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Member
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| Hello there! I currently have five of my horses on a hay or pasture only diet depending on the time of year. They vary in ages from 3-24 (a very healthy 24 yr old). I am looking to supplement their hay-only diet with a complete feed/ration/diet balancer. Suggestions? Please take into account: ~ other than a salt/mineral lick and hay, this is all they get ~ Their hay is local grass hay, high quality and all mine but one are fat on it. ~ Price! I'm feeding six horses total, I can't break the bank, or go near breaking the bank ~ I'm looking for one product that will supply what they need, I can go into the details like the amount each horse will get and such on my own. ~ I looked into stride 101, it's over my price limit. I'm currently thinking of MVP Mega-cell (different amounts depending on horse) or Farnam Vita Plus, What are your thoughts? So I am looking for suggestions, and thoughts on Mega-cell or Vita plus.  
Thank you!!
Edited by Breaker329 2021-03-12 7:23 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 5290
 
| Formula 707 daily essentials. About 15.00/ month per horse. Forco. Or i would also suggest renew gold. One pound per day per horse. |
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Expert
Posts: 2121
Location: The Great Northwest | What supplements with grass would depend on if the horse is worked. The grass doesn't offer a complete protein so may need Alfalfa. Depending on the grass you may need to supplement some minerals. A analysis of the hay would be a good starting point to find out which supplement may be needed. |
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| Hey! Sounds like you have a similar program to us. We are in Kansas, so only have grass about 6 months out of the year. Otherwise we do our own hay and that's what they get. We have six as well. Like you, I started off looking at Stride but I couldn't afford it. Decided to try Mega-Cell from MVP. I love it! I haven't noticed any significant changes but they were all healthy to begin with. The scoop they send is so tiny (probably a tablespoon), so I feed the higher end of recommended (2 oz/day) to make sure they're all getting what they need. Anyway, it's pelleted, and even my extremely picky eater cleans hers up! |
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Member
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| barrelracer66023 - Thank you so much for this info! That all makes sense, and it sounds like we're in a very similar situation. I apreciate the help!
Edited by Breaker329 2021-03-13 11:43 AM
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Veteran
Posts: 180
| I'm not sure where you are based as some minerals such as selenium can be extremely low in places and way too high in others, but I feed Cal trace to my horses. Its about $15 a month a horse and I have noticed a huge difference in their hoof and hair coat quality. If you live in a region that you don't want to supplement with selenium you can order it with out it. I feed mine free choice Timothy and they get a flake of alfafla a night, with some alfafla pellets, 1/2 cup of flaxseed and cal trace. They are fat and shiny! BTW I'm in OR. Hope this helps! |
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Expert
Posts: 1694
 
Location: Willows, CA | This question often comes up when I am doing a nutrition clinic. When people ask what is the best supplement for a basic hay diet I always give the same answer. Better hay. You can meet the basic needs of any horse with high quality roughage, salt and clean water alone. Now, If your horse has the need for additional digestible energy, it is much more productive to provide that in the smallest, least disruptive form possible. Doing so allows your horse to get the most out of the roughage part of the diet because you now have a fully functioning hind gut that is not disrupted by grain. Regional mineral deficiencies (like selenium in the pacific north west) should be addressed, but overall, a vitamin / mineral supplement (other than salt) is seldom needed if roughage quality is high. Higher fat and quaity protein for more digestable energy, a consideration of the cal/phos blalnce and no grain based feed can allow the horses digestive system to be much more efficient and productive when grain based disruptions are eliminated. All that said, the best return on your feed supplement dollar is better hay.
Edited by winwillows 2021-03-19 1:17 PM
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boon
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| YES! The best quality hay you can find. Too many people will use low quality, last years or the previous years hay and try to make up for it with grain. And all you need is quality hay
Edited by Cooper Luis 2021-03-18 1:49 PM
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Expert
Posts: 1694
Location: Willows, CA | winwillows - 2021-03-18 12:13 PM
This question often comes up when I am doing a nutrition clinic. When people ask what is the best supplement for a basic hay diet I always give the same answer. Better hay. You can meet the basic needs of any horse with high quality roughage, salt and clean water alone. Now, If your horse has the need for additional digestible energy, it is much more productive to provide that in the smallest, least disruptive form possible. Doing so allows your horse to get the most out of the roughage part of the diet because you now have a fully functioning hind gut that is not disrupted by grain. Regional mineral deficiencies (like selenium in the pacific north west) should be addressed, but overall, a vitamin / mineral supplement (other than salt) is seldom needed if roughage quality is high. Higher fat and quaity protein for more digestable energy, a consideration of the cal/phos blalnce and no grain based feed can allow the horses digestive system to be much more efficient and productive when grain based disruptions are eliminated. All that said, the best return on your feed supplement dollar is better hay.
Sorry for all the typos. That is what happens when I type an answer that long on my phone. Win |
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Supplementing a hay only diet