[Shannon]

I'm bringing my mare "home" at the end of the month, and I need some ideas for her diet. She is definitely overweight, but there is an obvious reason for that and I'll get there. She will be slowly brought back to work, as she has been out of work for quite a while.

15 year old Dutch WB mare
16.1h
Currently getting timothy morning & night with oat hay for lunch, as well as a ~1 1/2 scoop of Maxi Glow morning & night
In ZERO work, stalled at night, turnout during the day

She will be living in a large paddock (~60x100) and getting three-way and alfalfa, not sure on exactly how much yet. As stated above, she will be started back up into work.

As she is entering her golden years, does she need to be on some sort of senior nutrition? I have never used a ration balancer but would be willing to try it. I think I have access to a lot of different feeds but would have to call around to find out exactly what we have.

Pics...

[JBandRio]

I'd definitely replace the Max-E-Glow with something more nutritious Either a ration balancer or vit/min supp. You would go with the vit/min supp for now, since you're getting more protein and lysine than just a grass hay diet, and then re-evaluate in a month or 3 and see how things are going.

The replacement will cut down on a good bit of calories off the bat.

[Shannon]

Thank you I guess I am slightly concerned about taking her off the (insane amounts) of rice bran immediately as I start round-penning and lunging her. I don't want her to drop weight that quickly, though I think I'll get a bag of the Max-E Glow and wean her off it, but cut the amount in half LOL.

I don't know a thing about RBs...What would you suggest? What would you suggest for a vit/min supplement? I was thinking about putting a SmartPak together...She is 15, and was thinking about putting her on just like MSM or maybe something with HA or glucosamine for joint support as she goes back into work. Sorry, thinking out loud here

[JBandRio]

Originally Posted by Shannon

Thank you I guess I am slightly concerned about taking her off the (insane amounts) of rice bran immediately as I start round-penning and lunging her. I don't want her to drop weight that quickly, though I think I'll get a bag of the Max-E Glow and wean her off it, but cut the amount in half LOL.

I'd be more concerned about her weight being round-penned/lunged than I would with her dropping weight too quickly

I don't know a thing about RBs...What would you suggest? What would you suggest for a vit/min supplement? I was thinking about putting a SmartPak together...She is 15, and was thinking about putting her on just like MSM or maybe something with HA or glucosamine for joint support as she goes back into work. Sorry, thinking out loud here

A SmartPak is not a bad idea of you want to combine several items. I've never used their vitamins, but they look decent enough. If you can get Progressive or Buckeye or Seminole, those would probably be my top 3 picks for a ration balancer. Triple Crown would be a close 2nd. You'd feed just 1lb a day - probably all she needs. You can easily add calories, such as a pound or two of alflafa pellets or oats, if she drops too much weight.

I think it's not a bad idea to put her on MSM. It would be cheaper to purchase it separately, most likely, but sometimes SP surprises me with what is cheaper or at least the same. There are LOTS of MSM products out there, make sure it's 99% pure, and go with the cheapest. Usually I see that Select or MVP are among the cheapest, but shop around.

I've been using Cosequin on Rio for years, prevention, and have just switched to Flex Force Sodium Hyaluronate Solution which has gotten some really, really good reviews in terms of effectiveness and price (via that other board ) so that's a possible try for you. It's $60 for a 256 day supply at the 1/2oz maintenance level. I'm doing a full ounce for Big Boy.

[PeggySue]

Being in Ca your options are gonna be
Triple Crown
Purina or
LMF

of those three I would go Triple Crown

[Shannon]

Thanks to both of you

We definitely have TC available. I had my other mare on a bit of TC Complete.

[imjustjoking22]

She is a fatty!! But at least you know she can keep weight on well I like that her butt looks huge at all of these angles!! haha.

You may want to try a feed like TC Lite, I have been very happy with it except during Kai's growth spurts when he needs a bit extra- we feed him and Pacifico TC Lite watered down a bit with some whole flax, keeps them looking lovely!

I like the complete (using it for a little while right now) but it does make them hot.

[Shannon]

Originally Posted by imjustjoking22

She is a fatty!! But at least you know she can keep weight on well I like that her butt looks huge at all of these angles!! haha.

You may want to try a feed like TC Lite, I have been very happy with it except during Kai's growth spurts when he needs a bit extra- we feed him and Pacifico TC Lite watered down a bit with some whole flax, keeps them looking lovely!

I like the complete (using it for a little while right now) but it does make them hot.

I have a feeling most horses can keep weight on well when being fed top quality hay and THREE POUNDS of rice bran! LOL

Good suggestion on the TC Lite. I know I've seen that at the local feed stores. No matter what I feed I'm probably going to throw in some BOSS. I just love what it does for the coat.

Is the TC Lite a RB?? And why does it not make them hot, but the Complete does?

[PeggySue]

The TC Lite is just a low NSC low cal feed... the complete has oats in it which will make some horses "hotter"

[LateralFlexion]

Triple Crown Lite--------------15.90% NSC & 1150 Calories per lb - @ 3 lbs = 3450
Triple Crown Complete------21.70% NSC & 1596 Calories per lb - @ 6 lbs = 9576
Triple Crown Growth---------19.80% NSC & 1568 Calories per lb - @ 6 lbs = 9408
Triple Crown Senior----------15.70% NSC & 1546 Calories per lb - @ 6 lbs = 9276
Triple Crown 30% RB--------9.8% NSC & 1266 Calories per lb - @ 1lb = 1266