Saving on horse feed

[Slim Pikkens]

I'm not trying to get people to agree on how to feed a horse. I reiterate, the point was to help people alter their feeding program in times of feed shortages, so they wouldn't have to give up their beloved animals. My own area has had an unseasonally wet summer and the haying just got started less than a week ago. It won't be prime but it's still good. Needless to say I had been planning alternate feed sources if there was no hay crop. When one would normally start cutting, farmers couldn't get on the fields as the ground was saturated.

[Sundance_Solo]

horses are meant to graze 24/7. When this is not possible it is necessary to supplement. This may be done using hay, grain, or nutritional supplements. It is necessary to supplement in order for horses to receive enough vitamins and minerals. Hay alone is not enough because as hay is dried it loses quite a bit of its nutritional value. That is why many owners choose to add grain to their horse's diet, to provide additional nutrition, as well as to provide the hard working horse with additional calories for fat and energy. Many owners end up overfeeding their horses however, by using a grain that is not designed for their horse's lifestyle. Most active pleasure horses do not require grain for additional calories, but only for nutritional support. This is when a multivitamin supplement comes in handy. It provides a horse with the necessary nutrition without adding unnecessary calories. There are also feeds that work in a similar way.
I feed my horse good quality grass hay, a 10% pellet (unfortified) at about 2 lb a day split into two feedings, and a pelleted multivitamin supplement. I have reviewed my horse's diet with my vet and he agreed that in my horse's situation, it was necessary to add a multivitamin supplement. My horse is a QH and is worked 3-5 times a week, w/t/c usually, occasionally jumping (anywhere between 2-4 ft). I also have him on a hoof/coat supplement and a joint supplement, as recommended by my vet. My horse is 10 and healthy.
I hope this information helps!

[winkybear]

Hi there!

My horse, Ice, is 8 years old, and a rescue. I have owned him for 11 months, and my trainer rescued him 6 months previous to that. He had been abandoned in a field with no veterinary/farrier/grooming for what was probably several years (based on the condition of his hooves at the time).

He has some mild lameness issues which we are adressing with various approaches. First, nutritional, then double-dosing Equimax at 2 week intervals (for adult worms that settle in the ligaments, joints, and eyes). After that, we will proceed with Adequan injections, in probably a month or so.

I am disabled and on a good week I will get out to ride or exercise him twice. That's all I can do, and it is enough for him. Before when I was healthy I owned 8 horses, bred, trained, lived and breathed Dressage. Now I am happy just to have Ice.


So Ice doesn't need all that much to eat. Mostly we just walk and trot around for an hour or so. I also lunge him.

Here's what I feed him:

Orchard grass/Timothy mix hay
Grass pasture each day, in the stall at night
Timothy pellets
Pelleted Vitamin supplement
Pelleted joint supplement
Powdered Selenium supplement

Here in Washington state we have very poor soil as far as selenium goes, so he gets a supplement.

The barn where I board him has excellent turnout grass pastures and the horses are outside all day every day. They have lots of room to stretch their legs and lots of grass to eat.

I keep him blanketed in the winter with waterproof turnout blankets. This keeps his coat clean and dry and minimizes my grooming workload.

Works for me!

[Slim Pikkens]

Sundance Solo, you didn't read the purpose of this thread. It was to help people get their horses thro tough economic times and be able to keep them. If your income dried up or feed costs rose thro the roof, would you be able to maintain your horse on this diet? Probably not, you'd have to make concessions like many others already are.

[paso_lover]

Again I have to say, I have 9 horses and all but 2 ( a very hard keeper and a baby) get local oats and an ounce of Mackintosh as a suppliment. Less than $7/bag for the oats and $40/bag which lasts a VERY LONG TIME (all depending on the # of horses one has) and all are doing AMAZING for a very cheap cost.

[fishing_trex]

Originally Posted by Sundance_Solo

I feed my horse good quality grass hay, a 10% pellet (unfortified) at about 2 lb a day split into two feedings, and a pelleted multivitamin supplement.

Are you feeding the pellet according to the manufacturer's directions? 2# sounds like very little for a horse (unless it is some sort of ration balancer).

[bubbleslove]

Originally Posted by Sunlei

I edited to add, I have been reading a lot about 'peanut hay' People say it's very cheap, works as a good forage and horses love it. peanut hay could be a big money savings instead of hay.

LOL wouldn't be a big money savings if you lived outside of Florida or at the very southern end of Texas, maybe. Peanut is a Brazilian import, and is one of the few tropical hays that's comparable to alfalfa. It doesn't grow north of Florida, and can be needy to start - which is why it's still fairly rare in Florida. I think north/central Florida see it more frequently and more reliably than we do in the south. Therefore, the price goes up due to transportation costs...the increase someone up North would pay would be comparable to what we pay for Michigan or Canadian hay. Already, here in S.Fla, it costs about $13-15 per square bale.

If you don't want a hot horse, you can't feed too much of it...I switched my horse to it, at the usual 10lbs per meal, and he went a little bonkers. I like to feed a certain quantity of hay to keep his digestion going, and the people I know who feed peanut only feed one flake, mix it with timothy, or feed lots and deal with having a hyper horse.

On the plus side, once it's established, it's drought and pest resistant, pretty much self maintaining - and has pretty yellow flowers I have yet to meet a horse that DOESN'T love it, it smells a little like tea. If you have a fussy eater and it's available to you, maybe give it a try. Google "UF Perennial Peanut" and you'll get all the info you could want on it.

[cocaloda]

I know that this is off track, but if you can explain, just so I can keep up. What is the difference between sweet feed, pellets, and grain? Thought I had a handle on it but just found out that I'm clueless.

[s-mylie]

To save on feed I buy a complete feed. My horse eats less of it and doesn't require any huge mounts of extra supplements. You can buy complete feeds with higher levels of certain supplements in them as well. If you have a horse living in a selenium deficient area like me (Ontario), give them a salt block. They don't cost much and it says on additional supplements in the feed pan.

My pony mare who is a semi-hard keeper... she keeps weight on but requires grain daily to keep her going and to ensure she gets her MSM (arthritic). I'm only feeding 4 baking cups of Purina horse chow to her and if it's extra cold out and I think she needs a bit of pep, I'll switch out 2 of those cups for sweetfeed and heat it all up. Its fairly cheap and we are on a budget! I would NEVER feed according to the directions on the purina horse chow bag. according to that my horse should be eating 4 1/2# of grain a day. That is far too much grain especially since she is out 24/7 on a roundbale.

My big mare gets no grain unless its super cold and I give her some sweetfeed to give her a little boost. She is also on a roundbale 24/7.

[cocaloda]

Thanks rm you made that really easy for even me to understand.

[llltf3]

Thanks for all the info!!