Chestnut horse feeds

[DebP]

The yard I am on have started feeding the above, I think the bronze mix. Has anyone any experiences good or bad? My horse seems to be losing weight on it and is very very itchy - to the point of stopping mid ride for a scratch which he has never done. Also seems a bit spooky.

Thanks

 

[11bluewolf]

I use chestnut crystal and it seems all good! Chestnut bronze is to maintain condition i think for horses in light work so i guess if yours is in heavy work it may need something extra to keep weight on?? not sure about itching etc though sorry!

 

[huskydamage]

Deleted

 

[Tory27]

I've been feeding mine with Chestnut horse feeds for about 3 years now. I cant fault them. Last year they re-named their bulk bin feeds - Chestnut Bronze, Chestnut Solver and Chestnut Gold. There are other bulk bin feeds available but these three I think are the main 'complete feeds'. Over the winter when the works load for mine drops they are fed Chestnut Bronze and do very well on it. I add a sugar beet for moisture (this is just personal preference you dont need to). Now the competition season is here and mine are in full work they have now moved on to Chestnut Gold which offers more slow release energy for the heavier workload.
Best thing I can suggest if your horse is not 100% DebP is to ring the main office and speak to Claire - tell her your horse’s symptoms and I've no doubt she'll to her utmost to help you. With the info you provide she will advise on your horses nutritional needs - they are very knowledgeable people, and will do all they can to help!

 

[rowan666]

It contains alfalfa, itchy, sweet itch type symptoms are very common with an alpha intolerance

 

[DebP]

Thanks everyone
Had a look at the ingredients today it's actually the chestnut crystal, supposed to be suitable for laminitics, low energy etc. Was amazed to see it included micronised maize, sugar beet, alfalfa and I think it said barley. Didn't think you got more heating than that!
My horse has only had pony nuts and chaff previously, I guess it could be some sort of cereal intolerance

 

[YasandCrystal]

I have used Chestnut feeds for several years now. I have always fed Crystal to 5 of my horses, I just add micronised linseed as required and adlib hay. All of mine which include a Dales and a 17.1hh WB look fab on it. It's a great idea, I get 2 bulk bins at a time, it makes delivery and feeding much easier.

 

[Sprat]

The yard I am on have started feeding the above, I think the bronze mix. Has anyone any experiences good or bad? My horse seems to be losing weight on it and is very very itchy - to the point of stopping mid ride for a scratch which he has never done. Also seems a bit spooky.

Thanks

I haven't personally used it, however a friend of mine used it and her mare had a reaction to it - started off very itchy and then came up in lumps similar to heat lumps.

She had vet out, vet advised an intolerance to something in the feed. She took the mare off it and had no further problems

 

[nikkimariet]

Think a lot of their feeds have peas in which some horses don't get on with (they are conditioning but Fig loses weight on them and they send him beserk).

Alfa makes many many horses itchy (and sharp) and again, not something mine can have.

 

[Paint Me Proud]

I've been using chestnut feeds for about 4 years now and always been very happy with it. Used to use the Bronze but now on to the Gold. I mix it with chaff to bulk it out and my 16.2 gelding has come through winter (on very poor grazing) looking really well. Agree that Claire is very helpful so give them a ring if you have any issues or questions.

 

[ester]

I saw an ingredients list for the crystal the other day and no fear of me feeding it!

 

[DebP]

Thanks all
No option of using a different mix from chestnut feeds - the yard decides. The ingredient list was just so long it could be anything! Hes going onto just pony nuts for now hopefully that will sort it out. He's been going mad in the field too as if bothered by flies, even though he has a rug and mask which is very out of character. Fingers crossed he will go back to normal now

 

[ester]

I couldn't be on a yard that dictated what I had to feed my horse :eek3: I can never understand why places are like that.