Now what to feed?

stormy · 05-13-2009, 06:31 PM

I bought a very thin (200 pounds underweight) Paso Fino mare thats approx. 10 years old.
I love this breed of horse and she seemed healthy other than a real lack of groceries. She was in a herd of 7 others and they were in her shape and worse

If it had been just her than I would have passed figuring there were possible health issues.
I have had her 1 month now and she has gained 100# already

I couldnt believe what the tape was telling me yesterday. I saddled her up for a short ride and my did she have a new energy about her

I had a real hard time holding her back and didnt make for an enjoyable ride.
This is what I had been feeding her: All the 1st cutting grass hay she can eat, slowly increasing her 12% sweet feed mixed with 1/2 cup soy bean oil twice per day and her scoop of MSM and a pinch of selenium. She was probably up to a couple cups of sweet feed 2 X's per day.
I am rethinking the sweet feed

What else can I give her that I can add her oil to and other supplements without giving her so much energy?
Right now I have been slowly introducing the horses to pasture until I feel they are ready to be turned out full time. Now they are up to about 4 hours per day green pasture.
Any thoughts on cooling down this mare?

She needs to gain about 100# more for my liking.

cameo05 · 05-13-2009, 06:40 PM

Unfortunatly when you get a horse so down on its weight and not feeling good this happens. You feed it good food and put weight back on it and it is getting healthy again, yep the energy will be there cause they feel good. Well lets hope it is only that. Been there many times

A good senior feed is great for putting weight on a horse of all ages. Most of the Senior feeds have mostly everything in them that you need. You really do not have to add other suppliments. You can add as I do a little rice bran to the rescue that I have. Measure your feed by weight, that is only the true way of telling what they actually get. My rescue she is being feed 6lbs senior 2x day and her 3 feeding is 1.5 lbs and will build her up to the 6 for the 3rd feeding. Plus hay and grass.

PeggySue · 05-14-2009, 05:49 AM

Triple Crown makes several good low grain or no grain formulas IF you can get thier feed, Kent makes some as well, Most companies are coming out with lower nsc feeds that help to keep the hyper energy down. adn not lose the nutrition needed.

Carri · 05-14-2009, 07:52 AM

Triple Crown Complete or Triple Crown Senior might be a good choice. Triple Crown has been great for my horse, he tends to get "hot" easily (he was a basket case on Nutrena Senior!) and Triple Crown Senior has been a really good, "cool" energy feed for him. I think anything beet pulp based would be good, it adds fat and calories without adding excess energy.

stormy · 05-14-2009, 12:24 PM

Thanks!
I will look for some triple crown feed.
On the beet pulp......I thought it was just used as a filler with no nutritional value. Something used for the older horse with no teeth to chew dry hay? I have a friend who uses the pulp for her older mare because she says its a good filler she can add water to for moisture and it swells for more volume in the horses gut.

Am I understanding wrong? It just seems like something a horse would not eat if given their choice

To me it looks like pig slop...excuse my frankness

pippy · 05-14-2009, 01:10 PM

I feed beet pulp to my older mare, I wet it down well w/ water and let it soak for about 15 min if not more. I then add her normal grain in w/ it.
As long as it is wetted down before hand, it will not expand more in the stomach. I have heard that it will not expand in the stomach even if fed dry.
Here is a link to some faq on beet pulp. http://equineink.wordpress.com/2008/...t-and-fiction/

And another http://www.shady-acres.com/susan/beetpulp.shtml
I have always had good luck feeding it to older horses. They love it.

I feed it to help maintain her weight. I know it is used as fillers in dog foods and other stuff.

LoveSUNNY · 05-14-2009, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stormy

Thanks!
I will look for some triple crown feed.
On the beet pulp......I thought it was just used as a filler with no nutritional value. Something used for the older horse with no teeth to chew dry hay? I have a friend who uses the pulp for her older mare because she says its a good filler she can add water to for moisture and it swells for more volume in the horses gut.

Am I understanding wrong? It just seems like something a horse would not eat if given their choice

To me it looks like pig slop...excuse my frankness

Stormy: In my experince beet pulp is a great weight builder, not to mention it's affordable and most horses like it. I have a big throughbred who lost a lot of weight well boarded and to add insult to injury he is allergic to oats and the senior feed I gave him. I am free feeding him number 2 Alfalfa and he gets a 3lb coffee can of beet pulp in the morning and night along with 2-3 scoops of cool calorie (3lb coffee can dumped in bucket then soaked over night). He seems to be doing well on this diet and it's not making him any hotter than usual. Also, my vet LOVES beet pulp, he also feels it has an added benefit of pulling the sand out of horses bellies, and we all know that's a great benefit!

pippy · 05-14-2009, 01:41 PM

I always think the beet pulp wetted down kinda feels like oatmeal and smells like Gerber baby powered cereal- the kind you are supposed to add milk to when they first start eating.

PeggySue · 05-14-2009, 02:24 PM

Beet Pulp is very close to oats in nutritional value but easier on the horse's system adn easier to digest... it can also replace PART of your long stem fiber if need be or with a senior that is having problems with hay or pasture..

Carri · 05-14-2009, 02:53 PM

Stormy, I thought that at first too. The first time I opened a bag of Triple Crown Senior, I was SURE that there was no way my horse would eat it, but he gobbled it up and loved it, and EVERYONE, even my vet, tells me that he looks like a million dollars now, compared to 2 years ago before I put him on this. And, he eats half as much of this as he did the Nutrena feed, and is much fatter and healthier.

cameo05 · 05-14-2009, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carri

Stormy, I thought that at first too. The first time I opened a bag of Triple Crown Senior, I was SURE that there was no way my horse would eat it, but he gobbled it up and loved it, and EVERYONE, even my vet, tells me that he looks like a million dollars now, compared to 2 years ago before I put him on this. And, he eats half as much of this as he did the Nutrena feed, and is much fatter and healthier.

Triple Crown is what my entire herd is on from TC Growth, complete, and senior. I sware by this feed. I had a 31 yo that stayed fat and sassy on the senior after everything else I tried and it didn't work. I also have the 17yo thoroughbred rescue on the senior.

stormy · 05-16-2009, 05:49 PM

Where can I get this Triple Crown and what should I expect to pay for it

It wont make her hot, right?

**taelesean** · 05-16-2009, 06:03 PM

Proper feeding will make her more energetic, no matter what it is, but less sugar and more fats and fiber will help her not be crazy. She should calm down a little too as she gets used to feeling good.

I think Tripple Crown is a Southern States label.

stormy · 05-16-2009, 06:21 PM

So I probably cant find the Triple Crown here in Michigan then?

I hope your right Mr.T in that she will settle down after abit. She sems to have decided finally that its ok to NOT eat every minute of the day. Its been 5 weeks tomorrow since I brought her home. I cant imagine just how hungry she had been for so long

I feel bad there are several more where she came from.

Carri · 05-16-2009, 06:26 PM

It looks like it is available in MI, here is a link to the dealers...
http://www.triplecrownfeed.com/distr...s.php?state=MI

It is $18 a bag here! I use 5 bags a month, Opie gets 4 scoops a day (standard 2 lb size scoops).

PeggySue · 05-16-2009, 06:26 PM

Here is the Triple Crown Dealer Locator
http://www.triplecrownfeed.com/distributors.php

stormy · 05-16-2009, 07:00 PM

Thanks gals but the distributors are all 4-5 hours from me in the U.P. I cant beleive there arent any in the lower pennisula closer to me

PeggySue · 05-16-2009, 07:40 PM

stormy post or PM me your zip let's see what I can find for you... I can try anyway LOL

Arrow · 05-16-2009, 10:04 PM

I've had Paso's for years. They are a hot breed of horse naturally. If she were mine, I'd probably let her finish gaining all the weight I wanted her to have, then start her over from scratch with ground work for a couple of months, then move on to the basics of walk/whoa under saddle for a LONG time before doing anything else. That way, you can get her used to feeling good, as well as get a handle on the "whoa" factor before you get on her. If you are uncomfortable starting one over from scratch, find a good trainer who will work with you and your mare in a slow, gentle fashion to get her restarted.

As far as feed, my Paso never could eat alfalfa, it'd blow him right on up. He ate grass hay, 1 cup of fresh ground flax seed per day, and 2 cups of soaked and rinsed beet pulp per day. I added a regional vitamin and mineral supplement to that because his hay wasn't as nutritionally complete as I would have liked to see. My three year old (a Paso/Arabian cross) gets grass hay and 24 oz of Triple Crown complete per day. That's it. They are actually easy keepers as a rule, and you'll have to be careful as she gets healthier that she doesn't get over weight!

Good luck with her!

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05-13-2009, 06:31 PM
stormy Long Yearling Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northwest Lower Michigan Posts: 1,065	Now what to feed? I bought a very thin (200 pounds underweight) Paso Fino mare thats approx. 10 years old. I love this breed of horse and she seemed healthy other than a real lack of groceries. She was in a herd of 7 others and they were in her shape and worse If it had been just her than I would have passed figuring there were possible health issues. I have had her 1 month now and she has gained 100# already I couldnt believe what the tape was telling me yesterday. I saddled her up for a short ride and my did she have a new energy about her I had a real hard time holding her back and didnt make for an enjoyable ride. This is what I had been feeding her: All the 1st cutting grass hay she can eat, slowly increasing her 12% sweet feed mixed with 1/2 cup soy bean oil twice per day and her scoop of MSM and a pinch of selenium. She was probably up to a couple cups of sweet feed 2 X's per day. I am rethinking the sweet feed What else can I give her that I can add her oil to and other supplements without giving her so much energy? Right now I have been slowly introducing the horses to pasture until I feel they are ready to be turned out full time. Now they are up to about 4 hours per day green pasture. Any thoughts on cooling down this mare? She needs to gain about 100# more for my liking. __________________ Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

05-13-2009, 06:40 PM
cameo05 Pasture Pet Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In my own world Posts: 12,321	Unfortunatly when you get a horse so down on its weight and not feeling good this happens. You feed it good food and put weight back on it and it is getting healthy again, yep the energy will be there cause they feel good. Well lets hope it is only that. Been there many times A good senior feed is great for putting weight on a horse of all ages. Most of the Senior feeds have mostly everything in them that you need. You really do not have to add other suppliments. You can add as I do a little rice bran to the rescue that I have. Measure your feed by weight, that is only the true way of telling what they actually get. My rescue she is being feed 6lbs senior 2x day and her 3 feeding is 1.5 lbs and will build her up to the 6 for the 3rd feeding. Plus hay and grass. __________________ Life is a bed of roses, until you meet up with thorns.

05-14-2009, 05:49 AM
PeggySue Yearling Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Dennison, Illinois Posts: 991	Triple Crown makes several good low grain or no grain formulas IF you can get thier feed, Kent makes some as well, Most companies are coming out with lower nsc feeds that help to keep the hyper energy down. adn not lose the nutrition needed. __________________ I have been called the "NSC Nazi" because I have a problem with grain based feeds

05-14-2009, 07:52 AM
Carri Pasture Pet Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 13,643	Triple Crown Complete or Triple Crown Senior might be a good choice. Triple Crown has been great for my horse, he tends to get "hot" easily (he was a basket case on Nutrena Senior!) and Triple Crown Senior has been a really good, "cool" energy feed for him. I think anything beet pulp based would be good, it adds fat and calories without adding excess energy.

05-14-2009, 12:24 PM
stormy Long Yearling Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northwest Lower Michigan Posts: 1,065	Thanks! I will look for some triple crown feed. On the beet pulp......I thought it was just used as a filler with no nutritional value. Something used for the older horse with no teeth to chew dry hay? I have a friend who uses the pulp for her older mare because she says its a good filler she can add water to for moisture and it swells for more volume in the horses gut. Am I understanding wrong? It just seems like something a horse would not eat if given their choice To me it looks like pig slop...excuse my frankness __________________ Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

05-14-2009, 01:10 PM
pippy Started Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: minnesota Posts: 2,295	I feed beet pulp to my older mare, I wet it down well w/ water and let it soak for about 15 min if not more. I then add her normal grain in w/ it. As long as it is wetted down before hand, it will not expand more in the stomach. I have heard that it will not expand in the stomach even if fed dry. Here is a link to some faq on beet pulp. http://equineink.wordpress.com/2008/...t-and-fiction/ And another http://www.shady-acres.com/susan/beetpulp.shtml I have always had good luck feeding it to older horses. They love it. I feed it to help maintain her weight. I know it is used as fillers in dog foods and other stuff. __________________ "It's never to late to live happily ever after." Last edited by pippy : 05-14-2009 at 01:39 PM.

05-14-2009, 01:41 PM
pippy Started Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: minnesota Posts: 2,295	I always think the beet pulp wetted down kinda feels like oatmeal and smells like Gerber baby powered cereal- the kind you are supposed to add milk to when they first start eating. __________________ "It's never to late to live happily ever after."

05-14-2009, 02:24 PM
PeggySue Yearling Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Dennison, Illinois Posts: 991	Beet Pulp is very close to oats in nutritional value but easier on the horse's system adn easier to digest... it can also replace PART of your long stem fiber if need be or with a senior that is having problems with hay or pasture.. __________________ I have been called the "NSC Nazi" because I have a problem with grain based feeds

05-14-2009, 02:53 PM
Carri Pasture Pet Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 13,643	Stormy, I thought that at first too. The first time I opened a bag of Triple Crown Senior, I was SURE that there was no way my horse would eat it, but he gobbled it up and loved it, and EVERYONE, even my vet, tells me that he looks like a million dollars now, compared to 2 years ago before I put him on this. And, he eats half as much of this as he did the Nutrena feed, and is much fatter and healthier.

05-16-2009, 05:49 PM
stormy Long Yearling Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northwest Lower Michigan Posts: 1,065	Where can I get this Triple Crown and what should I expect to pay for it It wont make her hot, right? __________________ Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

05-16-2009, 06:03 PM
taelesean Administrator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,319	Proper feeding will make her more energetic, no matter what it is, but less sugar and more fats and fiber will help her not be crazy. She should calm down a little too as she gets used to feeling good. I think Tripple Crown is a Southern States label. __________________

05-16-2009, 06:21 PM
stormy Long Yearling Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northwest Lower Michigan Posts: 1,065	So I probably cant find the Triple Crown here in Michigan then? I hope your right Mr.T in that she will settle down after abit. She sems to have decided finally that its ok to NOT eat every minute of the day. Its been 5 weeks tomorrow since I brought her home. I cant imagine just how hungry she had been for so long I feel bad there are several more where she came from. __________________ Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

05-16-2009, 06:26 PM
Carri Pasture Pet Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 13,643	It looks like it is available in MI, here is a link to the dealers... http://www.triplecrownfeed.com/distr...s.php?state=MI It is $18 a bag here! I use 5 bags a month, Opie gets 4 scoops a day (standard 2 lb size scoops).

05-16-2009, 07:00 PM
stormy Long Yearling Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northwest Lower Michigan Posts: 1,065	Thanks gals but the distributors are all 4-5 hours from me in the U.P. I cant beleive there arent any in the lower pennisula closer to me __________________ Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

05-16-2009, 07:40 PM
PeggySue Yearling Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Dennison, Illinois Posts: 991	stormy post or PM me your zip let's see what I can find for you... I can try anyway LOL __________________ I have been called the "NSC Nazi" because I have a problem with grain based feeds

05-16-2009, 10:04 PM
Arrow Halter broke Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 88	I've had Paso's for years. They are a hot breed of horse naturally. If she were mine, I'd probably let her finish gaining all the weight I wanted her to have, then start her over from scratch with ground work for a couple of months, then move on to the basics of walk/whoa under saddle for a LONG time before doing anything else. That way, you can get her used to feeling good, as well as get a handle on the "whoa" factor before you get on her. If you are uncomfortable starting one over from scratch, find a good trainer who will work with you and your mare in a slow, gentle fashion to get her restarted. As far as feed, my Paso never could eat alfalfa, it'd blow him right on up. He ate grass hay, 1 cup of fresh ground flax seed per day, and 2 cups of soaked and rinsed beet pulp per day. I added a regional vitamin and mineral supplement to that because his hay wasn't as nutritionally complete as I would have liked to see. My three year old (a Paso/Arabian cross) gets grass hay and 24 oz of Triple Crown complete per day. That's it. They are actually easy keepers as a rule, and you'll have to be careful as she gets healthier that she doesn't get over weight! Good luck with her!