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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 561
 
Location: somewhere in the south | My older gelding now has to be taken off of hay and I need feed ideas to keep him fat and happy! He's still running barrels for me and I'm super glad about that but I really can't afford to feed him nothing but Omolene Equine Senior! I'm supplementing hydration hay and he's grazing on what grass has started to grow but what else can I get that will not break the budget and keep him healthy and strong???? | |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
  
Location: Kansas | forco works, and I use gleam & gain 60 on my boys. | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | Where are you located? | |
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 A Barrel Of Monkeys
Posts: 12972
Location: Texas | My old gelding stays fat on soaked beet pulp. | |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| Can he eat soaked alfalfa cubes? | |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | why is he off hay and any hay or just certain types?
he needs roughage so just addding a supplement wont do it..
Soaked beet pulp added to the sr will help
there are cubes to add as well.. | |
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 Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | If you can find Omnis cubes I would give those a try. I have several older horses on nothing but Omnis and about a cup of stablized rice bran. There are some other good options out there for alfalfa cubes but I had to soak them for my old guys. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | turn3nhome - 2016-03-17 9:46 AM
My older gelding now has to be taken off of hay and I need feed ideas to keep him fat and happy! He's still running barrels for me and I'm super glad about that but I really can't afford to feed him nothing but Omolene Equine Senior! I'm supplementing hydration hay and he's grazing on what grass has started to grow but what else can I get that will not break the budget and keep him healthy and strong????
I think it would be helpful if you gave more info on the problem as to why no hay...Allergies, teeth, something else? If you cannot feed any hay then you really need to feed something that will replace it entirely. Most products are partial roughage replacements and there is really only 4 choices I see one having for total hay replacement (Depending on your specific situation and personal preference, one of these 4 are probably your best choice):
1. Pellets (usually alfalfa) - Can be nutritious and cost effective - but the downside is they are not long stem roughage. You can feed them as total roughage replacement, but it isn't exactly ideal. In very, very rare occasions, pellets can be the only option. Certain horses will also have a tendency to choke on pellets, so they "may" need to be soaked. Pellets usually take longer to soak than cubes and that adds to the inconvenience of feeding.
2. Complete Feed - You are already aware of this option, senior feed. It is basically a by product fortified pellet with varying roughage components. They are nutritionally balanced and soft enough to be fed dry to dental problem horses. The drawback to them is they are not long stem roughage and high in cost. Again, In very, very rare occasions, pellets can be the only option. One thing you can do is a combo of half senior and half alfalfa pellets, to reduce cost a little.
3. Chaffhaye or similar product - Chaffhaye is partially fermented wet bagged hay. It is long stem and very soft and palatable for most horses. It has a coating of molasses so it will also be dust free, if allergies are the issue. The downsides are that it can be a pain to feed, find, and it is also relatively expensive (due to it being 50% water). However, if in your situation it is relative accessible and you don't find it to unhandy to feed, then it could be a good choice.
4. Hay cubes (particularly alfalfa) - This is really usually the best overall choice, however, all cubes are not the same. Some cubes are larger and some smaller. Some are harder and some are softer. Availability and price vary, so they can be a value or be expensive as well. Cubes will be relatively dust free and are a good choice if the problem is a dust in hay related condition. If the issue is teeth, then all cubes will work but almost all of them should be soaked. This can make them less convenient and more time consuming to feed. There are a small few that might work dry for a horse with no teeth but only one that I know can. The softest cubes available are Omnis mini cubes. They have added oats and flax and are a really good choice for senior horses (Downside to Omnis is limited number of dealer). Most all other cubes are 100% hay. The next softest cube that I am aware of is Select Way or Mustang Sally. They may be soft enough for this but I personally would probably soak for a horse that really had issues chewing.
Disclaimer, I do represent Danco Forage, maker of Omnis cubes.
Edited by Tdove 2016-03-17 2:48 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 561
Location: somewhere in the south | I'm located in NC......... | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 561
Location: somewhere in the south | classicpotatochip - 2016-03-17 11:23 AM Can he eat soaked alfalfa cubes?
I think so, I've never given him very much of it though?
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 561
Location: somewhere in the south | Bibliafarm - 2016-03-17 11:29 AM why is he off hay and any hay or just certain types?
he needs roughage so just addding a supplement wont do it..
Soaked beet pulp added to the sr will help
there are cubes to add as well..
His teeth are getting fewer and the vet just doesn't think he's doing a very good job of chewing it and is afraid he'll choke, he's choked on his feed before so I have to soak it. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 561
Location: somewhere in the south | Tdove - 2016-03-17 3:34 PM turn3nhome - 2016-03-17 9:46 AM My older gelding now has to be taken off of hay and I need feed ideas to keep him fat and happy! He's still running barrels for me and I'm super glad about that but I really can't afford to feed him nothing but Omolene Equine Senior! I'm supplementing hydration hay and he's grazing on what grass has started to grow but what else can I get that will not break the budget and keep him healthy and strong???? I think it would be helpful if you gave more info on the problem as to why no hay...Allergies, teeth, something else? If you cannot feed any hay then you really need to feed something that will replace it entirely. Most products are partial roughage replacements and there is really only 4 choices I see one having for total hay replacement (Depending on your specific situation and personal preference, one of these 4 are probably your best choice ): 1. Pellets (usually alfalfa ) - Can be nutritious and cost effective - but the downside is they are not long stem roughage. You can feed them as total roughage replacement, but it isn't exactly ideal. In very, very rare occasions, pellets can be the only option. Certain horses will also have a tendency to choke on pellets, so they "may" need to be soaked. Pellets usually take longer to soak than cubes and that adds to the inconvenience of feeding. 2. Complete Feed - You are already aware of this option, senior feed. It is basically a by product fortified pellet with varying roughage components. They are nutritionally balanced and soft enough to be fed dry to dental problem horses. The drawback to them is they are not long stem roughage and high in cost. Again, In very, very rare occasions, pellets can be the only option. One thing you can do is a combo of half senior and half alfalfa pellets, to reduce cost a little. 3. Chaffhaye or similar product - Chaffhaye is partially fermented wet bagged hay. It is long stem and very soft and palatable for most horses. It has a coating of molasses so it will also be dust free, if allergies are the issue. The downsides are that it can be a pain to feed, find, and it is also relatively expensive (due to it being 50% water ). However, if in your situation it is relative accessible and you don't find it to unhandy to feed, then it could be a good choice. 4. Hay cubes (particularly alfalfa ) - This is really usually the best overall choice, however, all cubes are not the same. Some cubes are larger and some smaller. Some are harder and some are softer. Availability and price vary, so they can be a value or be expensive as well. Cubes will be relatively dust free and are a good choice if the problem is a dust in hay related condition. If the issue is teeth, then all cubes will work but almost all of them should be soaked. This can make them less convenient and more time consuming to feed. There are a small few that might work dry for a horse with no teeth but only one that I know can. The softest cubes available are Omnis mini cubes. They have added oats and flax and are a really good choice for senior horses (Downside to Omnis is limited number of dealer ). Most all other cubes are 100% hay. The next softest cube that I am aware of is Select Way or Mustang Sally. They may be soft enough for this but I personally would probably soak for a horse that really had issues chewing. Disclaimer, I do represent Danco Forage, maker of Omnis cubes.
Wow! Thanks for such great information! I've never heard of the Omni cubes but feel free to send me info, pricing and availability to NC !! His issue is teeth, I have another older horse that I soak alfalfa cubes for but am really unsure how much/many to give either one. The winter was pretty hard on them. I guess I could try beet pulp but again, I've always had really easy keepers and don't know much about the pulp either...............so appreciate any and all help!!
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | I would try the cubes if I were you. I don't think you get Omnis in NC, but you should be able to get Select-Way. I have been feeding those and really like them. They are the softest cubes available in my area, and the most consistent quality. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 561
Location: somewhere in the south | turn3nhome - 2016-03-17 4:52 PM Tdove - 2016-03-17 3:34 PM turn3nhome - 2016-03-17 9:46 AM My older gelding now has to be taken off of hay and I need feed ideas to keep him fat and happy! He's still running barrels for me and I'm super glad about that but I really can't afford to feed him nothing but Omolene Equine Senior! I'm supplementing hydration hay and he's grazing on what grass has started to grow but what else can I get that will not break the budget and keep him healthy and strong???? I think it would be helpful if you gave more info on the problem as to why no hay...Allergies, teeth, something else? If you cannot feed any hay then you really need to feed something that will replace it entirely. Most products are partial roughage replacements and there is really only 4 choices I see one having for total hay replacement (Depending on your specific situation and personal preference, one of these 4 are probably your best choice ): 1. Pellets (usually alfalfa ) - Can be nutritious and cost effective - but the downside is they are not long stem roughage. You can feed them as total roughage replacement, but it isn't exactly ideal. In very, very rare occasions, pellets can be the only option. Certain horses will also have a tendency to choke on pellets, so they "may" need to be soaked. Pellets usually take longer to soak than cubes and that adds to the inconvenience of feeding. 2. Complete Feed - You are already aware of this option, senior feed. It is basically a by product fortified pellet with varying roughage components. They are nutritionally balanced and soft enough to be fed dry to dental problem horses. The drawback to them is they are not long stem roughage and high in cost. Again, In very, very rare occasions, pellets can be the only option. One thing you can do is a combo of half senior and half alfalfa pellets, to reduce cost a little. 3. Chaffhaye or similar product - Chaffhaye is partially fermented wet bagged hay. It is long stem and very soft and palatable for most horses. It has a coating of molasses so it will also be dust free, if allergies are the issue. The downsides are that it can be a pain to feed, find, and it is also relatively expensive (due to it being 50% water ). However, if in your situation it is relative accessible and you don't find it to unhandy to feed, then it could be a good choice. 4. Hay cubes (particularly alfalfa ) - This is really usually the best overall choice, however, all cubes are not the same. Some cubes are larger and some smaller. Some are harder and some are softer. Availability and price vary, so they can be a value or be expensive as well. Cubes will be relatively dust free and are a good choice if the problem is a dust in hay related condition. If the issue is teeth, then all cubes will work but almost all of them should be soaked. This can make them less convenient and more time consuming to feed. There are a small few that might work dry for a horse with no teeth but only one that I know can. The softest cubes available are Omnis mini cubes. They have added oats and flax and are a really good choice for senior horses (Downside to Omnis is limited number of dealer ). Most all other cubes are 100% hay. The next softest cube that I am aware of is Select Way or Mustang Sally. They may be soft enough for this but I personally would probably soak for a horse that really had issues chewing. Disclaimer, I do represent Danco Forage, maker of Omnis cubes.
So TDove................any dealers on the east coast? I'd really like to try the cubes!! | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | Unfortunately, Omnis is not available in NC. Being that your horse is prone to choke, I would either just feed Equine Senior as a sole ration or feed soaked alfalfa cubes or Chaffhaye, either as a sole ration or as main ration along with a small amount of the concentrate of your choosing. The most economical and best for you, will be determined by what is available in your area and what your personal preference is, but you do likely have some options. You can also add in soaked beet pulp to the ration, but not as a complete roughage source. Personally, I am not a fan of beet pulp, but many are. I find it unnecessary and uneconomical, personally.
I would feed around 15-16 lbs of soaked alfalfa cubes along with concentrate or about 18-20 lbs of soaked cubes if fed as a sole ration (or with a little rice bran or similar product).
Edited by Tdove 2016-03-17 4:15 PM
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