[tophorsejumper]

hi there i am also new to the entire rationing POV, can u tell me if it is safe for younger horses to eat as well, such as weanlings and yearlings, and if so what type of feeds would you recommed for horses that are on an alfalfa/grass hay mixture w/ pasture for 12 hours a day?
not to be offensive or rude in any way shape or form but this sounds almost too good to be true, are there any "catches" to feeding ration balancers??
thx for all the info u guys r great!

[Sue B]

Originally Posted by horsesneverlie

I know this is an old subject. I have been given a CD that covers common feeding Boo Boo's. Now, I'm absolutely confused again. I have not changed their diet much. Because of the information on the CD, I have however, stopped giving them so much alfalfa because they were showing signs of becoming acidic (according to the information that points to acid horses due to over excessive protein without proper breakdown of the amino acids).

For our info...could you pretty please post the name (possibly a link for purchasing or more info) of the CD and what the symptoms of acidosis were?

Thank you so kindly!

[Haas Horse Farm]

There is another factor that IMHO is always to be considered and I do not see being addressed. What about the physical health of the horse. How much excersise is the horse getting? You can feed the worlds best feed ever but if the horse is not getting any excersise it is all a waste.

Excercise and feeding go hand in hand. There is no exceptions for any of it.

[Sue B]

Originally Posted by tophorsejumper

hi there i am also new to the entire rationing POV, can u tell me if it is safe for younger horses to eat as well, such as weanlings and yearlings, and if so what type of feeds would you recommed for horses that are on an alfalfa/grass hay mixture w/ pasture for 12 hours a day?
not to be offensive or rude in any way shape or form but this sounds almost too good to be true, are there any "catches" to feeding ration balancers??
thx for all the info u guys r great!

I feed my weanlings a ration balancer. However, that is not the only thing I feed, but it could well be used that way. My broodmares are on a no-grain feed that contains the same ration balancer as its nutrient package as the one I use. As I begin weaning...I want to increase nutrient intake as well as caloric intake....so I start by letting them eat with their mom. Then as they begin to get their own rations, I use a mix of ration balancer and the no-grain feed (probably a little more tasty too). I add a small amount of rice bran for those that need weight. Then as they progress toward yearling...I start cutting the feed....replacing it with a small amount of beet pulp and upping the ration balancer to increase the nutrients that will be needed for a larger baby. By age 2, I have them on just the ration balancer. I utilize beet pulp and rice bran as ways to increase calories, provide a little more feed for those that eat faster and use these as the energy feed they will get when harder work begins.

So far, after almost 3 years on this program, I have not found a flaw to it...except that in some few cases (such as my OTTB broodmares)...it is easier to keep weight on them with the no-grain premixed feed and some rice bran. I really like it because it makes it so easy to feed one kind of feed and then add rather inexpensive things like BOSS, flax, beet pulp and rice bran in small amounts to provide added calories, energy or other supplements as needed. It can be soaked for those that choke or have trouble chewing and they are easily digestable for young and older horses. I currently have my 25 yo Peruvian on it....he has never doen better.

I think that it is simply an excellent nutrient package that delivers an adequate amount of nutrients (something often missing in many feeds) with added things like amino acids that help with protein utilization and other pluses. From my experience over the years...it is often nutrients that are missing from hardkeeper and working horses...not so much calories. Once feed correctly...forages generally provide enough calories....nutrients are the primary thing they need.

Generally, some of the manufacturers of ration balancers provide both a grass and alfalfa version of their feeds. Most recommend to complement whatever is the most prominent in your hay/pasture mix (grass or alfalfa). However, if you have questions, you can either get recommendations from your dealer/rep or by contacting the manufacturer from their website...or your dealer will provide a phone number to call. Most are very helpful and will provide you with considerations for your particular forage mix.

[Sue B]

Originally Posted by Haas Horse Farm

Excercise and feeding go hand in hand. There is no exceptions for any of it.

Excellent point....if a horse stands in a stall...it is losing minerals and not getting enough vitamins (horses need a large amount of exposure to sunshine to fulfill their vitamin needs). Even if the exercise is lengthy turnout with pasture mates so that they can play and move around to eat/drink...that is significantly better than feeding the world's best feed and no turnout or exercise of any sort.

[horsesneverlie]

Originally Posted by JBandRio

I feed boss, flax, beet pulp, and the Dynamite vit/min supplement

Whether you need to supplement protein depends on the overall diet, not just the 1-2lb of alfalfa. This means - what's the protein content of your grass?

Beet pulp is high in calcium....does dynamite have enough phos to balance the calcium?
Does anyone know the specific breakdown for BOSS (i have yet to find any nutritional breakdown information)?

Protein in the grass.....I wouldn't have any idea....I have not had it analyzed. I assume I could take it to the county extension office and get that answered.

[tophorsejumper]

WOW thank you very much!! that really helped me out, i think i may get my yearlings on some of the Triple Crown Growth Brand ration balancer--thanks again!

[horsesneverlie]

Originally Posted by Sue B

For our info...could you pretty please post the name (possibly a link for purchasing or more info) of the CD and what the symptoms of acidosis were?

Thank you so kindly!

I'm trying to do a search on it. I was given it by my dynamite distributor. I have found this
Feeding Boo-Boos for Humans
they are the same folks who did the common feeding boo boo's for horses.
and this
http://www.rainbowacrestables.com/ho...ngbooboos.html
the information on this page is almost verbatim the beginning of the cd.

I will also get in touch with my distributor and see how/where to get the information from.

[tophorsejumper]

WOW thank you sooooooooo much for the input! after doing a little research i think im going to put my youngsters on the Triple Crown Growth Brand ration balancer! is there anything else i should consider feeding them, on top of the Triple Crown?
thanks again!!

[JBandRio]

Originally Posted by horsesneverlie

Beet pulp is high in calcium....does dynamite have enough phos to balance the calcium?

Keep in mind that the Dynamite vit/min supplement is not a ration balancer. Also keep in mind that whether you need to balance ca/phos depends on how out of balance you are. I feed 2lb of beet pulp - not enough to have to worry about adding phos for adult horses. If you have to feed more for additional calories, you could replace some of it with unfortified rice bran for the additional phos.

Does anyone know the specific breakdown for BOSS (i have yet to find any nutritional breakdown information)?

It's pretty easily googled, and I think someone posted it here within the last few months as well.