so since feed costs keep rising and are expected to continue to do so, what are you using as an alternative to keep your horses healthy and looking good?? 

Luckily we just got 14 inches over 2/3 weeks so we have a ton of grass. But I have been feeding Timothy/alfalfa pellets, Renew Gold, Life Data Farriers Formula and all the grass hay they want. They look great, not fat, not skinny and awfully shiny. Good hoof wall, finally thick soles on the trouble horse. With the grass, I'll cut out the grass hay and cut their pellets in half, but still feed the FF and Renew Gold. 

Cutting our household grocery bill so the animals can keep their good eatin! 

Not changing a thing, they will still get what I'm feeding them.

I would cut something of my own before I altered what my horses get. They come first. But my feed only went up $1 a bag over the last year, and it's usually on sale for $1 less anyway. So its basically still the same. A 50# bag lasts me about 9 days for 3 horses, which at $1 extra per bag comes to about $41 a year. I'm not going to be concerned about that. Unless you're feeding a ton of horses or a ridiculous amount of grain to a few, the difference over the span of one year really isn't that great. Hay here is its normal $4-6 a bale as its been the last 5 or so years, actually cheaper than it was last year which is great. I realize thats different based on location, but thats what it is here. If anything I'd just do less grain and more hay, or even hay only if its a good hay. 

J lazy T...what are u feeding that you feed so little of?

JT- what magical feed lasts 9 days for 3 horses? Made me think of the OT story where the lady fed the prophet out of oil and grain that could never be used up. Or maybe the oil and Maccabees... 

We must know what you are feeding!

Keeping everything the same. Mine went up a hair but it has been going up slowly the last year. But even if it went up a couple dollars I wouldnt change a thing.

Tribute Kalm N Ez. I don't feed any of them more than half of the square 3qt scoop. Ages 7,22,& 28 & they're all in good weight

Do you feed twice a day or just once a day? Sounds like you got a good thing going

Im not planning on changing anything. I already do not spend a whole lot to feed mine. 1/2# of Renew Gold, 6# of Hayrite and haynet of coastal to get them through the night. They are turned out on pasture during the day. Hay is going to be our biggest expense. It hasnt stopped raining and no one can get into the fields to cut. Im already paying $85 for horse quality coastal rounds. Cant wait to see what it will be by winter.... I did put 100 squares up last year and I am trying to be as frugal feeding the last 20 as I can! I hope I can put another 100 up, but it depends on the weather at this point. 

My crew just gets a good quality vitmain supplement/ration balancer and free choice hay. Simple and easy. IMO cut the grain out and find a good ration balancer. It will get you more bang your buck if you can get good hay. 

Maintain a great pasture; great bermuda hay available free choice when they are inside; ration balancer (Purina Enrich Plus); and Santa Cruz Equine Wellness Supplement; deworm every 12 weeks (rotational program).

Slightly OT but concerning Bernuda Hay. We've been so rained out for weeks no one has been able to cut that we normally purchase our hay from.  Typically I'd have 200-300 bales put up by now. I have less than 30 right now. My husband bought a few gigantic bales from a hay guy in town he called it "Bermuda " the bales are 3 strand and are HUGE  and heavy... beautiful hay, soft and smells amazing... but, it's almost too soft and flakes off in handfuls almost ... very short stem .. its extremely messy .. I feed my horses out of slow feed hay chix nets and they seemed to really love this hay. There's literally zero dust. I did some reading up... some say it's finer shorter stems will cause impaction others say it's les likely to cause impaction because it won't ball up inside ... I do know the key is proper hydration to keep things moving and my horses drink very well, I've not ever had an issue with the longer stemmed more rough coastal Bermuda 2 strand we usually buy and they haven't had an issue with this finer softer 3 strand hay either. They like it better.  I've been mixing it with my older hay to try to extend my supply a little longer. I also read it's ideal for obese or easy keeper because it's not as rich or high in protein. I'd love to see some more feedback on it and if anyone else feeds this giant Bermuda. 

I bought oats yesterday.  The price went up $2.00 a 50 lb bag from two weeks ago.  

Twice. One of them just gets a handful with his MVP Exceed to make him think he's getting something. So he helps keep feed costs low. They get 1/2 of that scoop of alfalfa pellets soaked 2x a day to a kinda soupy slop, and then just 4 flakes of grass/alfalfa mix hay a day. The soaked pellets is more for the fact that they've all impacted several times & it seems to keep enough moisture through to keep things moving. He's in full work, retired from running but when he was running he got just barely maybe 1/4 scoop 2x a day is all, just a little more than an inch of the scoop. My appendix mare gets just a hair bit more than that in full work now as well. The 28 year old cushings gelding gets the same. I luckily have what seem to be fairly easy keepers right now & I think the Exceed plays a role too. It allows for better digestion & nutrient absorption.

The alfalfa pellets cost me more than anything. But a local feed store went under & closed a couple months ago and the manager offered me a deal if I take the rest of the supply right then I could have it for $4 a bag, Standlee brand. Usually $13.99 a bag. So I'm very well stocked and saved a small fortune there 

Also just a side note in case it helps anyone, those who buy feeds at stores that offer online ordering & store pickup....you can often use Rakuten and get cash back. I do it when I buy my alfalfa pellets & Tribute from Farm & Fleet or TSC. Between horse, dog, & cat food & supplies I typically get around $50 back each quarter. Thats an idea for anyone who can utilize it but isnt currently 

I also use Rakuten.... the cash back adds up!  I've received up to $75 per quarter! 

I love rakuten! I also use a gas app and get $$ back that way! 

some of cost is transportation   we supply  transportation from san angelo tx to oh  cost have increased 300.00 per load in 4 months  your grocreries are going up too cost of trans

When I did my bi-weekly run around, getting food for the house and my farm critters, fueling up everything it hit my paycheck really hard.  I don't have an alternative for most of those things so I have decided to put retirement off until we can figure in a new budget or downsize or something.  It didn't hit me until yesterday when I realized I would probably be taking a PBJ to work everyday until my next paycheck.lol  Even the cheap PB went up a dollar a jar.

Really? Where are you located? Food hasn't gone up here at all. The half gallon size of peanut butter is just $4 here still> It's so interesting to see how things have gone up some places and not others. Our gas went up with Biden but its stayed the same for months now, only fluctuating between 3.19-3.25. We seem to be lucky here I guess. Hay is still 4-6 for an 80lb square bale depending on if you want grass or straight alfalfa 

Really?  I paid $2.88 for 16 0z.  The can chicken that I have to buy for one of my pups due to allergies went from $1.98 to $3.00.  They are now advertising it 2 for $6.00 like I was getting a bargain.  Chicken drumsticks, 5 were 7.89 or something like that.  I didn't bother getting any produce.  Groceries have been going up but this last trip stretched my wallet for sure.

Thats crazy. Chicken legs are $0.99/lb and breasts are $1.99/lb & thats Tyson.  I picked up 5 packages of legs, 6 in a pack,  for $10 just last week. I hope your food prices go to a more normal rate soon so you can eat better 

Is there some sort of chicken wing/leg/ breast shortage I'm not aware of?? When I grocery shopped yesterday I noticed they had a limit on them of 2 per customer. I didn't pay too much attention because my freezer is full but I did notice the sign above the meat. 

There is.  Demand and lack of production workers.  Fast food like our DQ has been out for weeks.