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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1062
 
Location: Probably On the Road to the Next Barrel Race! | I have a horse in for training, she came to me instructions to feed 1 1/2 scoops pelleted Safe Choice 2x/day. Plus all you can eat great coastal hay. Owner thinks horse isn't fat enough, so they want me to bump feed to 2 scoops 2x/day. They are paying for feed, i don't care, but I'd always heard a horse could not really properly assimilate that much food at one serving, thus the extra feed is wasted. Just wondered what the facts were on feeding a 3 year old that much pelleted food...horse is lightly ridden one hour a day, 5 days a week. Pesonally, just think horse needs a good Powerpak to add a few pounds. Ya'll tell me what's correct amount to feed...please...and thank you! |
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Expert
Posts: 1280
Location: Texas | Without knowing the exact weight of your "scoop", I'm gonna go out on a limb & say if owner thinks horse needs more food, then feed it more food. If you can feed 3x day, then even better. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1062
Location: Probably On the Road to the Next Barrel Race! | I'm not home to feed 3x day, that's why I was wondering if 2 big scoops was too much at one time... |
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Expert
Posts: 1280
Location: Texas | Weigh the feed. I personally would not feed more than 5-6# at one time (unless there were special circumstances such as an older horse, couldn't eat hay, so instead he is fed a complete ration, free choice.) my 2year old in training gets 4lbs twice a day. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
  
| I have one broodmare that gets two scoops morning and night. Generally, pelleted feed weighs one pound per quart. A scoop is three quarts. Just about all of my horses get four quarts morning and night. |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| I nearly got into an ugly lawsuit over what the caretaker of my horse considered "a scoop", and a "flake of grass hay", and the "horse looks fine". Best advice I can give:
Check the horses weight regularly, document, even with only a weight tape, but DOCUMENT with pictures.
Weigh the amount you feed. Feed as directed by the BAG INSTRUCTIONS, which are in lbs. Compare notes with owner, expressing concerns, through text messages, so it's in writing. Document document document.
Good for the horse, good for the owner, good for the caretaker, good for the vet, good for the lawyer.
Always protect yourself and send horses home looking like rock stars. If you just can't get one fitted, tell the owner within a week about your concerns. Let them decide on a feed program and worming schedule. If horse still isn't gaining, despite changes, suggest trip to vet or horse to go home. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | As stated above, it all depends on how big the scoops, since they come in all sizes. From you description, it sounds like the scoop is fairly small. I imagine that you would be fine doing so. To know for sure, the scoop size, or more importantly, how much the scoop of Safechoice weighs would have to be known.
Edited by Tdove 2015-11-27 8:43 AM
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | you can safely feed 6 lbs per feeding.. if horse needs more then divide 3 feedings.. but IMHO.. Ive never had good results with safechoice.maybe needs more fat in his diet as well.also 2 and 3 yr olds can look gangly .
Edited by Bibliafarm 2015-11-27 9:09 PM
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | I have in the past fed 2 3qt scoops of TC Complete to my gelding. He's huge- about 16 hh. No issues.
However, I have found that you typically come out money ahead adding a fat supplement (Rice bran is my fave) instead of just more feed. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | I'm not familiar with the powerpack, can you tell me more??
I agree with the other posters about weight of feed and all. |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | I have never had success or anyone I know around here have success with Safechoice and Coastal hay as their only diet..alfalfa and fat was always needed to maintain weight.. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| barrelracr131 - 2015-11-28 8:07 AM
I have in the past fed 2 3qt scoops of TC Complete to my gelding. He's huge- about 16 hh. No issues.
However, I have found that you typically come out money ahead adding a fat supplement (Rice bran is my fave) instead of just more feed.
I second the fat supplement. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | HorseMommyFiveO - 2015-11-28 7:46 AM barrelracr131 - 2015-11-28 8:07 AM I have in the past fed 2 3qt scoops of TC Complete to my gelding. He's huge- about 16 hh. No issues.
However, I have found that you typically come out money ahead adding a fat supplement (Rice bran is my fave) instead of just more feed. I second the fat supplement.
Third. |
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