[prettyqtrs]

Here's what our feed/supplement program currently looks like...

GRAIN
The majority of our horses are fed Strategy (most are on 1 to 1 1/2 cups twice a day...the broodmares are on 2 to 2 1/2 cups three times a day) and we have a gelding that is on Equine Senior- which is his main diet
(he only gets handfuls of hay at each feeding..due to numerous previous health issues and colics), and our new mare (who is 21 y/o) will be put on Equine Senior.


HAY
Grass hay (small amount of alfalfa in it). Fed 3 times per day.


PASTURE
They are on dry lot/dirt pastures with minimal grass growth.


SUPPLEMENTS/ADDITIVES
-We add 1/2 tablespoon of salt to their feed once a day.
-They are on Sand Clear 5 x per week (our area has very sandy ground).
-Horses yearling and older are on daily de-wormer, and paste de-wormed twice a year. Horses under a year old are paste de-wormed every 4 wks.


Now...all of the horses looks very healthy- not under or over weight, the mares are constantly producing great foals, they are alert/bright/normal energy/etc. But I was wondering if they are not getting all of the nutrients that they could/should be...since they don't get a lot of grain...though our hay quality is really good.
What do you think about a ration balancer? Does it sound like it would fit our program (we raise a couple of foals each year and do light riding: trails and just fun riding)? Or are we doing good since all horses are healthy, look good, produce nice and healthy foals, energy level and overall being is great, etc?
What type of ration balancer would you reccommend? Would we just add it to their daily grain? Any other info would be helpful! Thanks in advance!

[Dawn]

How much hay do they get?

[prettyqtrs]

Pounds...I couldn't tell you, as we don't/haven't weighed our hay prior to feeding.
I go by how much it feels like when I pick it up. But it averages out to about 3 flakes/slabs for most of the horses morning and night. And 1 flake/slab in the afternoon.
The yearling get about 2 flakes/slabs morning and night and 1 flake/slab in the afternoon.
The mares and foals get more than the other horses...about 4 flakes/slabs morning and night. And about 3 flakes/slabs in the afternoon.

Don't know if that helps any.



We do have a scale...but I'd have to figure soemthing out to hang the hay in a bag or something to weight it. Maybe I'll try to fix something up and weigh the hay tonight.

[Dawn]

So you're looking at about 7 flakes of hay/horse a day? (This is for the maintenance horses.) That is going to work out anywhere from 21-28 lbs on average. Enough for your average horse.

The yearling could probably use a bit more depending upon size and appetite.

All things look good in the forage department for switching to a ration balancer, so nothing would need to be changed there. A ration balancer would provide a more complete and well rounded nutritional profile than hay alone (which is basically what they're getting right now).

[Sue B]

You are currently feeding (on average) ~1 lb/day to your horses....broodmares get ~2.5 lbs/day. IIRC - Strategy provides approx. 1450 cal/lb (someone please correct if that is wrong). Ration balancers typically are around 1300-1350 cal/lb. You would most likely be providing around 1 lb/day of the ration balancer....slightly more is generally indicated for broodmares and weanlings. My guess is that your "regular" guys would do well with just the ration balancer. Broodmares and weanlings may need to have beet pulp or more preferably rice bran added for extra calories. The reason I recommend rice bran is because it adds more calories and some added health benefits than the beet pulp.

There are any number of ration balancers on the market...althought not all created equal...most seem to be fairly well formulated and deliver a good amount of nutrients. You could use the Purina Born to Win if that is most convient for you to get.

I think that shinny coats and a healthy look sometimes fool us. While many horses seem to be able to look and act ok on minimal amounts of nutrition....they are just soooo much better on more appropriate levels. I think taht often horses that get a minimal of nutrients often seem to age faster, develop compromised immune systems and eventually have many health issues as they age.

The only other comment I would make on your feeding program (current or a new one) is to add flaxseed. Horses without access to fresh grass often suffer from omega-3 fatty acid and amino acid deficiencies. Products that contain amino acids (necessary for protein utilization) are: BOSS, flax, rice bran and typically ration balancers. However, only flax contains omega-3s in sufficient amounts to compensate for what is missed when there is limited to no grass available. Generally 2-4 oz/day is recommended (1/2-1 cup). It is probably one of the cheapest and most beneficial supplements you can provide...at around 11 cents/day.

[Sue B]

LOL Dawn....looks like we got it covered from both ends!

[prettyqtrs]

Dawn:
I have to go out in a few minutes to feed my gelding (the one who gets Equine Senior) and do a few other chores, so I'll try to weigh the hay then. I should be back in the house by 7 pm, my time (I'm in WI).


Sue B:
Wow...thank you so much for all of that information!

[Dawn]

I forgot to comment on the Senior. I will come up front and admit that I don't like it. It's much too high in sugars. But anyway. How much is the gelding getting? What health issues does he have (just curious)?

[prettyqtrs]

Okay- just weighed the hay and here's roughly what they are getting...


Most of the horses: 21-24 lbs per day

The Yearling: 21 lbs per day

One of the Mares that has a foal at her side: 33-36 lbs per day

The other Mare that has a foal at her side (she's a first time mom and is a little ribby....but her colt is BUILT and only nursing from her and eating little bits of hay): 42-45 lbs per day

[Dawn]

Looks great. I agree with Sue on the flax, but I would also add in an iodine supplement as well (such as Source) as grass is the horse's natural source of iodine.

As far as some of your earlier questions, I do believe you would see an improvement on a ration balancer. And I would feed it exclusively, not in addition to the grain that they're getting.