Oats

Dawn · 09-22-2008, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by County

DSefine a " working horse " I have some that show in NCHA events that do great on hay, oats, and min/via blocks. I consider them " working horses ".

Just curious, what type of 'vit/min' blocks do you use? when most people see mineral block (even if it does have vitamin in there too), their mind automatically goes to a trace mineral block (which are usually very low quality and even higher quality ones aren't suitable by nature to 'supplement' a diet in the case of balancing unfortified feedstuffs). I don't think that's what you use though. I believe you're using an actual vit/min tub/block type of setup? If so, that is very different than 'just' feeding oats.

belle4 · 09-22-2008, 01:17 PM

I feed oats.

But I also feed a ration balancer.

imacowgirl2 · 09-22-2008, 01:23 PM

Oats are great used in moderation as part of a BALANCED DIET.

Whether you balance that diet with a fortified feed such as a ration balancer or a high-quality vitamin/mineral supplement (NOT just a trace mineral block) doesn't matter...as long as the appropriate added nutrition is there, there's no reason to exclude oats from the diet, except in the case of horses that have metabolic or other issues that require a low starch/sugar diet.

However, no, it is not a good idea to provide ONLY oats and forage...especially in the winter when horses are fed hay that lacks many of the nutrients that fresh grass has.

4kids · 09-22-2008, 03:06 PM

My grandpa fed oats year round, the only dif is that in the winter he would toss in some corn. They would have hay 24/7 in winter also. If you are to feed oats, what type of suppliment would be good to add? My friend and I are both trying to get the best bang for our buck so to speak and have both been trying to do some checking.

County · 09-22-2008, 07:19 PM

A trace Min. block is 98 % salt, a min/via. block is 100% min/ via there as differant as night and day. And just because a horse is on grass hardly means its getting all the min/via it needs fact is the odds are great its not. Top quality hay beats average grass anyday and most grasses are average at best when summer comes.

Dawn · 09-22-2008, 07:30 PM

That's what I thought. The way your response was worded, it sounded as if you were saying you had 'working' horses and did not supplement them aside from free choice minerals. (Based on what the post you were responding to said.)

County · 09-22-2008, 07:39 PM

I don't supplement them aside from free choice min/via blocks, never have.

Dawn · 09-22-2008, 07:42 PM

Which is where I was confused. A free choice mineral and a min/vit block (or tub) are two different things. Which you just said in your previous post as well.

Athyrius · 09-22-2008, 10:32 PM

My guys get free choice hay all day - but not straight alfalfa. More a grass mix.

Besides that, 2x a day they get:
2 lbs beet pulp,
scoop of Sho-Glo,
1/2 cup of AppleCider Vinegar,
1/2 cup of Corn oil and
scoop of complete 10% protein Purina.

The rescue, Hitch, gets a scoop of Senior on top- and has put on about 80lbs in 2 mos.

2x a week they get a mash of 1/3 cup milled flax in hot water.

There are vit. min. blocks everywhere as matter of course.

HoneyTheQH · 09-24-2008, 01:38 PM

I feed orchard grass and oats too

Plus Horse Guard which is a vit/min supplement that is made for the region I'm in since the PNW is selenium deficient.

My horse has always been happy and healthy, with a very shiny coat.

Another thumbs up for oats!

09-22-2008, 01:17 PM	#22
belle4 Senior Moderator Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 9,426 Images: 447	I feed oats. But I also feed a ration balancer. __________________ "Never has an adult stood so tall as they were when they bent down to help a child....." (from my friend Sandra)

09-22-2008, 01:23 PM	#23
imacowgirl2 Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: here, there, and everywhere! Posts: 2,820 Images: 234 Blog Entries: 17	Oats are great used in moderation as part of a BALANCED DIET. Whether you balance that diet with a fortified feed such as a ration balancer or a high-quality vitamin/mineral supplement (NOT just a trace mineral block) doesn't matter...as long as the appropriate added nutrition is there, there's no reason to exclude oats from the diet, except in the case of horses that have metabolic or other issues that require a low starch/sugar diet. However, no, it is not a good idea to provide ONLY oats and forage...especially in the winter when horses are fed hay that lacks many of the nutrients that fresh grass has. __________________ Interested in horse nutrition? Check out my website : Understanding Horse Nutrition Or my Facebook group: Understanding Horse Nutrition on Facebook

09-22-2008, 10:32 PM	#29
Athyrius Full Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Nevada Posts: 36 Images: 5	My guys get free choice hay all day - but not straight alfalfa. More a grass mix. Besides that, 2x a day they get: 2 lbs beet pulp, scoop of Sho-Glo, 1/2 cup of AppleCider Vinegar, 1/2 cup of Corn oil and scoop of complete 10% protein Purina. The rescue, Hitch, gets a scoop of Senior on top- and has put on about 80lbs in 2 mos. 2x a week they get a mash of 1/3 cup milled flax in hot water. There are vit. min. blocks everywhere as matter of course. __________________ http://fuglyhorseoftheday.blogspot.com/

09-24-2008, 01:38 PM	#30
HoneyTheQH Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: MV, Washington (State) Posts: 560 Images: 56	I feed orchard grass and oats too Plus Horse Guard which is a vit/min supplement that is made for the region I'm in since the PNW is selenium deficient. My horse has always been happy and healthy, with a very shiny coat. Another thumbs up for oats! __________________ Proud owner of Macs Skippa Lamour, aka Honey 1999 AQHA palomino mare Speak your mind, but ride a fast horse.

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09-22-2008, 03:06 PM	#24
4kids Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 846 Images: 20	My grandpa fed oats year round, the only dif is that in the winter he would toss in some corn. They would have hay 24/7 in winter also. If you are to feed oats, what type of suppliment would be good to add? My friend and I are both trying to get the best bang for our buck so to speak and have both been trying to do some checking.

09-22-2008, 07:19 PM	#25
County Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2008 Location: Mn Posts: 1,844	A trace Min. block is 98 % salt, a min/via. block is 100% min/ via there as differant as night and day. And just because a horse is on grass hardly means its getting all the min/via it needs fact is the odds are great its not. Top quality hay beats average grass anyday and most grasses are average at best when summer comes.

09-22-2008, 07:30 PM	#26
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 31,458 Images: 1390	That's what I thought. The way your response was worded, it sounded as if you were saying you had 'working' horses and did not supplement them aside from free choice minerals. (Based on what the post you were responding to said.)

09-22-2008, 07:39 PM	#27
County Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2008 Location: Mn Posts: 1,844	I don't supplement them aside from free choice min/via blocks, never have.

09-22-2008, 07:42 PM	#28
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 31,458 Images: 1390	Which is where I was confused. A free choice mineral and a min/vit block (or tub) are two different things. Which you just said in your previous post as well.