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 Expert
Posts: 1210
 
Location: Kansas | I have a 33 year old who the vet said has phenomenal teeth for his age. He's become a hard keeper as he's gotten older, and in the last few years, he has decided that he doesn't like hay. I've tried straight brome, brome/fescue mix, prairie, "horse mix," and alfalfa, and he doesn't want to touch any of them. I've tried soaking it.. still doesn't want it. Grazes and eats his alfalfa pellets or soaked cubes just fine, but I can't afford to buy enough of the pellets or cubes to satisfy his daily need.
Any other suggestions on what to do? If you give him loose hay, he scatters it all over his stall and ruins it, so I have to put his hay in a hay net. I literally am only filling it once a week and that is stressing me out  |
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 Expert
Posts: 5290
 
| Maybe its time to have him on a " Complete feed" like triple crown or purina senior? It can be fed as their sole ration if need be. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Hows his weight? |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | FLITASTIC - 2019-01-24 2:59 PM Maybe its time to have him on a " Complete feed" like triple crown or purina senior? It can be fed as their sole ration if need be.
Yept this ^^^^, a complete feed will help with all that he needs and help you be less stressed out..I would look into BlueBonnet or Triple Crown.. |
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 Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| Bluebonnet Total Advantage can be fed as a sole ration. Itll give the calories & vitamins needed. I'd feed that or Bluebonnet Sr Therapy plus the alfalfa cubes or pellets. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1515
Location: Illinois | I agree with the complete feed. You can also put your hay through a leaf chopper, places like Home Depot, Lowes, etc sell them. It will turn your hay into chaffe, he may eat that. It's a much cheaper alternative to the bagged hay varieties. |
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Expert
Posts: 1210
Location: Kansas | FLITASTIC - 2019-01-24 1:59 PM
Maybe its time to have him on a " Complete feed" like triple crown or purina senior? It can be fed as their sole ration if need be.
I have him on Purina Sr. (along with alfalfa pellets, oats, cracked corn, and black oil sunflower seeds (he gets fed throughout the day, not just one or two big dumps)), but at $26/bag for the sr. feed, I'd love to figure out a way for him to get more forage during the winter. |
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Expert
Posts: 1210
Location: Kansas | JLazyT_perf_horses - 2019-01-24 2:39 PM
I agree with the complete feed. You can also put your hay through a leaf chopper, places like Home Depot, Lowes, etc sell them. It will turn your hay into chaffe, he may eat that. It's a much cheaper alternative to the bagged hay varieties.
Would this not be a choke/impaction risk? |
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Expert
Posts: 1515
Location: Illinois | HarlanLivesOn - 2019-01-24 3:54 PM
JLazyT_perf_horses - 2019-01-24 2:39 PM
I agree with the complete feed. You can also put your hay through a leaf chopper, places like Home Depot, Lowes, etc sell them. It will turn your hay into chaffe, he may eat that. It's a much cheaper alternative to the bagged hay varieties.
Would this not be a choke/impaction risk?
You would wet it the same as you would cubes or pellets. I wouldn't feed it dry...sorry, should have specified that
Edited by JLazyT_perf_horses 2019-01-24 4:10 PM
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Regular
Posts: 89
| I've been living this the last 2 years everyone gave you great ideas. I feed a complete feed, Alfalfa pellets and I do put their hay in a hay net because if I don't they spread it to high heaven playing in it. I have found one person I can get squares from that they will eat it but it's because he cuts it short and they are able to eat it. Both of mine have all their teeth but the hay just puds up in their mouths. Winter has been the hardest part because they rarely eat from the round bales that we put out but they seem to be holding their weight really well. I also blanket when it gets really cold because they can't eat enough hay to help with their body heat. Gotta love the oldies. |
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  Rebel Without a Cause
Posts: 2758
Location: Adopt a homeless pet - www.petfinder.com! | I'm of the opinion that 'less is more' in terms of feed. I don't mean less in pounds, but a simpler diet as far as number of products (and I used to be supplement obssessed!). I just lost my 30 year old in November, but did manage his weight and health on Purina Senior as his sole main feed for about three years prior with very good results. I determined how much per feeding based on the label instructions, and then adjusted it according to his needs. He did get supplemental hay but only to keep his gut moving and for the mental aspect of being able to munch between meals. It wasn't cheap feeding Purina Sr at that level, but I did make up for it in not spending money on other products and using less hay.
Edited to add: I was getting Purina Sr at Tractor Supply for about $20 a bag, not sure if you live close to one but sounds like that's a lot less than what you're paying now.
Edited by Calangelo 2019-01-24 5:22 PM
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| Has he been seen by an equine dentist vs a vet? Not saying vets can’t do a good job but I wonder if there isn’t some loose teeth causing issues. They wouldn’t look or feel bad to most.
I had one that didn’t show anything but got a barely loose tooth out - like several minutes of tugging and yanking and awful to watch struggle - and under it was infected. Horse showed no cheek bubbles and only lost a little grain, no sinus drainage, no sign. After tooth was removed, whole new Hoover. Lol |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | My Doodlebug (39) had no teeth to speak of. His diet the last several years of his life was Purina Sr Active, beet pulp, and Platinum CJ. About 2 years before he died, we added rice bran. Forco the last 6 months. He couldn't eat hay at all--just wadded up and would fall out of his mouth. I switched from the regular Purina Senior feed because the Active gave more fat/calories. We blanketed him when it got 30ish. . . He was worth every penny and hour spent feeding and caring for him---I miss him so much. Aren't we blessed by having our oldies???? |
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| HarlanLivesOn - 2019-01-24 3:53 PM
FLITASTIC - 2019-01-24 1:59 PM
Maybe its time to have him on a " Complete feed" like triple crown or purina senior? It can be fed as their sole ration if need be.
I have him on Purina Sr. (along with alfalfa pellets, oats, cracked corn, and black oil sunflower seeds (he gets fed throughout the day, not just one or two big dumps ) ), but at $26/bag for the sr. feed, I'd love to figure out a way for him to get more forage during the winter.
I pay $22 a bag for the Bluebonnet Senior Therapy feed. My old man loves it, he also gets a scoop of forco along with it twice a day. I give him approx 4lbs a day and hes chubby |
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 A Barrel Of Monkeys
Posts: 12972
Location: Texas | It's pretty typical for old horses to not eat hay. He may have teeth, but they could be loose.
I'd just feed him soaked alfalfa cubes, or even soaked beet pulp, along with some senior feed. |
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Why doesn't my old guy want to eat hay?