Any decent cheap foods for horses?

[VoyPor]

If so what are they?

Also - looking to buy a load of barley but dont really know where to look - does anyone know anywhere i can look for locally (on a listing or index page)?

Thanks.

 

[dwi]

What sort of food do you want?

I'm tempted to say good quality grazing and hay when necessary are decent and cheap....

 

[VoyPor]

Been a hard winter for our paddocks and cant get any hay round here at the moment - tried really hard to get some today - havent got any!

Farmers said it was a bad year for hay and so on so they have nothing left.

Want weight gaining and condition feeds.

 

[HollyWoozle]

I use Spillers Pegasus cubes and mix at the moment with some chaff (except for pony who has Happy Hoof). Excellent value and have had no problems... at least, not that I know of!

 

[CastleMouse]

Barley soaked in boiling water is good for adding condition, and shouldn't cause too much 'fizziness'.

Every feedmill stocks it.

 

[_daisy_]

good old grass nuts - also fantastic to put condition on

 

[VoyPor]

Thanks everyone - just wondered if its possible to maybe get a deal with a local farmer for oats or barley - but i wouldnt know where to look.

 

[teddyt]

Barley needs to be processed before feeding, so buying in bulk would be useless (unless you have alot of horses) as once processed (cooked, micronised, etc) you need to feed it within a month.

Cereals are also no substitute for hay, if used as such you are asking for digestive and behavioural problems.

Grass and hay are definately the cheapest way to feed a horse. Can you rent any more fields? Or look further afield for hay or haylage? Even straw would be worth considering.
As for bagged feeds, unmollassed sugar beet is cheap, as are grass nuts and alfalfa nuts. All would be preferable to bucket loads of cereals.

 

[martlin]

Thanks everyone - just wondered if its possible to maybe get a deal with a local farmer for oats or barley - but i wouldnt know where to look.

Whereabouts in Lincs are you?
I'm growing 7 acres of feed oats and will have some spare going...
Neighbour grows barley if you would like some, if you are close enough we can sell to you throughout the year freshly crushed/bruised.

 

[loz9]

If your close to a cwg their own brand conditioning cubes are brilliant. If you look at this thread: http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=356324 He was fed 2scoops of them per day & piled on the weight within a few months.
With barley talk to a local farmer, usually cattle, as they regualrly have to crush/roll barley to feed their cows. However, for the best digestability the barley needs to be rolled/crush AND micronised. The micronisation breaks down the tough outer shell on the barley that is very dificult to digest.