Is grain a MUST?

SkyeTiger · 04-02-2007, 01:20 PM

When I move my horses to the new farm I was planning on just leaving them outside with a nice run-in year round. I have stalls so that if it does get bad weather they can easily and quickly be brought inside.

I was thinking since they are both extremely easy keepers and will have plenty and plenty of hay and loads (20 acres worth) of grass that they wouldn't need grain.

Tell me your thoughts on this please.

3WishesDun · 04-02-2007, 01:22 PM

Grain is not a must, but you may have to fill in the gaps with a vitamin/mineral supplement or ration balancer. The ideal way would be to have your soil or hay tested or you could just go with a good all around supplement.

MyBelgianAzzy · 04-02-2007, 01:22 PM

For your horses, it doesn't matter what you decide to do, but I know you want to board as well, so I would like to point out even if you choose not grain your own horses, you really ought to still offer boarders the option of having their horses grained.

riding_reaper · 04-02-2007, 01:25 PM

nope. I wean my horse off the stuff every spring.

faroutfax · 04-02-2007, 01:27 PM

My guys go without. And trust me they aren't exactly slim (I'm actually going to get some grazing muzzles)

luvs2ride79 · 04-02-2007, 01:34 PM

Mine get alaflafa pellets and rice bran as their grain, with whole oats on hard work days, mainly as a treat. Nope, grain is not needed! I do have mineral blocks out for them so they can self supplement. They are very healthy, and my "hard keeper" is no longer a hard keeper now that he's OFF grain and pellets!!

Dawn · 04-02-2007, 01:41 PM

Grain is definately not required, and in most cases is harmful. There are many better alternatives to 'grain'.

ejforrest · 04-02-2007, 04:56 PM

No, grain is not a must. It is not even a natural part of the horses diet. It was added to the diet to help make the horse faster, stronger, and give more energy. Horses that are not working hard-racing, polo, 3 day eventing, or endurance dont need grain products. Research shows grains cause colic, ulcers, founder, tying up, insulin and glucose spikes, diarrhea, and other health problems. Horses have less health problems when feed fiber-hay, grass, or beet pulp. Their digestive system needs fiber to help keep it in good working condition. Grains dont do that. Fiber is the most important part of the horses diet, not grains.

MTFoalluver · 04-03-2007, 09:14 PM

I rarely grain my horses unless i am growing out weanlings/foals - then i use a formula for young horses. otherwise i only grain if i have a horse that is thin and needs extra help or am conditioning for a sale or show.

madvoice · 04-03-2007, 09:46 PM

I've seen some very happy horses that live off grass with a good mineral supplement. Some that need grazing muzzles too

04-02-2007, 01:20 PM	#1
SkyeTiger Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: near Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 7,880 Images: 1094 Blog Entries: 11	Is grain a MUST? When I move my horses to the new farm I was planning on just leaving them outside with a nice run-in year round. I have stalls so that if it does get bad weather they can easily and quickly be brought inside. I was thinking since they are both extremely easy keepers and will have plenty and plenty of hay and loads (20 acres worth) of grass that they wouldn't need grain. Tell me your thoughts on this please. __________________ SkyeJusticeSarah www.fquarterhorses.com www.goodwinquarterhorses.com

04-02-2007, 01:22 PM	#2
3WishesDun Senior Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: At My Wit's End Posts: 16,436 Images: 650 Blog Entries: 27	Grain is not a must, but you may have to fill in the gaps with a vitamin/mineral supplement or ration balancer. The ideal way would be to have your soil or hay tested or you could just go with a good all around supplement. __________________ Madness takes its toll. Please have exact change. The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep. -Frost SCHWEELS, BABY, SCHWEELS!

04-02-2007, 01:25 PM	#4
riding_reaper Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Topeka, KS Posts: 4,854 Images: 283 Blog Entries: 9	nope. I wean my horse off the stuff every spring. __________________ I can ride my bike with no handlebars no handlebars no handlebars ...

04-02-2007, 01:27 PM	#5
faroutfax Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Southern Ontario Posts: 4,830 Images: 507 Blog Entries: 16	My guys go without. And trust me they aren't exactly slim (I'm actually going to get some grazing muzzles) __________________ One man's wrong lead is another man's counter canter.

04-02-2007, 01:34 PM	#6
luvs2ride79 Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Arkansas, USA Posts: 4,007 Images: 26	Mine get alaflafa pellets and rice bran as their grain, with whole oats on hard work days, mainly as a treat. Nope, grain is not needed! I do have mineral blocks out for them so they can self supplement. They are very healthy, and my "hard keeper" is no longer a hard keeper now that he's OFF grain and pellets!! __________________ "To be an equestrian in the classical sense is not just to be a rider. It is a position in life." --Charles de Kunffy EquineFriends.com**2HotToTrot.com Anti-Slaughter and PROUD! StopHorseSlaughter.com

04-02-2007, 01:41 PM	#7
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 30,100 Images: 1328	Grain is definately not required, and in most cases is harmful. There are many better alternatives to 'grain'.

04-02-2007, 04:56 PM	#8
ejforrest Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: U.P. Michigan Posts: 2,523 Images: 363	No, grain is not a must. It is not even a natural part of the horses diet. It was added to the diet to help make the horse faster, stronger, and give more energy. Horses that are not working hard-racing, polo, 3 day eventing, or endurance dont need grain products. Research shows grains cause colic, ulcers, founder, tying up, insulin and glucose spikes, diarrhea, and other health problems. Horses have less health problems when feed fiber-hay, grass, or beet pulp. Their digestive system needs fiber to help keep it in good working condition. Grains dont do that. Fiber is the most important part of the horses diet, not grains. __________________ ej ----------- And God said to horse, trust no man if you cannot see your own image in his eyes.

04-03-2007, 09:14 PM	#9
MTFoalluver Full Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 78 Images: 14	I rarely grain my horses unless i am growing out weanlings/foals - then i use a formula for young horses. otherwise i only grain if i have a horse that is thin and needs extra help or am conditioning for a sale or show. __________________ Bohlman Quarter Horses Horse Auction And More

04-03-2007, 09:46 PM	#10
madvoice Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: Humpty Doo, Northern Territory, Australia Posts: 9,316 Images: 281	I've seen some very happy horses that live off grass with a good mineral supplement. Some that need grazing muzzles too __________________ Sep 1997 - 15 Jan 2006 ~Fry Baby I'll Miss You~ I'm not a complete idiot.. Some parts are missing I was too busy admiring the inside of my eyelids when HGS hit 3 million posts..

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