Nutrition Help- Feeding suggestions??

tabinmaine · 11-03-2009, 06:39 PM

Ok so I have started feeding my 12yr old gelding a little differently and I wanted to get those who have alot of nutrition/diet experience's advice. I think I am on the right track but I worry a that maybe he is getting to much of a good thing. He is a EASY keeper and since the weather has cooled off up here in northern maine we are not riding as much. He has gained some weight the past 2 months because of this.

Right now he is only being ridden may 2x/wk for 1-2hrs on the trails and that depends on the weather. It will probably go to 1x/wk once the winter really hits us. He is on 5 acres of pasture and has 24/7 turnout.
Here is his daily rations:

Free choice hay- goes through about 6-8 flakes of timothy hay/day
1c- Nutrena Lite Balance ( slowly removing this product- plan is to replace with oats only)
1c- oats
1/2c stabilized flax
1tsp rough salt ( access to salt block too)
1/2c BOSS
1 scoop of : http://horse.purinamills.com/products/free_balance.asp

1 scoop of : http://www.smartpakequine.com/Produc...ulldescription

He is on the smartcalm more for the nutrients combo more than anything else... I do notice when I am not using it he appears more "aware" of every little thing though so I guess it's working

All suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks.

tabinmaine · 11-03-2009, 07:01 PM

I forgot to add that I am worried about him getting "too many" supplements or vitamins, don't want a toxic horse... and am also trying to figure out what is making him gain weight ?

Dawn · 11-03-2009, 07:02 PM

The only problem I see is there's no balanced nutrition coming in. Might not be a huge problem given his activity level and constant access to forage, but it's not ideal.

Dawn · 11-03-2009, 07:05 PM

Oops! Hit reply too fast.

If he's a really easy keeper, drop the BOSS. You don't need the extra calories. Same with the oats. If you need something just for carrying his supplements, use alfalfa pellets or (even better) beet pulp. Beet pulp works great because you can use such a small amount weight wise and fluffing it up with water also helps the supplements to stick.

With what he's on, 'too much' vitamins/minerals isn't going to happen (barring anything severly atypical going on with his forage). 'Unbalanced' will/can.

tabinmaine · 11-03-2009, 07:14 PM

ok I am listening... what about the Purina free balance he is on? Is that not helping meet all of his nutritional needs ??? I have considered dropping the BOSS actually so I am glad you suggested that.
I think I am confused...is the Purina product he is on not a 'ration balancer"...making up for anything his hay lacks ??

tabinmaine · 11-03-2009, 07:14 PM

Oh and I don't think I can get the beet pulp where I live.. possibly the alfalfa pellets...have to check

Dawn · 11-03-2009, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tabinmaine

ok I am listening... what about the Purina free balance he is on? Is that not helping meet all of his nutritional needs ??? I have considered dropping the BOSS actually so I am glad you suggested that.
I think I am confused...is the Purina product he is on not a 'ration balancer"...making up for anything his hay lacks ??

Nope, let me think on how to describe it. Okay, I'm totally lacking on imagination or something tonight. One difference between this and a ration balancer is the Free Balance isn't a source of protein/amino acids. Now looking at it a bit closer, it does provide higher levels of minerals than many similar products do.

tabinmaine · 11-04-2009, 03:29 AM

Ok...the stinkin lady at the Feed Store sold it to me as a ration balancer...and since I had never fed one before it said "balances out what your roughage doesn't" etc etc.... so I just took her word for it....
I have been feeding this all along thinking that was what he was getting and calling it such ! Especially since it's called "Free Balance"

So.. now what ? Do I see if they or anyone else around carries a "true" ration balancer and drop this product ? Or do I just find a RB and keep this ? Ideas ??

Dawn · 11-04-2009, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tabinmaine

Ok...the stinkin lady at the Feed Store sold it to me as a ration balancer...and since I had never fed one before it said "balances out what your roughage doesn't" etc etc.... so I just took her word for it....
I have been feeding this all along thinking that was what he was getting and calling it such ! Especially since it's called "Free Balance"

So.. now what ? Do I see if they or anyone else around carries a "true" ration balancer and drop this product ? Or do I just find a RB and keep this ? Ideas ??

I would drop everything and feed a ration balancer (well except for the flaxseed). I looked at the Free Balance a bit more last night, and what it provides, it provides fairly decent levels of actually.

PeggySue · 11-04-2009, 05:15 AM

Purina's Ration Balancer is ENrich32

11-03-2009, 06:39 PM	#1
tabinmaine Full Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: I live in Northern Maine Posts: 201 Images: 5	Nutrition Help- Feeding suggestions?? Ok so I have started feeding my 12yr old gelding a little differently and I wanted to get those who have alot of nutrition/diet experience's advice. I think I am on the right track but I worry a that maybe he is getting to much of a good thing. He is a EASY keeper and since the weather has cooled off up here in northern maine we are not riding as much. He has gained some weight the past 2 months because of this. Right now he is only being ridden may 2x/wk for 1-2hrs on the trails and that depends on the weather. It will probably go to 1x/wk once the winter really hits us. He is on 5 acres of pasture and has 24/7 turnout. Here is his daily rations: Free choice hay- goes through about 6-8 flakes of timothy hay/day 1c- Nutrena Lite Balance ( slowly removing this product- plan is to replace with oats only) 1c- oats 1/2c stabilized flax 1tsp rough salt ( access to salt block too) 1/2c BOSS 1 scoop of : http://horse.purinamills.com/products/free_balance.asp 1 scoop of : http://www.smartpakequine.com/Produc...ulldescription He is on the smartcalm more for the nutrients combo more than anything else... I do notice when I am not using it he appears more "aware" of every little thing though so I guess it's working All suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks. __________________ Mommy of: 12 yr old QH Buckskin: Cash

11-03-2009, 07:01 PM	#2
tabinmaine Full Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: I live in Northern Maine Posts: 201 Images: 5	I forgot to add that I am worried about him getting "too many" supplements or vitamins, don't want a toxic horse... and am also trying to figure out what is making him gain weight ? __________________ Mommy of: 12 yr old QH Buckskin: Cash

11-03-2009, 07:02 PM	#3
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 37,207 Images: 1580	The only problem I see is there's no balanced nutrition coming in. Might not be a huge problem given his activity level and constant access to forage, but it's not ideal. __________________ Sexy by Christmas Challenge-r!! Goal: 11 lbs LOST CURRENT: 4 lbs LOST Starting Weight 170 lbs. Goal Weight 155 lbs. Reached! 20 pound club 2009 Starting Weight 152 lbs. Goal Weight 140 lbs. Reached!

11-03-2009, 07:05 PM	#4
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 37,207 Images: 1580	Oops! Hit reply too fast. If he's a really easy keeper, drop the BOSS. You don't need the extra calories. Same with the oats. If you need something just for carrying his supplements, use alfalfa pellets or (even better) beet pulp. Beet pulp works great because you can use such a small amount weight wise and fluffing it up with water also helps the supplements to stick. With what he's on, 'too much' vitamins/minerals isn't going to happen (barring anything severly atypical going on with his forage). 'Unbalanced' will/can. __________________ Sexy by Christmas Challenge-r!! Goal: 11 lbs LOST CURRENT: 4 lbs LOST Starting Weight 170 lbs. Goal Weight 155 lbs. Reached! 20 pound club 2009 Starting Weight 152 lbs. Goal Weight 140 lbs. Reached!

11-03-2009, 07:14 PM	#5
tabinmaine Full Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: I live in Northern Maine Posts: 201 Images: 5	ok I am listening... what about the Purina free balance he is on? Is that not helping meet all of his nutritional needs ??? I have considered dropping the BOSS actually so I am glad you suggested that. I think I am confused...is the Purina product he is on not a 'ration balancer"...making up for anything his hay lacks ?? __________________ Mommy of: 12 yr old QH Buckskin: Cash

11-04-2009, 03:29 AM	#8
tabinmaine Full Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: I live in Northern Maine Posts: 201 Images: 5	Ok...the stinkin lady at the Feed Store sold it to me as a ration balancer...and since I had never fed one before it said "balances out what your roughage doesn't" etc etc.... so I just took her word for it.... I have been feeding this all along thinking that was what he was getting and calling it such ! Especially since it's called "Free Balance" So.. now what ? Do I see if they or anyone else around carries a "true" ration balancer and drop this product ? Or do I just find a RB and keep this ? Ideas ?? __________________ Mommy of: 12 yr old QH Buckskin: Cash

11-04-2009, 05:15 AM	#10
PeggySue Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dennison, Illinois Posts: 19,254 Images: 1438 Blog Entries: 15	Purina's Ration Balancer is ENrich32 __________________ *I have been gobbled X7* *Sexy Fairy Man X4* Has no dog in that fight, so please leave me out of it I have enough of my OWN problems Thank you

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Feeding suggestions...	jlvhrse	Horse Health	14	04-16-2009 07:27 AM
Feeding Suggestions Please	Qtina	Horse Health	3	03-14-2009 07:14 PM
Feeding Suggestions - RB, senior	angiesm123	Horse Health	5	08-26-2008 05:58 AM
Feeding suggestions for 2 year old?	xlilxonex	Horse Health	30	07-18-2008 12:51 PM
Feeding Suggestions?	Amber Marie	Horse Health	20	05-09-2008 06:44 PM