Baileys Ease and Excel cubes

[Annagain]

We had a Baileys rep out at the weekend to weigh the horses and give us feed advice. She advised Ease and Excel cubes for both of mine (Archie, 28, retired, naked, fluffy and filthy, always been really easy to keep - he never changed in the past but he had lost a bit of weight for the first time this summer when we had no rain forever so no grass. He's not underweight, but is a bit less than he usually is. He weighed 598kg - when he was in work he was always around 640kg - and was condition scored a 4/10. Wiggy 14, blanket clipped in 200g rug, had him 4 months, he needed to lose a bit of weight when I got him and he has but I don't want him losing any more. Weight 607kg, condition score 4-5/10). She did say Wiggy could have Conditioning Cubes instead which have the same energy but more starch which might give him a bit more oomf (which wouldn't be the end of the world but isn't what I'm specifically looking for) but I think he's just a nice laid back chap and food won't change him and as they're both cubes and look identical, I'd rather they both have the same thing so I don't get them mixed up.

I'm happy in principle with what she suggested but am aware she's effectively a sales rep so just wanted to do some homework and not just blindly accept her recommendation. Any horror stories re ingredients or similar products that have worked for others? Anyone think it's brilliant for what I want (a bit of weight gain but not too much)?

 

[HeyMich]

I've been using the E+E cubes for one of mine for a few years now and it's worked wonders for him. He's a sporty 14.1 welshy, but runs very lean and is nervous of everything. I needed something to help him put on muscle but nothing with too much starch or bad for his digestion - the E+E cubes are high in protein and low in sugar, and he's cleaned his feed bucket out every day since feeding them, so they must be palatable. Yes, I would recommend them!

 

[ihatework]

The Baileys ease and excel range is ideal for horses that are normal do-ers in work or those that need conditioning. I’d have no hesitation in trying it. But you may need to keep an eye on the cob if he gets a bit chunky

 

[throwaway2022]

I've fed Ease and Excel for years, love the stuff! I stick to 21 but did feed the cubes when we've had supply issues. Definitely give it a try, hope it works well for you

 

[abbijay]

You haven't stated what your horses are currently eating here so hard to know if this is a great move or a sales pitch.
I've just had a look at the condition score for baileys and i'm surprised to see that 5 "moderate" says optimum calorie requirements not met. For me, i'd be happiest with a 5 but would accept a 4 in a horse that's either very fit or a little older and out of work so lacking muscle across its back.

 

[EnduroRider]

I say give them a go.
I changed to them after an ulcer diagnosis for an Arab that has never had much appetite and always been incredibly hard to keep weight on. They have proven to be one of the few feeds that he will keep eating (typically he's started to turn his nose up after a few months). He is 430kgs and on 5.5kgs per day over two feeds, plus two further feeds of sugar beet and chaff to carry supplements and as a partial hay replacer as he eats very little hay and the grazing is poor. Despite feeding a large volume there has been no changed to his chilled out personality and he is putting on weight for the first time ever.

 

[Annagain]

You haven't stated what your horses are currently eating here so hard to know if this is a great move or a sales pitch.
I've just had a look at the condition score for baileys and i'm surprised to see that 5 "moderate" says optimum calorie requirements not met. For me, i'd be happiest with a 5 but would accept a 4 in a horse that's either very fit or a little older and out of work so lacking muscle across its back.

At the moment they're both on high fibre cubes and Wiggy has Hi-Fi molasses free (Archie can't eat it as it gets stuck in his teeth). They get ad-lib haylage. Arch doesn't eat masses of it (never has) and Wiggy eats LOADS - I don't weigh it but I'd say he eats 1 1/2 times what Arch does (they're similar in size / breeding) but I'm happy with him eating as much as he wants of that. The first night the were in (10 days ago) I gave him twice what I thought he'd need (my method for feeding ad lib is give them too much to begin with and cut it back each night until you find the level where there's 5% left in the morning) and he ate every last scrap. He's starting to self-regulate a bit now and I have been able to reduce it a little as he started leaving a lot more after 3 or 4 days. He lived out all year until he came to me so I think this coming into his stable for food thing was a bit exciting to begin with! They have more grass now than they did in the summer but there's very little of benefit in it now. They're out about 11 hours a day and we're not allowed to put haylage in the fields so they only have it overnight. I think Wiggy'd quite happily stay in and stuff his face all day!

 

[Annagain]

Thanks all - it sounds like it's worked for a lot of you. I feel my due diligence has been completed!

 

[HelenBack]

I'm a big fan of Baileys feeds. I've fed quite a few of their different feeds over the years and have always found their advice to be really helpful too.

I've got the new TB on their Ease and Excel cubes and he's doing really well on them. I don't feed the full recommended amount as I always think the recommendations for mixes and cubes are quite high! He's having the cubes with Alfa A Oil and some linseed though and has filled out quite nicely since I got him. I know he's still got to put on more condition yet but he's done well in the time I've had him and has a lovely shiny coat. They haven't blown his brain and he always cleans his bowl, although he's a pig so I think he'd scoff anything!

I am thinking of swapping to the mix as it's slightly higher in calories and oil and has the Protexin stuff in it. I've not decided yet though and that might not be relevant to you anyway.

 

[onemoretime]

Ive just read through the composition of Ease & Excel cubes as reading this thread thought I might change my mare on to them but am concerned about the amount of GM soya in them. What do others think?

 

[dominobrown]

I fed them to all of mine last winter but have gone ˋgrain free´ and only feeding straights now. They all did well on them but it was costing over £100 a week then and prices are higher now!

 

[HelenBack]

I fed them to all of mine last winter but have gone ˋgrain free´ and only feeding straights now. They all did well on them but it was costing over £100 a week then and prices are higher now!

Do you mind me asking what you feed now please? I'm happy with my current regime but always keen to hear what others do that works well and consider alternatives. As you say, the prices of cubes and mixes is quite high now so saving money would be good too!

 

[dominobrown]

Do you mind me asking what you feed now please? I'm happy with my current regime but always keen to hear what others do that works well and consider alternatives. As you say, the prices of cubes and mixes is quite high now so saving money would be good too!

So I have around 10 horses to feed from broodmares, youngstock, ex race horses, competition horses and horses in for breaking and schooling. This is why I have the range of straights that I do instead of loads of different mixes and balancers etc. I also like to use supplements, mainly a balancer, currently using new benefit from feedmark but also like Equimins advance.
Grass nuts
Alfalfa nuts
Sugar beet
Unmollassed chaff
Linseed
Rice bran
Bran
Oats
So although I said “grain” free the competition horses get a little oats for energy. Rice bran is really high fat and good for poor doers. I find with a combination of the above depending on the horses needs I can create a diet with less than 2% starch and low sugar. None of mine have intolerances etc though the ex racer had bad ulcers when he came and doesn’t now ?

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Ex racer on my yard looks fab on them his owner she really rates them