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Location: Missouri | Holy cow, my knowledge on horse nutrition and horse feed are VERY limited.
I realize I could probably do a search and find a lot of this info, but If anyone has any good, informative links on horse nutrition/feeds they want to share, please do! As much as I feel like an idiot admitting that I truly don't know that much, I'd like to learn and really start to understand some of these things...
A little back story too....I used to feed Ultium when I was actually running my horse. (I've been on a hiatus for a few years having kiddos, lol). But it made her so danged HOT if I'd feed the recommended amount, I'd have to cut her portions so much it was probably moot at that point. And then I read a few things on here, here and there (I tend to stalk more than I post, lol) about Ultium and Purina in general and decided to put her back on just whole oats and grass hay/pasture while she's on her very extended vacation. But, even though she's pretty well just a pasture ornament at the moment until I have my last baby and can ride again, I'm not sure she's really getting what she needs, bc honestly I really don't KNOW what she needs. I've had horses the last 17 years. So I'm kind of having a 'shame on me, I should know some of this stuff' moment.  But, I would like to get back into riding this comi winter, and running again next early spring, and I want to be feeding her what she needs when I'm asking her to work.
So I say all that to say, where does one start when wanting to begin truly understanding equine nutrition? How in the heck do I know what my individual horse needs?
I apologize if these questions sound incredibly stupid. I realize I should know these things as long as I've been a horse owner and been barrel racing. :(
Thanks in advance for any knowledge y'all can lend! |
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Expert
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| 1/2 steam rolled oats,1/4 alfalfa pellets, 1/2 cup.falafel and add Vitalize High Performance. Then add good hay. You won't need anything else except a joint supplement. |
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Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | readytorodeo - 2016-04-26 7:27 PM
1/2 steam rolled oats,1/4 alfalfa pellets, 1/2 cup.falafel and add Vitalize High Performance. Then add good hay. You won't need anything else except a joint supplement.
Thanks for your response! A few questions. What is falafel? and I'm goin to sound like a royal idiot but, can one get steam rolled oats at your regular feed store? Sorry if that's a dumb question. But truly not sure if they differ from your regular bag of oats without molasses that you can buy just anywhere, and if they are, how.  |
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Location: Somewhere over the rainbow | Nutrena Empower Balance (pure nutrition). Free choice grass and hay. If I have a hard keeper I will add alfalfa pellets. I keep it very simple. I think there are a lot of gimmicks out there that cost a lot of money. Unless you have a special needs horse, keep it simple. |
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Elite Veteran
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| Haven't read it yet but someone suggested this book to me on how to feed propery. Covers special needs horses like hypp, Cushing's etc. Maybe worth looking into if your wanting to learn a lot more. http://feedyourhorselikeahorse.com |
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Expert
Posts: 3514
| MOGirl07 - 2016-04-27 1:36 PM
readytorodeo - 2016-04-26 7:27 PM
1/2 steam rolled oats,1/4 alfalfa pellets, 1/2 cup.falafel and add Vitalize High Performance. Then add good hay. You won't need anything else except a joint supplement.
Thanks for your response! A few questions. What is falafel? and I'm goin to sound like a royal idiot but, can one get steam rolled oats at your regular feed store? Sorry if that's a dumb question. But truly not sure if they differ from your regular bag of oats without molasses that you can buy just anywhere, and if they are, how.
That was supposed to be flax. My phone has auto correct. Lol. Yes you can get steam rolled oats at your feed store.
Edited by readytorodeo 2016-04-27 6:10 PM
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Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | readytorodeo - 2016-04-27 6:09 PM
MOGirl07 - 2016-04-27 1:36 PM
readytorodeo - 2016-04-26 7:27 PM
1/2 steam rolled oats,1/4 alfalfa pellets, 1/2 cup.falafel and add Vitalize High Performance. Then add good hay. You won't need anything else except a joint supplement.
Thanks for your response! A few questions. What is falafel? and I'm goin to sound like a royal idiot but, can one get steam rolled oats at your regular feed store? Sorry if that's a dumb question. But truly not sure if they differ from your regular bag of oats without molasses that you can buy just anywhere, and if they are, how.
That was supposed to be flax. My phone has auto correct. Lol. Yes you can get steam rolled oats at your feed store.
Ahhhh flax seed! Ok thank you!
Do alfalfa pellets need to be soaked or is that just the cubes? |
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Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | BabyJ - 2016-04-27 2:06 PM
Nutrena Empower Balance (pure nutrition). Free choice grass and hay. If I have a hard keeper I will add alfalfa pellets. I keep it very simple. I think there are a lot of gimmicks out there that cost a lot of money. Unless you have a special needs horse, keep it simple.
Other than she's getting a smidge older, not really. Pretty easy keeper. Thank you! |
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Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | cn1705 - 2016-04-27 6:03 PM
Haven't read it yet but someone suggested this book to me on how to feed propery. Covers special needs horses like hypp, Cushing's etc. Maybe worth looking into if your wanting to learn a lot more. http://feedyourhorselikeahorse.com
Ooh. Yes! Thank you! I'll definitely be ordering this. Yes, I really want to understand not just what to feed but WHY.  |
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Expert
Posts: 3514
| MOGirl07 - 2016-04-27 8:15 PM
readytorodeo - 2016-04-27 6:09 PM
MOGirl07 - 2016-04-27 1:36 PM
readytorodeo - 2016-04-26 7:27 PM
1/2 steam rolled oats,1/4 alfalfa pellets, 1/2 cup.falafel and add Vitalize High Performance. Then add good hay. You won't need anything else except a joint supplement.
Thanks for your response! A few questions. What is falafel? and I'm goin to sound like a royal idiot but, can one get steam rolled oats at your regular feed store? Sorry if that's a dumb question. But truly not sure if they differ from your regular bag of oats without molasses that you can buy just anywhere, and if they are, how.
That was supposed to be flax. My phone has auto correct. Lol. Yes you can get steam rolled oats at your feed store.
Ahhhh flax seed! Ok thank you!
Do alfalfa pellets need to be soaked or is that just the cubes?
I feed dehydrated alfalfa pellets. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
| If you really want to learn about proper feeding horses get a copy of HORSE NUTRITION HANDBOOK. You can order from Amazon. Go through and highlight as you read then the important things are easier to find when you go back and reread. This is the best reference I have found. A subscription THE HORSE magazine is very helpful. If you are looking for a picture book, you can forget these. They are very informative though. Exceptllent information. |
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Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | streakysox - 2016-04-27 9:45 PM
If you really want to learn about proper feeding horses get a copy of HORSE NUTRITION HANDBOOK. You can order from Amazon. Go through and highlight as you read then the important things are easier to find when you go back and reread. This is the best reference I have found. A subscription THE HORSE magazine is very helpful. If you are looking for a picture book, you can forget these. They are very informative though. Exceptllent information.
Thank you! |
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