workerbee - 2013-12-19 9:14 AM I didn't like the Total Equine. My horses just didn't look good to me.

RockinGR - 2013-12-19 1:07 PM Can I ask, has your horse been diagnosed with a true starch sensativity? Or have you a specific reason for wanting a true low starch feed (or is that an assumption being made by posters)? I didn't actually see that in your original post, but perhaps I read too fast. I ask because there are only a handful of "true" low starch feeds, suitable for a true, diagnosed starch sensativity. Well Solve L/S being one them. But, if you are not going to dry lot your horse, and they have free will access to pasture...don't waste your money. There are a lot of feeds available now-a-days that are considered "LOWERED STARCH" feeds. Meaning that they have lower starch and sugar levels than a whole grain & molasses based (sweet) feed. Purina has it's Strategy line, Ultium line, etc. Nutrena has SafeChoice, etc. **Most** pelleted feeds can claim to be a "lowered starch" feed simply because they have by products in them, and little to no molasses. And, BTW..."by-product" doesn't automatically make it a bad feed. You said Ultium worked, so why not start there? Or if you need to stick with a Purina product due to availability, I'd personally recommend Strategy Healthy Edge. That's what I changed to when it came out, and I love it! My mare has to be on a lowered starch diet due to her EPM and she is great on it. If I have a customer that is actually experiencing some starch related issues (tying up, or excessive urination, etc) the first thing I have them do is change their turnout habits. I tell them to limit their access to grass until after the dew dries off the grass, and 9 times out of 10, the issue resolves.

hoofs_in_motion - 2013-12-19 9:17 AM


I think I 'm definitely going to stray away from Total Equine, my best friend is feeding it and now her horses look terrible....they are starting to look sunk in especially in the hip area. She just switched back to safechoice.  

starkfarms - 2013-12-19 2:43 PM it takes about 60 days for the total equine to start doing its thing. I tried it once and 30 days in I said NO WAY. a year later I tried it again and gave it the full 60 days and its the best decision I ever made. it sucks that this feed makes them look so bad that first 30 days because as a horse owner we "think" they are going downhill(and that's definitely not what we want to see) and truly its just pulling fat off and preparing them for the muscle that they will gain. like I said, I said no the first time but glad I gave it a 2nd chance

hlynn - 2013-12-19 2:53 PM Whatever company you choose to go with, call them & ask about the NSC content in each feed formula. Some post it online. Others don't. And when the first ingredient in Purina Enrich is 'plant protein byproduct' it makes you wonder. That could be soybeans, corn, cottonseed, milo, anything!! And could change with each bag. That's why people are wary of such broad wordage. 'Soybean meal' 'alfalfa meal' 'wheat middlings' 'dried beet pulp'. All things that can be researched as being ONE product. Had a friend try enrich 32. Her horse went bonkers. Switched him to TC 30% (same concept/type of feed) & he's fine. No more spooking at dust. And he's losing unnecessary weight & gaining muscle. So no one can tell me that Purina has the 'same kind of feed' as TC or any other QUALITY feed company.

hoofs_in_motion - 2013-12-19 3:57 PM


That is what I was worried about as well, I don't want to stick them on something with by products. I really wish I had a store around here that carried triple crown products, I've heard so many good things about it.

This seriously has me stumped on feeding, I've never been good about choosing the right feed 

hlynn - 2013-12-19 2:58 PM It's the best I've found. What brands can you get? Just the usual Purina & Nutrena?