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| Could use a little help with my feeding program..
I currently only have two horses. 8 yr old open horse who is hauled regularly but low work load during the week (long trot lope a couple circles)
he is currently on,
3 QT scoop of whole Oats AM & PM
Half pound Renew Gold AM & PM
And a pound AM & PM of a local sweet feed just because i have some left over from changing to Renew Gold i plan to not feed it anymore once its gone.
just turned 2 yr old, shes not in heavy training but being walked/trot with saddle maybe 3 times a week. shes currently being fed
3QT scoop of sweet feed (roughly 3 lbs) AM & PM
1/2lb Renew Gold AM & PM
i planned once this feed ran out to give her 3QT scoop of whole oats AM & PM in place of the sweet feed
hypothetically speaking once i knock out the processed feed all together and go with the whole oats total im feeding 15lb oats a day,
2lb Renew Gold a day. so roughly total for the month im looking at, $238 for both horses.. 9 bags of oats at 12.45 a bag, $65 for a brumuda round bale which normally last a whole month and 2 bags for Renew Gold at $30 a bag.
I was thinking of trying
1lb oat AM/PM
4lb Alfalfa AM/PM
with costal flakes morning and night instead of free choice.
They do have plently of grass to munch on during the day and they are both turned out 24-7
where as before my feed bill for both horses was $195 including hay...
i love feeding Renew Gold ive been reading ALL the therads i can find about it. i know im feeding to much but what do i cut out? When i cut the grain out do i add more hay? my guys look good on processed feeds but it wasnt working ucler wise and just dull coat but still fat and plump, the RG just took them to a different level and i love it! i want to stick with it. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 595
Location: North Dakota | Yes defiantly cut back on the oats. Even too much of a good thing can be bad. Up Alfalfa and other forage. |
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| MidWest1452 - 2017-04-10 11:19 PM Yes defiantly cut back on the oats. Even too much of a good thing can be bad. Up Alfalfa and other forage.
lower than 1lb AM/PM? with 4lb alfalfa AM/PM? |
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Veteran
Posts: 233
| You can also add rice bran. The one my feed store carries is already calcium corrected, and six bucks for 50lb sack. I've got 4 horses on it, and a bag lasts me 2 weeks or a little more. |
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 Namesless in BHW
Posts: 10368
Location: At the race track with Ah Dee Ohs | I would increase alfalfa also. And cut out the local "sweet feed". You don't need 15 lbs of oats a day. Mine feed regimen is:
2 lbs oats am/pm
10-12 lbs soaked alfalfa cubes at noon with their supplements/1 cup ground flax
10 lbs grass hay
Edited by total performance 2017-04-11 8:41 AM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 690
Location: Georgia | My open horse gets: 1lb RG Am/Pm (he only gets fed twice a day to mix supplements and because the 3yo gets fed twice a day, not because he physically needs it) Pasture turn out during the day, free choice tim/orchard grass (which they barley touch) and 1 big flake alfalfa at night. Thats all he gets
3yo: 1lb RG Am/PM & 2LB Purina Ultium Growth Am/PM. Same hay as open horse.
My Hay Chix slow feeding hay nets have been a game changer in my feed program. Really cut down cost and allows me to feed free choice hay. Also help my 3yo not scatter her alfalfa out all over her stall and waste some of it.
Edited by mandita8907 2017-04-11 8:53 AM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 595
Location: North Dakota | Barrelhorsehelp1 - 2017-04-10 11:30 PM
MidWest1452 - 2017-04-10 11:19 PM Yes defiantly cut back on the oats. Even too much of a good thing can be bad. Up Alfalfa and other forage.
lower than 1lb AM/PM? with 4lb alfalfa AM/PM?
1lb Am and Pm is the max I would feed of a grain, especially if you have RG in the feeding program as well. The alfalfa at 4 lbs AM and PM is good. What source are you using for your alfalfa? Pellets? Cubes?
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| MidWest1452 - 2017-04-11 12:47 PM Barrelhorsehelp1 - 2017-04-10 11:30 PM MidWest1452 - 2017-04-10 11:19 PM Yes defiantly cut back on the oats. Even too much of a good thing can be bad. Up Alfalfa and other forage. lower than 1lb AM/PM? with 4lb alfalfa AM/PM? 1lb Am and Pm is the max I would feed of a grain, especially if you have RG in the feeding program as well. The alfalfa at 4 lbs AM and PM is good. What source are you using for your alfalfa? Pellets? Cubes?
I planned to use cubes soaked.. do I weight them out dry or soaked? And if dry will 4lb dry be 4lb wet?
if I'm feeding that much cubes should I just feed Bermuda flakes AM/PM instead of a round bale in the pasture? They have decent BIG pastures to graze on. 5 acre lots by themselves I can turn them out in bigger if needed. Or would you still stick the Bermuda round bale out there? |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | Mine is on less than 1 lb of oats and an exact pound of RG.
Flake of grass hay flake of alfalfa hay AM/PM.
Maintains weight and looks good.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 509
| I'm feeding pure alfalfa hay renew gold and Redmond salt, mine are doing good with they also get turned out on grass. I'm happy I feel I save money I was feeding triple crown my horse feels good. |
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Expert
Posts: 1695
Location: Willows, CA | hannahbug - 2017-04-11 6:24 AM
You can also add rice bran. The one my feed store carries is already calcium corrected, and six bucks for 50lb sack. I've got 4 horses on it, and a bag lasts me 2 weeks or a little more.
Every time I read a comment about $6 bags of rice bran I cringe. I know I have posted about raw rice bran in the past, but not everyone has seen that or understands the difference between raw rice bran and stabilized rice bran. Here is a quick lesson.
Raw Rice Bran
This is a waste product that comprises the bran layer removed from brown rice with the purpose being to make white rice for a longer shelf life. Raw bran becomes rancid in eight hours after being milled from the rice kernel. There is no exception to this. If you have raw rice bran it is rancid. This consumes the significant anti-oxidant vitamins and greatly lowers the nutritional value. Because of lower purity the fat level is typically 16% and can not be delivered to any customer in any state other than rancid. As a waste product, it is stored like all waste products where it is exposed to infestation, bird droppings and rodent contamination. The vast majority of raw rice bran is fed to cattle, who seem to handle it fairly well.
Stabilized Rice Bran
This is a human food grade product that is processed and handled as such from the time it is milled from the rice kernel. Stabilization equipment is physically located at the rice mill allowing the rice bran to be stabilized (this is a mechanical process that does not use chemicals, solvents or additives of any kind) within one minute of being milled off of the rice kernel. Shelf life of properly stabilized rice bran is one year. Anti-oxidant vitamins and full nutrient value is retained. In addition, Stabilized rice bran is stored like typical food grade products would be, preventing contamination from outside exposures that raw rice bran is subject to. In addition, fat levels typically run over 20% because of the increased purity of the product.
Every time I post this information I hear from a number of people who say that they have fed raw rice bran for a long time with no ill effects. Could be true. This ingredient is Russian Roulette, it works until you get a hot batch that has molded or been exposed to other potential toxins. If you do not think that stabilized rice bran fits in you program, that is fine, feed something else. But, don't feed raw rice bran.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 595
Location: North Dakota | Always weigh dry when it comes to pellets and cubes. I would leave as much forage as possible in front of them. Cut back forage only if they are wasting the round bale or you notice they aren't touching it then take it away. If they eat it then leave it out for them. Forage keeps the belly happy which is the key to a healthy horse. I prefer them to get alittle plump and you can always cut back or put them to work. If you cut out too much too soon, you will have to play catch up. |
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Veteran
Posts: 227
Location: Heart of Texas | I love RG because it's LESS processed grain my ponies have to consume. horses were not designed to be eating processed grain. I feed 1.5lbs a day of RG, they get about 8lbs of alfalfa, and they get turned out on pasture and a round bale in winter/spring. All my horses are doing well. From the hard keeper TB to the fat mare that gains weight on air. If you're having to feed extra, I would up your forage via better hay or more alfalfa. Plus are you worming regularly? A powerpac once a year on top of your regular schedule, especially for pasture ponies, is a great idea. They come into contact with more parasites and other pony poop than a stall horse. Look at their teeth. Even with regular maintenance things can come up. If you have ulcers, address those. Plus alfalfa is better for ulcers than grain. Do they have a salt/mineral block they have access to? (you can get those super cheap at your local feed store). There are so many parts to good nutrition. I'm sure your doing a good job just things to look at so you can cut your grain bill. |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| By only feeding four lbs of alfalfa, I feel like you might as well not be feeding any at all.
Feeding two horses for $238 is a steal, also in my opinion.
I'm thinking if you invest in really good fertilized coastal bales, feeding at least 10-15 lbs of it, and then up your alfalfa consumption to at least 10 lbs, you could cut out the oats, and stay with 1 lb of Renew Gold.
Feeding a nice product like Forco or Equipride will help put that dappled bloom on them that I think you're looking for, they're both quite cost effective.
Just remember to keep it simple. If it's taking you longer than five minutes twice a day to feed two horses, you're not feeding horses, you're cooking meth. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | winwillows - 2017-04-11 6:19 PM hannahbug - 2017-04-11 6:24 AM You can also add rice bran. The one my feed store carries is already calcium corrected, and six bucks for 50lb sack. I've got 4 horses on it, and a bag lasts me 2 weeks or a little more. Every time I read a comment about $6 bags of rice bran I cringe. I know I have posted about raw rice bran in the past, but not everyone has seen that or understands the difference between raw rice bran and stabilized rice bran. Here is a quick lesson. Raw Rice Bran This is a waste product that comprises the bran layer removed from brown rice with the purpose being to make white rice for a longer shelf life. Raw bran becomes rancid in eight hours after being milled from the rice kernel. There is no exception to this. If you have raw rice bran it is rancid. This consumes the significant anti-oxidant vitamins and greatly lowers the nutritional value. Because of lower purity the fat level is typically 16% and can not be delivered to any customer in any state other than rancid. As a waste product, it is stored like all waste products where it is exposed to infestation, bird droppings and rodent contamination. The vast majority of raw rice bran is fed to cattle, who seem to handle it fairly well. Stabilized Rice Bran This is a human food grade product that is processed and handled as such from the time it is milled from the rice kernel. Stabilization equipment is physically located at the rice mill allowing the rice bran to be stabilized (this is a mechanical process that does not use chemicals, solvents or additives of any kind ) within one minute of being milled off of the rice kernel. Shelf life of properly stabilized rice bran is one year. Anti-oxidant vitamins and full nutrient value is retained. In addition, Stabilized rice bran is stored like typical food grade products would be, preventing contamination from outside exposures that raw rice bran is subject to. In addition, fat levels typically run over 20% because of the increased purity of the product. Every time I post this information I hear from a number of people who say that they have fed raw rice bran for a long time with no ill effects. Could be true. This ingredient is Russian Roulette, it works until you get a hot batch that has molded or been exposed to other potential toxins. If you do not think that stabilized rice bran fits in you program, that is fine, feed something else. But, don't feed raw rice bran.
Edited by Three 4 Luck 2017-04-13 2:12 PM
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Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | classicpotatochip - 2017-04-12 9:24 PM By only feeding four lbs of alfalfa, I feel like you might as well not be feeding any at all. Feeding two horses for $238 is a steal, also in my opinion. I'm thinking if you invest in really good fertilized coastal bales, feeding at least 10-15 lbs of it, and then up your alfalfa consumption to at least 10 lbs, you could cut out the oats, and stay with 1 lb of Renew Gold. Feeding a nice product like Forco or Equipride will help put that dappled bloom on them that I think you're looking for, they're both quite cost effective. Just remember to keep it simple. If it's taking you longer than five minutes twice a day to feed two horses, you're not feeding horses, you're cooking meth.
I can feed 5 horses in 8 minutes, including supplements, and filling 3 hay boxes. If I have to fill water tanks or buckets, or someone escapes and has to be caught (like last night LOL) it's going to take longer. How geeky am I that I timed myself? |
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