him to eat the BOSS since he's no longer on pasture and can use the oils, and is switched to grass hay (timothy & orchard) when the pasture is shot.

His weight and muscle is good, but when his feed is increased (we've tried horseman's edge, a custom pellet made by Browns and now Strategy), he gets hot and spooky instead of gaining weight.

During our off season I ride an hour a night 4 times a week, with plenty of gaiting and hill work to keep him in good condition. During our competition season I ride an hour a night twice a week, then on the weekends I would like to ride 5-6 hours a day on Saturday and Sunday. Currently Trav is good Saturday but is tired after a couple of hours on Sunday. I tend to believe this is a "fuel" issue rather than a conditioning issue.

So now I need to figure out how to give him more fuel without him turning into a loon.

And here's another question. How the heck do I know how much sugar/starch is in a food based on the label? Below is Nutrena SafeChoice's Guaranteed Analysis.

Guaranteed Analysis (min. amounts except where noted)

Crude Protein14.0%
Lysine0.80%
Methionine0.30%
Threoninemin. 0.50%
Crude Fat7.0%
Crude Fibermax. 15.0%
Calciummin. 0.90%-max. 1.20%
Phosphorus0.75%
Copper50 ppmZinc160ppm
Selenium0.6 ppm
Vitamin A 3,500IU/lb
Vitamin D350 IU/lb
Vitamin E100 IU/lb
Biotin.45mg/lb

[Dawn]

Horseman's Edge is actually made by Purina and is very crappy (although saddly not the worst thing that they make). Everything that you're describing points to a lack of nutrition and then too high of starches/grains.

[TravelingGirl]

Originally Posted by Dawn

Horseman's Edge is actually made by Purina and is very crappy (although saddly not the worst thing that they make). Everything that you're describing points to a lack of nutrition and then too high of starches/grains.

That's why he's not on horseman's edge anymore (that was over a year ago). He's been on Strategy since January, although not enough to be worth anything.

[Dawn]

If you switch to another 'regular' feed, you're not going to be able to feed enough of it to do any good either.

[TravelingGirl]

Originally Posted by Dawn

If you switch to another 'regular' feed, you're not going to be able to feed enough of it to do any good either.

I'm not sure what this means.

I'm looking for a feed I can feed in a quantity large enough to give him sustainable energy without making him crazy. That's why I'm asking for recommendations.