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 Veteran
Posts: 214
| Curious what made you pick what you did to feed? Physical clues? Conditioning clues? Tests? We aren't necessarily looking to change what we feed but always want to learn from all of you on how you went about building your feed program and why you picked what you did |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
   
Location: Texas | I based my feeding program off a balanced feed that would keep my horses at an ideal body condition score. I feed coastal and alfalfa hay twice daily and feed purina Ultium twice daily. My only supplement is Platinum GI. I don’t like to play guessing games or play scientist with feeding non balanced rations then adding vitamin/mineral supplements but other people like to do that. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
Location: MN | Simplicity.
Oats, flax, renew gold, quality alfalfa hay and 24/7 access to grass roundbale.
I gelding gets MVP Exceed 6 Way and my yearling gets Mare/Foal II also by MVP. Both of my guys look awesome and my gelding feels great and performs great. If he's happy, I'm happy!
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| Alfalfa and rice bran. Easy and they look and run like rockstars. |
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 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | I look at the resources I have available to me and the nutritional needs of my horse and go from there. As for supplements I like to use the KISS method. I don't like pouring my money into a bucket unless I know it works and even then less is more, in my opinion. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1520
Location: Illinois | I luckily have a sales rep at my local feed mill/store that went to school for animal nutrition so I called him out. He was out for a couple hours looking over my horses, tested the hay we get, and we went from there. And even better he didn't charge me anything for it. He keeps in touch regularly and comes out to look at the horses again after we make changes. I have all 3 of mine on something different, 2 are just on diet balancers and one is on a high fat feed. They all eat very low amounts and get all their nutritional needs. I've been happy with it and like that I have someone on hand all the time for questions or help. |
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 Guys Just Wanna Have Fun
Posts: 5530
Location: OH | We fed ADM 12% pelleted for years and were fine with it, then out of the it started getting real powdery(is that a word). You could open a bag and look at the pellets and tell whether it was a good bag or bad bag. I tried and tried to address it with them and then I had a Rep from Buckeye Nutrition get hold of us---best move ever. Horses love it, and it has actually saved us quite a bit of money when you are feeding 30 plus horses. |
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Expert
Posts: 1599
| Simplicity and having one that showed PSSM2 signs. Now they all get 1 cup BB Omega Force, 1oz Thunder Mountain Minerals, 2oz Flax and Rice Bran AM/PM Tim/Alf cubes half bag per day ea, sometimes more depending. |
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 Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
| Alfalfa is the most available forage in our area, so that it was we feed. I feed hay 3 times a day, and I give just a small amount of grain twice a day. We could go without the grain, but I like to give it to the ones that are being used hard, and it just keeps the peace in the barn if they all get a taste! We mix Omolene 200 into oats, at a ratio of about 1 bag of Omolene to 3 bags of oats. They all look and work like champs, and unless we see a reason to make a change we will stick with this. We also keep trace mineral blocks out for them.
Pasture horses are supplemented with alfalfa as needed based on the quality of the pasture during different times of the year. We like to keep protein tubs and/or liquid mineral out for them. But they are also pastured with our cows so we have to use something that is cost effective and beneficial for both of them.
Edited to add - I would like to research more about minerals for our area and feed program to make sure we are keeping them balanced.
Edited by Jenbabe 2018-04-05 12:30 PM
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Good Ole Boys just Fine with Me
Posts: 2869
Location: SE Missouri | Free choice alfalfa, whole oats (or what is on sale), minerals, or orchardgrass/timothy roundbale and same pasture when possible.
One mare is getting Curost now (Zesterra and Equinity also) |
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Member
Posts: 19
| I see a lot of people discuss their feed program and the supplements they use. Generally its hobbyist, and weekend barrel racers. Upon scrolling through their photos, I find their horses well cared for, but often either too FAT or not muscled enough... They are still well cared for, none the less. I think when discussing a feed program, it's always important to take your end goal into consideration because there are a lot of ways to achieve different results. Are you wanting to achieve leaner muscle or heavier muscle? Do you want shiny dapples just to say hey look mine has dapples...
For me I focus on Leaner muscle and a more athletic stature, so I stay away from high fat feeds. I feed a 14% protein and a 5% fat. I chose to free choice my salt with red salt blocks and mineral in tubs from Equi-Pride, which they have during their turn out time. I stay away from putting salt or mineral blocks installs because horses WILL eat them due to boredom and PEE like you've never ever seen before. I feed 2 flakes of alfalfa one in the AM one in the PM, along with 4-6 lbs of grain at each feeding depending on the horses' needs.
As far as supplements I feed animal element detox with their breakfast, I did find that most of my horses no matter how GREAT they looked did improve a touch. If I have a horse with ulcers I will feed that horse a touch of grain at lunch with neighlox advance, and one horse gets Finished First by AE because he has hock issues and he has drastically improved, I just can't afford to feed it to them all. And with dinner we do remission for one horse who has a touch of weird feet, one mare gets a mare supplement, everything gets 1 cup of aloe vera juice and a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar.
So, that's kind of my feed program.
When I have one that comes home and I can see ribs or their top line isn't so built up it holds water we do 60 days of 15cc of oral Gamma Oryzanol via "Body Builder".
And anything we compete on or that is going back into training we ALWAYS do a B.C.A.A. supplement. And we use Power Pak Surge before long 3 days weekends. If its just a saturday show we will do JC X Tie Up Paste the week of, and maybe a good JUG paste after they run. But, if we are leaving for a SHOW for days those Power Pak Surges are life savers they are worth the $40!!!!!! |
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Veteran
Posts: 214
| Jenbabe - 2018-04-05 10:28 AM
Alfalfa is the most available forage in our area, so that it was we feed. I feed hay 3 times a day, and I give just a small amount of grain twice a day. We could go without the grain, but I like to give it to the ones that are being used hard, and it just keeps the peace in the barn if they all get a taste! We mix Omolene 200 into oats, at a ratio of about 1 bag of Omolene to 3 bags of oats. They all look and work like champs, and unless we see a reason to make a change we will stick with this. We also keep trace mineral blocks out for them.
Pasture horses are supplemented with alfalfa as needed based on the quality of the pasture during different times of the year. We like to keep protein tubs and/or liquid mineral out for them. But they are also pastured with our cows so we have to use something that is cost effective and beneficial for both of them.
Edited to add - I would like to research more about minerals for our area and feed program to make sure we are keeping them balanced.
Its so interesting to read through what everyone chooses!
The one I am running currently gets 3 large flakes of alfalfa morning and night with pasture turnout and gets ultium gastric care, tight joints plus and equerrys economy supplement.
Of course there are endless supplements on the market with all kinds of claims so it hard to sift through the sales pitch to determine which one(s) could be the fit for my horse. So I was wondering how everyone else sorted through to get which ones to try.
I have heard the area we live is selenium deficient and like you I would like to see what else our specific area may require |
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 Namesless in BHW
Posts: 10368
Location: At the race track with Ah Dee Ohs | I went whole foods about a year and a half ago. Whole oats, ground flax, soaked alfalfa cubes (15# approx per day) and bermuda grass hay and Cur-Ost products. Reduced my feed bill tremendously. And it was easy to feed. 2# whole oats, 1 cup flax 2x day. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 690
Location: Georgia | YoullNeverGuess - 2018-04-06 1:20 PM
I see a lot of people discuss their feed program and the supplements they use. Generally its hobbyist, and weekend barrel racers. Upon scrolling through their photos, I find their horses well cared for, but often either too FAT or not muscled enough... They are still well cared for, none the less. I think when discussing a feed program, it's always important to take your end goal into consideration because there are a lot of ways to achieve different results. Are you wanting to achieve leaner muscle or heavier muscle? Do you want shiny dapples just to say hey look mine has dapples...
For me I focus on Leaner muscle and a more athletic stature, so I stay away from high fat feeds. I feed a 14% protein and a 5% fat. I chose to free choice my salt with red salt blocks and mineral in tubs from Equi-Pride, which they have during their turn out time. I stay away from putting salt or mineral blocks installs because horses WILL eat them due to boredom and PEE like you've never ever seen before. I feed 2 flakes of alfalfa one in the AM one in the PM, along with 4-6 lbs of grain at each feeding depending on the horses' needs.
As far as supplements I feed animal element detox with their breakfast, I did find that most of my horses no matter how GREAT they looked did improve a touch. If I have a horse with ulcers I will feed that horse a touch of grain at lunch with neighlox advance, and one horse gets Finished First by AE because he has hock issues and he has drastically improved, I just can't afford to feed it to them all. And with dinner we do remission for one horse who has a touch of weird feet, one mare gets a mare supplement, everything gets 1 cup of aloe vera juice and a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar.
So, that's kind of my feed program.
When I have one that comes home and I can see ribs or their top line isn't so built up it holds water we do 60 days of 15cc of oral Gamma Oryzanol via "Body Builder".
And anything we compete on or that is going back into training we ALWAYS do a B.C.A.A. supplement. And we use Power Pak Surge before long 3 days weekends. If its just a saturday show we will do JC X Tie Up Paste the week of, and maybe a good JUG paste after they run. But, if we are leaving for a SHOW for days those Power Pak Surges are life savers they are worth the $40!!!!!!
What do all those abbreviations mean  |
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 The best bad guy on the internet
Posts: 3519
Location: Arizona | I have done a lot of trial and error. There are so many products on the market these days. It's so easy to get caught up in it all. I try to keep it as simple as possible and economical as well. I have 3 mares- 10, 24, 29. The 10 year old is my current barrel horse. I feed a flake of alfalfa twice a day. At night they get a small coffee can of Purina Healthy Edge each. My barrel horse gets MVP Exceed 6 way added to hers. That's all I feed. They get pasture turn out most of the time during the day and get put up at night. They have always looked good.
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Member
Posts: 19
| mandita8907 - 2018-04-06 3:17 PM
YoullNeverGuess - 2018-04-06 1:20 PM
I see a lot of people discuss their feed program and the supplements they use. Generally its hobbyist, and weekend barrel racers. Upon scrolling through their photos, I find their horses well cared for, but often either too FAT or not muscled enough... They are still well cared for, none the less. I think when discussing a feed program, it's always important to take your end goal into consideration because there are a lot of ways to achieve different results. Are you wanting to achieve leaner muscle or heavier muscle? Do you want shiny dapples just to say hey look mine has dapples...
For me I focus on Leaner muscle and a more athletic stature, so I stay away from high fat feeds. I feed a 14% protein and a 5% fat. I chose to free choice my salt with red salt blocks and mineral in tubs from Equi-Pride, which they have during their turn out time. I stay away from putting salt or mineral blocks installs because horses WILL eat them due to boredom and PEE like you've never ever seen before. I feed 2 flakes of alfalfa one in the AM one in the PM, along with 4-6 lbs of grain at each feeding depending on the horses' needs.
As far as supplements I feed animal element detox with their breakfast, I did find that most of my horses no matter how GREAT they looked did improve a touch. If I have a horse with ulcers I will feed that horse a touch of grain at lunch with neighlox advance, and one horse gets Finished First by AE because he has hock issues and he has drastically improved, I just can't afford to feed it to them all. And with dinner we do remission for one horse who has a touch of weird feet, one mare gets a mare supplement, everything gets 1 cup of aloe vera juice and a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar.
So, that's kind of my feed program.
When I have one that comes home and I can see ribs or their top line isn't so built up it holds water we do 60 days of 15cc of oral Gamma Oryzanol via "Body Builder".
And anything we compete on or that is going back into training we ALWAYS do a B.C.A.A. supplement. And we use Power Pak Surge before long 3 days weekends. If its just a saturday show we will do JC X Tie Up Paste the week of, and maybe a good JUG paste after they run. But, if we are leaving for a SHOW for days those Power Pak Surges are life savers they are worth the $40!!!!!!
What do all those abbreviations mean
What abbreviations?
Finished First by AE, Animal Element
B.C.A.A. stands for branch chain amino acids? We feed a supplement which is CALLED B.C.A.A. by Peakperformance
Those are the only two I found.
Edited by YoullNeverGuess 2018-04-06 4:56 PM
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Meanest Teacher!!!
Posts: 8555
Location: sunny california | I dont like paying for fillers or waste products. I also do not like cheap vitamins. I feed mostly high quality timothy hay with some alfalfa. As the hay gets a little older before the new hay is available i give a little the mm. If a horse needs more top line and a little exrra alfala doesnt do the trick i add a little soybean meal pellets . If one is working hard a little oats and flax or renew gold. I dont think i have ever given more than one pound of my mix to any horse even the geriatric ones. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Free choice hay, or grass
1 quart of oats
1/2 cup of hemp fibre
15cc of hemp oil
This costs me $2.00 day the fibre and oil has made a huge difference, good muscle mass, good feet, healthier.
The ones running also get Lubrysin
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | I chose Purina Enrich because I only feed grain once a day. I wanted make sure my 25 yr old gelding was getting all the vitamins etc he needed. I feed a good quality grass hay.
My barrel horse gets the same plus chopped alfalfa. Occaisonally the old one gets alfalfa but he keeps fat on air..... |
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Expert
Posts: 2122
Location: The Great Northwest | cheryl makofka - 2018-04-07 7:00 AM Free choice hay, or grass 1 quart of oats 1/2 cup of hemp fibre 15cc of hemp oil This costs me $2.00 day the fibre and oil has made a huge difference, good muscle mass, good feet, healthier. The ones running also get Lubrysin
Where do you get the Hemp Fiber? |
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Expert
Posts: 2122
Location: The Great Northwest | I feel my horses need a source of quality protein for the performance work they do. I like to keep it as natural as possible and simple too. I feed Alfalfa because of the quality protein that provides the essential amino acids that the horse can not make it self. It is important to ensure you are providing the building blocks needed for protein synthesis. Without adequate levels of essential amino acids , protein sythesis is at risk of being reduced, which impacts all turn over, hormons production, enzyme production, immune function and of particular interest for your horse, formation of collagen, which is the foundation of tendons, ligaments, and bones. I have also added Hemp meal because the availability and digestability of the protein sometimes over Alfalfa. I all so top of the diet with Hemp oil. Horses need essential fatty acids. Two fatty acids linoleic (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA are plentiful in fresh grasses and alfalfa. Hay loses these EFA's as storage time progresses. It is essential that a source of LA and ALA be supplemented in most diets. I like Hemp oil because of Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA). GLA helps reduce the inflammation that occurs from normal work and muscle fatique. Unlike flax seel oil, Hemp seed oil can be used continuously without developing a deficiency or other imbalance of EFA's. I provide all the grass hay they can eat. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 690
Location: Georgia | YoullNeverGuess - 2018-04-06 5:55 PM
mandita8907 - 2018-04-06 3:17 PM
YoullNeverGuess - 2018-04-06 1:20 PM
I see a lot of people discuss their feed program and the supplements they use. Generally its hobbyist, and weekend barrel racers. Upon scrolling through their photos, I find their horses well cared for, but often either too FAT or not muscled enough... They are still well cared for, none the less. I think when discussing a feed program, it's always important to take your end goal into consideration because there are a lot of ways to achieve different results. Are you wanting to achieve leaner muscle or heavier muscle? Do you want shiny dapples just to say hey look mine has dapples...
For me I focus on Leaner muscle and a more athletic stature, so I stay away from high fat feeds. I feed a 14% protein and a 5% fat. I chose to free choice my salt with red salt blocks and mineral in tubs from Equi-Pride, which they have during their turn out time. I stay away from putting salt or mineral blocks installs because horses WILL eat them due to boredom and PEE like you've never ever seen before. I feed 2 flakes of alfalfa one in the AM one in the PM, along with 4-6 lbs of grain at each feeding depending on the horses' needs.
As far as supplements I feed animal element detox with their breakfast, I did find that most of my horses no matter how GREAT they looked did improve a touch. If I have a horse with ulcers I will feed that horse a touch of grain at lunch with neighlox advance, and one horse gets Finished First by AE because he has hock issues and he has drastically improved, I just can't afford to feed it to them all. And with dinner we do remission for one horse who has a touch of weird feet, one mare gets a mare supplement, everything gets 1 cup of aloe vera juice and a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar.
So, that's kind of my feed program.
When I have one that comes home and I can see ribs or their top line isn't so built up it holds water we do 60 days of 15cc of oral Gamma Oryzanol via "Body Builder".
And anything we compete on or that is going back into training we ALWAYS do a B.C.A.A. supplement. And we use Power Pak Surge before long 3 days weekends. If its just a saturday show we will do JC X Tie Up Paste the week of, and maybe a good JUG paste after they run. But, if we are leaving for a SHOW for days those Power Pak Surges are life savers they are worth the $40!!!!!!
What do all those abbreviations mean
What abbreviations?
Finished First by AE, Animal Element
B.C.A.A. stands for branch chain amino acids? We feed a supplement which is CALLED B.C.A.A. by Peakperformance
Those are the only two I found.
JC x tie up paste & JUG paste? |
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