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| FLITASTIC - 2016-04-20 11:52 AM
Anyone worry about increased colic risk of feeding 100% alfalfa? I always throw in some orchard grass since I do not have pasture. All my vets have ever said is to give them some grass to help keep things moving. and NOT Bermuda under any circumstances. I guess the Bermuda we have in CA is the Bad kind. lol
We have a few colics here and there but it is usually when we get our goofy weather, where we have weeks of highs in the mid to high 70s and then a cold snap with snow and highs in the low to mid 40s. When that happens they don't drink enough water and viola, colic. Our local vets actually prepare for those weather snaps because they see an influx of colicky horses on those weeks at the clinic.
The last thing we had colic (knock on wood) was our 30 something year old mini almost 3 years ago and he was on straight orchard grass. I think he was just old and it was the start of his decline.
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 Scorpions R Us
Posts: 9586
 
Location: So. Cali. | I've always been a safechoice fan. Have never had a complaint with the quality of feed, only on the price increase. I currently feed my mare Safechoice Special Care due to a history of muscle spasms. She looks great, covered in dapples.
Recently was talked into feeding Total Equine. So far, really like it and so are the horses. Probably only been on it a month now and their coats are looking darker and naturally shiney.
I should add their diet is soaked beet pulp twice a day with alfalfa pellets.
Edited by Three*C*Champs 2016-04-20 12:23 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
| cyount2009 - 2016-04-20 10:14 AM
FLITASTIC - 2016-04-20 11:52 AM
Anyone worry about increased colic risk of feeding 100% alfalfa? I always throw in some orchard grass since I do not have pasture. All my vets have ever said is to give them some grass to help keep things moving. and NOT Bermuda under any circumstances. I guess the Bermuda we have in CA is the Bad kind. lol
We have a few colics here and there but it is usually when we get our goofy weather, where we have weeks of highs in the mid to high 70s and then a cold snap with snow and highs in the low to mid 40s. When that happens they don't drink enough water and viola, colic. Our local vets actually prepare for those weather snaps because they see an influx of colicky horses on those weeks at the clinic.
The last thing we had colic (knock on wood ) was our 30 something year old mini almost 3 years ago and he was on straight orchard grass. I think he was just old and it was the start of his decline.
I agree. I watch the weather very closely and start giving electrolytes few days out of weather changes and I NEVER use automatic watering systems. I want to know exactly how much each horse is drinking. There are those systems with a meter and I tried that once and my horse broke it and pulled it off and tried to eat it.. so old fashioned it is.. lol Mental note of trough level and check it as soon as I get home. Pinch test on the neck for hydration. |
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Expert
Posts: 3514
| My vets have always said to feed alfalfa to colic prone horses. That is the first hay offered after colic surgery. I feed Alfalfa and Timothy. Bermuda will cause one to impact due to it being so fine stemmed. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 929
| FLITASTIC - 2016-04-20 9:52 AM
Anyone worry about increased colic risk of feeding 100% alfalfa? I always throw in some orchard grass since I do not have pasture. All my vets have ever said is to give them some grass to help keep things moving. and NOT Bermuda under any circumstances. I guess the Bermuda we have in CA is the Bad kind. lol
The bermuda around here will CAUSE them to colic. They say it's long cut but it binds them up. |
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 Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11511
Location: 31 lengths farms | I remember a few years ago when I was trading cleaning stalls for reined cow horse lessons the owners wife was pulling the hose up and down the alley and watering 26 stalls by hand, I said something about "didn 't these stalls used to have automatic waters in them?" and she said "yep, first thing I pulled out when we moved in, I will not use an automatic waterer. Knowing if they drank or not will almost always let you know there is trouble before it shows." |
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 Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| I have got to find something else to feed..I like the strategy healthy edge but it's really moist and Temps are heating up here, it felt like a sauna in my feed room yesterday and I'm afraid of mold. I don't feed very much of it but I only buy 2 bags a week so that puts me having to go in town every week to buy it. I'm afraid to "stock up" on it because the moisture and heat/humidity are not a good combo. I've looked into regular strategy but it didn't get very good reviews. Nutrena is not an option for me. Renew Gold is way too high here and can be difficult to keep in stock. I'm leaning towards the Kool speed plus, sorta, not because I'm worried about my horses having ulcers, but I like it's from an ionophore free mill and the high fiber and high fat and it's a dry feed. Any other suggestions? I'm on a budget too and I have a very choke prone horse so I have to wet his feed down. |
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 Hugs to You
Posts: 7551
Location: In The Land of Cotton | FLITASTIC - 2016-04-20 12:52 PM Anyone worry about increased colic risk of feeding 100% alfalfa? I always throw in some orchard grass since I do not have pasture. All my vets have ever said is to give them some grass to help keep things moving. and NOT Bermuda under any circumstances. I guess the Bermuda we have in CA is the Bad kind. lol
All we feed is bermuda, Tift 85. Which is the larger stem. I guess CA is screwed up. LOL.
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| 3canstorun - 2016-04-21 7:05 AM
FLITASTIC - 2016-04-20 12:52 PM Anyone worry about increased colic risk of feeding 100% alfalfa? I always throw in some orchard grass since I do not have pasture. All my vets have ever said is to give them some grass to help keep things moving. and NOT Bermuda under any circumstances. I guess the Bermuda we have in CA is the Bad kind. lol
All we feed is bermuda, Tift 85. Which is the larger stem. I guess CA is screwed up. LOL.
Bermuda is all we've ever fed and occasionally some alfalfa if I can get my hands on it. |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | yearling: one 3 qt scoop 2x daily Ultium growth, grass hay with a small amount of alfalfa in there
19 yr old gelding I run: one 3 qt scoop 2x daily Locally milled 14% pellet (the barn's feed), 1-2 lb alfalfa pellets once daily, 0.5-1 lb amplify once daily, and the same hay as the yearling. MSM, pentosan for joints, psyllium for hx of sand colic. He is my special diva that's a hard keeper. I blame it on the TB sire lol
ETA
Pentosan is 6cc IM once a week when running, less often when not running (winter)
Edited by barrelracr131 2016-04-21 7:19 AM
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 Maine-iac
Posts: 3334
Location: Got Lobsta? | Renew Gold 1 pound per day and alfalfa pellets - 14 yr old & 3 year old
Renew Gold 1.5 pounds per day for 26, 27 and 32 year old with severe cushings. Free access to Timothy hay
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 595
Location: North Dakota | Whole oats, whole flax, free choice grass hay, 2 flakes alfalfa once a day and Cur-OST supplements. Clean and simple! |
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| Anyone ever feed blue bonnet natural blend performance? |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| want2chase3 - 2016-04-21 9:56 AM
Anyone ever feed blue bonnet natural blend performance?
A friend did. She had a 17 yr. old Reiner she fed it to. He looked and felt great on it. But the warehouse kept sending old feed down here, even after the feed store brought it to their attention. So the feed store quit carrying it. |
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| GLP - 2016-04-21 3:23 PM
want2chase3 - 2016-04-21 9:56 AM
Anyone ever feed blue bonnet natural blend performance?
A friend did. She had a 17 yr. old Reiner she fed it to. He looked and felt great on it. But the warehouse kept sending old feed down here, even after the feed store brought it to their attention. So the feed store quit carrying it.
Hmmm. Well I talked to the feed store today and they are putting in an order for me on monday, sure hope it's fresh! Looking forward to getting my boys started on it. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| want2chase3 - 2016-04-22 11:48 AM
GLP - 2016-04-21 3:23 PM
want2chase3 - 2016-04-21 9:56 AM
Anyone ever feed blue bonnet natural blend performance?
A friend did. She had a 17 yr. old Reiner she fed it to. He looked and felt great on it. But the warehouse kept sending old feed down here, even after the feed store brought it to their attention. So the feed store quit carrying it.
Hmmm. Well I talked to the feed store today and they are putting in an order for me on monday, sure hope it's fresh! Looking forward to getting my boys started on it.
Check the dates on the bags before you buy. She was so disappointed. Her horses looked really good on it, and felt great, too. I hope it works out for you. |
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| GLP - 2016-04-22 11:54 AM
want2chase3 - 2016-04-22 11:48 AM
GLP - 2016-04-21 3:23 PM
want2chase3 - 2016-04-21 9:56 AM
Anyone ever feed blue bonnet natural blend performance?
A friend did. She had a 17 yr. old Reiner she fed it to. He looked and felt great on it. But the warehouse kept sending old feed down here, even after the feed store brought it to their attention. So the feed store quit carrying it.
Hmmm. Well I talked to the feed store today and they are putting in an order for me on monday, sure hope it's fresh! Looking forward to getting my boys started on it.
Check the dates on the bags before you buy. She was so disappointed. Her horses looked really good on it, and felt great, too. I hope it works out for you.
How old was the feed? That's terrible! I can't believe bluebonnet didn't make it right. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| want2chase3 - 2016-04-22 12:02 PM
GLP - 2016-04-22 11:54 AM
want2chase3 - 2016-04-22 11:48 AM
GLP - 2016-04-21 3:23 PM
want2chase3 - 2016-04-21 9:56 AM
Anyone ever feed blue bonnet natural blend performance?
A friend did. She had a 17 yr. old Reiner she fed it to. He looked and felt great on it. But the warehouse kept sending old feed down here, even after the feed store brought it to their attention. So the feed store quit carrying it.
Hmmm. Well I talked to the feed store today and they are putting in an order for me on monday, sure hope it's fresh! Looking forward to getting my boys started on it.
Check the dates on the bags before you buy. She was so disappointed. Her horses looked really good on it, and felt great, too. I hope it works out for you.
How old was the feed? That's terrible! I can't believe bluebonnet didn't make it right.
If I remember right, it was at least 6 months old. I know I was shocked at how old it was. It didn't smell right and her horses no longer wanted to eat it. She never called Bluebonnet, and the feed store told her they called the warehouse to complain, so I am not sure who that was. But no one else down here was selling Bluebonnet feeds. So she went to something else. |
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  Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | Half scoop of whole oats once a day with a cup of BOSS and Cur-OST products. Healthy flake of alfalfa twice a day. Simple and easy. |
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Expert
Posts: 5293
| I am major OCD when it comes to dates on bags. If its a pelleted feed I am slightly more lenient but anything textured and I won't buy it if its over 30-45 days old. I wont let my horses touch a feed thats over 60 days old. I personally think that 90 days is about the max so i try and stay at nothing in their bucket over 60 days. lol My local tractor supply probably gets mad every time I go into the store!! They are good about rotating so first few bags on top are usually 45-60-90 days old. Well good enough for them to sell, however, I move all those bags and dig to the bottom and get the ones that are most of the time a week or two old!!!! They think I'm crazy. lol I'm nice and put all the older stuff neatly back in the stack. lol |
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