Christmas themed feeds

[criso]

A couple of companies have come up on social media with Christmas versions of their feeds.

Dengie with a cinnamon spice hi fi and Rowan Barbery festive mash.

Not sure what I think about this. I suppose if it's just flavourings it won't do any harm but I wouldn't necessarily want to be messing around with feeds just because it's Christmas.

 

[KittenInTheTree]

My young mare's skin broke out in welts after eating a chaff containing cinnamon, so I'd argue that it can actually cause a fair bit of harm. Took the better side of six months for her to heal up fully.

 

[Surbie]

Nope, nope and nope.

Mine gets carrot, swede and parsnip peelings, plus some apple in his feed for Christmas. That'll do nicely.

 

[Squeak]

That was my thoughts exactly, it seems a bit irresponsible of feed companies to encourage changing around ingredients just for Christmas but I'm probably just being melodramatic.

 

[SpeedyPony]

Christmas treats I'd think would be a better shout if they wanted a seasonal product- aside from the allergies/colic issue from changing their feed, a whole bag of feed if a lot to waste if your horse decides he doesn't like the festive flavoured feed!

 

[cauda equina]

In the past I think Pure have sold 'Christmas treats' which are the same as their normal treats, only the bag is red instead of blue

 

[scats]

I am a big believer that feed companies are partly to blame for the massive increase in equine obesity and metabolic problems, with their shiny advertising and feed for every occasion.

I saw Dengies cinnamon chaff and rolled my eyes.

 

[ycbm]

It's a very, very stupid idea and no company that genuinely understood horses would encourage changing a horse feed like that.
.

 

[GypsGal1718]

I agree, they shouldn’t be changing stuff round like they are, if they want something seasonal just do treats or forage blocks

 

[Pearlsasinger]

That was my thoughts exactly, it seems a bit irresponsible of feed companies to encourage changing around ingredients just for Christmas but I'm probably just being melodramatic.

Not melodramatic, we are still struggling with a skin problem which started a year ago when my cob reacted to linseed in her feed. She certainly won't be having any Christmas related ingredients in her bucket. Highly irresponsible marketing, imo.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Absolutely not in my book, it's asking to speed dial vet.
Mine will get a sliced apple in addition to their usual sliced carrot in their miniscule feeds, they will be very happy with such an extra!

 

[SEL]

And cinnamon is so cheap to buy if you really want to add it!

The Appy may get her Xmas parsnip - my mum always buys too many and no one likes them.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Not a great idea from the feed companies!! I bought some festive flavoured treats for mine in the new year year last year. They hadn't sold well si they were a knock down price. I wouldn't buy a bag of festive feed though!!

 

[criso]

And cinnamon is so cheap to buy if you really want to add it!

The Appy may get her Xmas parsnip - my mum always buys too many and no one likes them.

Looking at the ingredients, it's not actual Cinnamon but Cinnamon spice flavouring and it's only available for a limited time so not an option to feed long term.

 

[spotty_pony2]

I say this every year - my horses get the same feed on Christmas day that they always get. Giving horses a special Christmas dinner is a recipe for disaster in my book with the colic risk that comes with it.

 

[Sealine]

It’s an absolute no from me. I’ve known a couple of horses colic on Xmas day. One was a much loved child’s pony that had to be PTS. I’ve often wondered if it’s the change of routine or Xmas treats.

 

[silv]

Can't believe people are stupid enough to fall for this sort of ridiculous marketing and idea. Horse owners should know better.

 

[criso]

There are lots of people on the Rowan Barbery Facebook page talking about giving the festive mash for Christmas dinner.Only one person raising concerns about feeding something random.

 

[Barton Bounty]

My chaff already has cinnamon, but agree it should be a treat based thing for safety reasons.

I have mince pie flavoured treats for Orbi

 

[scats]

I’ll still never forget Baileys and their “no time to groom? Feed top line conditioning cubes for a shiny coat”.

I kicked up a bit of a social media storm over that and they did remove it pretty swiftly. It horrifies me that the people in charge of marketing at these companies are so clueless.

 

[GypsGal1718]

I’m just giving mine a Christmas stud muffin in her Xmas feed

 

[ElectricChampagne]

It’s an absolute no from me. I’ve known a couple of horses colic on Xmas day. One was a much loved child’s pony that had to be PTS. I’ve often wondered if it’s the change of routine or Xmas treats.

This is something my partner who runs a livery yard always says and rightly so, its him that has to deal with the aftermath of owners overdoing the treats over christmas, with horses colicing as a result, its ruined many a christmas for us dealing with a poorly horse that someone loaded the treats into cos Christmas.

 

[maisie06]

I’ll still never forget Baileys and their “no time to groom? Feed top line conditioning cubes for a shiny coat”.

I kicked up a bit of a social media storm over that and they did remove it pretty swiftly. It horrifies me that the people in charge of marketing at these companies are so clueless.

The majority have zero equine experience. This festive feed rubbish is just marketing hype and commercialisim, another reason I hate christmas....I'll be adding my thoughts to social media as above, good way for an expensive vet bill over christmas.

 

[Fransurrey]

I don't get the stuffing of Christmas treats into any animal, not just horses. It happens with dogs and cats, too. Mine get parsnip, cabbage and carrot peelings whenever we have them, so it's nothing unusual. They won't even get that, this year, as I'm not cooking dinner. I doubt very much that they'll give a stuff!

 

[wiglet]

Mine will have an extra carrot and possibly a parsnip on Christmas Day! No way would I give something new or different to eat... she's fussy so she'd probably refuse it anyway!

 

[Goldie's mum]

Appalled that anyone would think of such a thing.
Bad enough in species with more robust digestive systems. Vets' surgeries are full of dogs needing treatment for "dietary indiscretion" on Boxing Day.
All my animals get their regular diet on Christmas day but a present of something they would really appreciate such as an extra cuddle, ball-throwing session, whatever they would enjoy but wouldn't harm them.

 

[silv]

I’ll still never forget Baileys and their “no time to groom? Feed top line conditioning cubes for a shiny coat”.

I kicked up a bit of a social media storm over that and they did remove it pretty swiftly. It horrifies me that the people in charge of marketing at these companies are so clueless.

I don't think they are clueless, just want to make money and know there are many clueless horse owners who will fall for this rubbish. I didn't realise that horses know it is Christmas, is this a new thing? Is is part of evolution?

 

[SilverLinings]

I don't think they are clueless, just want to make money and know there are many clueless horse owners who will fall for this rubbish. I didn't realise that horses know it is Christmas, is this a new thing? Is is part of evolution?

And aside from the fact that they don't know about Christmas, they also don't know what they are missing. There isn't going to be a horse in the country who on Christmas day gets upset because it hasn't been fed some of the special cinnamon 'christmas' feed or been given special 'christmas' treats.

 

[adamntitch]

Aww av got my snakes a few puppy's and kittens as there Xmas meal what's the problem

 

[fidleyspromise]

Mone get guiness but other than that they get various veg as is irmal throughout the year.
I saw the with cinnamon and didn't even think of Christmas but just assumed it was a new feed. Very careless and irresponsible to bring out a limited edition of food for such a sensitive species.