[Chantal.]

Well what I got from the girl I'm buying him from is this: "He is fed just hay and a minimal amount of sweet feed, Hi fat Hi fiber, and barley." He currently is doing minimal work, I think lunging 4 times a week or less. Basically ground work. When I get him he will be in work to get into show condition. He is not underweight, but could use some more, and he needs MAJOR muscle tone. I'll take it slow etc etc, but he will progressively be ask more and I want to make sure I am feeding him approprietly. He's a 6 year old TB gelding, never raced, 17hh, I forget his weight at the moment but it's healthy.

What do you guys reccommend? I'll consult a vet when I can, but for now I need some help on how to get him started and with what.

[imacowgirl2]

I'd start with a ration balancer, and add on top of that as needed for calories...I'd avoid sweet feeds if possible.

[chillebrand]

Why avoid sweet feeds?

[Xiphias]

From what the horse nutritionalists say now, sweet feed is not really that good to feed to a horse...in the long run....too much sugar, and high carbohydrates....horses are suppose to eat grass and hay, with a mineral/vitamin supplement that they now call a ration balancer....Cathy

[chillebrand]

so I can buy something simply called balance rationer? and what form is it, grain or a block or what? obviously I don't know much about this.

[Xiphias]

Here's a link to a bunch of information on Ration Balancers for horses....Cathy

AOL Search

[imacowgirl2]

Originally Posted by chillebrand

Why avoid sweet feeds?

I like to compare feeding sweet feed instead of a ration balancer to your horse to feeding white bread and chips/candy instead of whole wheat bread and whole fruits and veggies to a child...both will give you approximately the same calories, but one is full of sugar they don't need and not very much nutrition, while the other is packed with tons of nutrition that is needed.


Here is a thread about specific products that are ration balancers...you might find it helpful.

Ration Balancers: Specific Products

[imacowgirl2]

Originally Posted by chillebrand

so I can buy something simply called balance rationer? and what form is it, grain or a block or what? obviously I don't know much about this.

Yes they are sold in most feed stores by almost every major company...the name may differ slightly by company (ie. they might not all have ration balancer in the name...I know Triple Crown feeds calls theirs a supplement for example) so I pulled that older thread up for you so you know what you are looking for

They are usually pellet form, and are sold in 50 lb bags just like sweet feed. The only difference is that they are going to be more expensive per bag (but don't worry...you feed so much less that you end up saving money even though each bag costs more) and they are probably going to be harder to find, because a lot more people feed sweet feed than RB's, so the feed stores tend to stick them in the back corner in my experience.

[PeggySue]

if you can tell us what feed companies you have avaliable we can help you find one..

Buckeye
Triple Crown
AMD
Puriana

whoever .....

[chillebrand]

I just went to two feed stores in town, one has nutrena and the other some purina products. From reading previous posts I understand nutrena doesn't have ration balancer. The purina store didn't have the born to win. I checked at the COOP and they only carry sweet feed.
Somewhere on here I read something about a ration balancer that is best for crested horse, any chance you remember that?