[SyntheticTrust]

BW, call 1-843-563-0665... You find out just how much common sense I have

[Maggie Mae]

Why shouldn't i feed her grain every other day? Umm i think well idk my dad feeds her the grain how much should she be getting?

[ignorethesmoke]

With so many members on this board, it's worrying that the only nutrient anyone has mentioned is protein... what about calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and all sorts of other vitally important minerals. Ideally you need to know what the ratio of these things is in the feed you are giving her now and in the grass, because too much is equally as bad as a deficiency, so don't just start supplementing dolomite or something without checking.

Two of my horses, from the same person, (has the hide to call themselves a knowledgable breeder), ended up with a calcium deficiency known as "Big Head" or "Bran Disease" (Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism - look it up) because this person thought they knew what they were doing in regards to nutrition and fed the pregnant mares and resulting foals stuff that is very high in phosphorus such as bran and grain, with no thought to the calcium : phosphorus ratio.

[mtroika]

She should be getting her grain everyday not every second day.

[Blistering Winds]

MICROBES. That is why. There are microbes in the lower gut in a horse. They are all in a certain population, based on what the horse eats. If the horse eats more hay than grain, then the microbes that deal with hay will be more fluent. If there are concentrates that reach the hind gut, then those microbes will be around. Without that kind of stuff, the microbes will dwindle out. Also, horses do not have a gall bladder, many feeds are higher in fats than hays. The liver secretes bile based on what the horse eats. It takes 14 days for the liver to adjust to the fat intake. Reason why you increase SLOW when adding fats.

So by feeding off and on, the microbes can't make up their minds about who will have the most control of the hind gut, they freak out, laminitis can occur from it.

With the fat issue, bile can SURGE through, upsetting the bugs and the rest of hte GI tract, diarrhea, and various other GI problems can occur. Or too much fat goes through, pushing ALL the nutrients out with it since it cannot be digested without bile.

Reason I haven't asked how much of hte other nutrients, is because 99% of all pre-made feeds, you will not find this information other than Minimums and maximums. And if it is pre-made, I can figure out from the minimums anyways. Or if it is a straight grain, no pre-mix, then for sure it is upside down in the calciumhosphorus.

We usually start at a basic point without overwhelming the person we are asking. Because most people don't know where to look or how to find out the other levels.


Maggie, what does she get? Brand? How much? ask. YOu really need to know for us to give you ANY answers.