anyone feed simplesystem horse feeds

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Violett

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hi, does anyone feed it ? would love to here good or bad plus any horses not able to tolerate alfa alfa thanks
 
Have used it but my local supplier wasn't all that local so made up my own using Dengie Alfa pellets, Badminton unmolassed sugar beet and linseed from Charnwood milling. Worked out a bit cheaper too.
 
I used to feed Lucie Stalks, but the last couple of bags were realy dusty! TBH you can feed much cheaper chaff; Mollichaff High Fibre Alfalfa, Top Spec Top Chop Lite are both good examples, no mollasses in either.

Their feeds are hard to get hold of and some are quite expensive; my shetland is a little sensetive to Alfalfa so he gets Fast Fibre which is fantastic stuff!!

As custard says Charwood Milling does supplements cheaper
 
The only thing worth getting from simple systems is the grass nuts- as others have said , you can buy all the other alfalfa stuff from other sources. But the grass nuts are worth their weight in gold if your horse will eat it. They are fantastic for putting on weight and condition without stressiness. Unfortunately mine got bored of it when she was near the end of her second bag and wouldnt touch it anymore . But I know of other horses that just thrive on the grass nuts.
If your horse is a fussy eater it would be worth looking at the Pure Feeds range.-similar feed in that it is not starch and sugar but much more appetising and is conditioning.
 
Have tried Lucie Brix - mine won't eat them
Have tried Ruff Stuff (old grass) - mine won't eat
Have tried Blue Grass nuts - mine won't eat.

I have an alfalfa allergic pony (diagnosed). She has Readygrass, linseed, and sometimes Dodson & Horrell Safe & Sound (although this does have a tiny amount of molasses in), and some Spillers Horse & Pony nuts (alfalfa free). I am going to try some of Barley Nuggets from Horsehage - they contain Linseed with added calcium and salt and are alfalfa free. She also can have Fast Fibre but this also contains a tiny amount of molasses i believe. Also, Speedibeet, which is safe for her and she loves it.
 
i used simple system for my old mare.was recommended by the dentist as her teeth were worn and she wasnt managing her food any more.eating it but getting nothing from it.she was on it 8 weeks and i didnt notice it doing much except giving her the runs. shes not a very good example though really as she was laminitic and had cushings. she was on the lucie nuts, supa beet,top nosh and meta slim. i didnt think it was that bad a value but as no where stocks it near where i live i had to have it delivered which bumped the bill up quite a bit.

i might give them a go again for my ex racer though as hes a poor doer and needs building up after the rough winter.
 
Much prefer alfalfa pellets which can be soaked to a lovely mush and mixed with soaked beat pulp. Non heating too and you don't get all the loose stuff over the floor like you do if you use alfalfa in chaff form. Or is that just me....!
 
Angelbones said:
Have tried Lucie Brix - mine won't eat them
Have tried Ruff Stuff (old grass) - mine won't eat
Have tried Blue Grass nuts - mine won't eat.

I have an alfalfa allergic pony (diagnosed). She has Readygrass, linseed, and sometimes Dodson & Horrell Safe & Sound (although this does have a tiny amount of molasses in), and some Spillers Horse & Pony nuts (alfalfa free). I am going to try some of Barley Nuggets from Horsehage - they contain Linseed with added calcium and salt and are alfalfa free. She also can have Fast Fibre but this also contains a tiny amount of molasses i believe. Also, Speedibeet, which is safe for her and she loves it.
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hi, how did you find out your ponies problem was alfaalfa if you dont mindme asking?
 
Ive had all mine on simple systems for around 3 years now, all do very very well on it and love it!!! I use the luci nuts, soaked so they are stil quite crumbly and then add in soaked sugar beet (theirs is unmollased) to add something a little more chewable and to slow them down eating i add their alfa chaff, yes can be a little 'dusty' but this is just the leaves of the alfa broken down so contains all the goodness, by adding it in to the wet feed it soon damps down. My big lad who's 17hh has thrived on it, for the last 14 years he had been a difficult case to keep weight on over winter, now though he comes out the winter looking good, carrying a little weight but not too fat and certainly not skinny. Delivery is by a local agent who very kindly delivers for free but sticks to certain dates through the month. it takes a little more organisation and planning but works well. highly recommend them, even used the field fertiliser which feeds the roots and encourages good growth without too much goodness. if youre unsure of anything or how to feed, contact them direct, they are extreamly helpfull and knowledgeable. hope the above helps
 
I have been using Simple Systems for 2/3 years, my mare used to be very sharp so took all corn and sugar out now I feed lucie nuts and unmolassed sugar beet, sometimes I buy their linseed to add in if she needs a boost. I also feed Tickover as a balancer. I pick their feed up from a local agent and buy in semi-bulk as I have plenty of storage and it all has a long date on it. I am very pleased with it and their help-line is excellent. I have been to 2 of Jane van Lennep's talks and find her a very energising and innovative person.
 
I started my heavyweight cob on Simple System about two months ago - and he is loving it. i really like it too. Used Lucie Stalks and grass nuts - very economical to use. Some complain about having to soak the nuts but It takes no time at all. Using boiled water they take no more than 15 mins! My horse looks good on it too. Gave it a go as he was spooky and nervous and calmers made no difference. I feel like I have a different horse. He is calm, bright and happy and I have changed nothing else!!! So thumbs up from me.
 
Thankyou to the last 3 posters as I am in the process of changing my mares diet as she so is very sharp and spooky and its driving me mad.....I began thinking this was going to be a put down post and my decision would possibly be wrong???

Ive been in contact with simple systems and have had some very good advice. Ive also taken into account other people by linseed from the millers etc... but what about mixing in the brewers yeast and the rest of the stuff that goes into their forage balancers and at what quantities are they mixed to?
I thankfully have a retailer just up the road to me that will stock what I need so Im off to buy some today

Im hoping I will have a good result and my mare eats it and her spookyness subsides but Im of the opinion that you just have to find out for yourself as everyones experiences are different
 
Forgot to say, my spooky mare was also improved by the addition of magnesium powder to the SS feed. I buy this from the people who sell the SS stuff in my area but you can also get it from Ebay. They are called 'Barefoot Basics' and will do mail order, depending on where you live. Personally I would start without the linseed and add it in if you need it. I found it increased the 'sharpness' so I don't normally feed it when the grass is out!
 
What I wouldy say is don't give up if horse won't eat it - as it contains no molasses some horses turn their nose up at it - suppose its like trying to give a child a plate of salad instead of sweets and chocolate. My friend also changed to it on her extremely sharp tempramental warmblood - it was her last ditch attempt as he was dangerous or he was being sold - she has seen an improvement in him too - he did not like the food at first - but he is eating it now - if only slowly - but he he eating it overnight eventually. So hang in there as it is quite boring and bland!!! I was just lucky - my horse will eat anything.
 
That is encouraging to know cloud9! Im hoping my mare will eat it straight away as she too is also the sort that eats pretty much anything and will climb over you for a bucket of feed! lol!
 
I feed all mine on it and they love it. One of my ponies took 4months to eat it though, she had previously been on a cereal diet with previous owner.

I however do not feed recommended quantities as most of my lot are good doers. I find it very economical, i soak my lucie nuts and purabeet together. I would never go back to feeding the old fashioned way with straights etc.
 
I fed Simple Systems Luciebix and Alfa chaff for a couple of years after my horse had a stroke and couldn't eat very well, as it was all mush he didn't really have to chew. We also didn't know what caused the stroke, in case it was food related (allergy, for example) I wanted to make sure his food didn't have any extra sugars and was all natural ingredients. It really helped him keep his weight on as well. I would really recommend Simple Systems to do the job, and they are lovely people who provide good advice as well.
 
I bought a "problem" horse that had been on the simple system for a few years to try and get the horse sane enough to ride. I bought the horse, swapped to good old pony nuts and happy hoof, and within a few weeks we won a BE90. I'm not putting it all down to the feed, as there were many different factors that had changed in the management of the horse during those weeks, but the simple system feed wasn't doing the horse any favours IMO.
 
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