Does anyone use Dodson and Horrell Pasture Mix?

If you are feeding near the recommended amount of Pasture Mix you shouldn't need to add a vit/min supplement, however if you are feeding significantly less than they recommend then, in theory, you should also feed a vit/min supplement alongside it. For example, if you feed half the recommended amount of mix, then you should add half the daily dosage of a vit/min supplement.

However, lots of people don't bother usually without any ill-effect to their horses, but much depends on the quality of your grazing and forage - if it is good quality then much of the vit/min requirement will be supplied by that.
 
I've always fed it and have never felt the need to supplement it (maintenance ration) as it already contains most of the required nutrients, compared to alot of other cereal mixes.

The only things I add are Hedgerow Herbs (cos he's spoilt!!
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), linseed oil and a joint supplement.
 
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Agree with that. Isn't that the idea tho'? Use a mix so that nothing has to be added?

[/ QUOTE ] thats what i assumed, but i get confused as its not classed as a 'complete balancer' like topspec for example so are they infact the same thing?
 
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Agree with that. Isn't that the idea tho'? Use a mix so that nothing has to be added?

[/ QUOTE ] thats what i assumed, but i get confused as its not classed as a 'complete balancer' like topspec for example so are they infact the same thing?

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Most commercial mixes and cubes are already supplemented with vitamins and minerals - the exception being those designed to be fed alongside a balancer (eg Top Spec Cool Condition Cubes/Condition Flakes etc). However, the manufacturers design the amount of vit/mins in the feed so that a horse being fed the recommended amount for its size will get the full amount of vit/mins. So if the recommended amount is 3kg a day, if you only feed 1kg a day then the horse will not be getting as many vit/mins as the manufacturer intended, so you may feel the need for extra supplementation.

Balancers, on the other hand, are a very concentrated feed, containing the horse's daily dose of vit/mins in a very small amount of feed. The idea being that if you have a good doer, you can just feed the balancer at the recommended rate alongside hay/grazing. If your horse needs more than that then you can add extra calories via unsupplemented feeds such as beet, alfafa or purpose-designed feeds such as the TopSpec Cool Condition Cubes etc. This system of feeding is particularly useful for horses whose weight or workload fluctuates a lot. You can feed them the balancer to ensure he gets all his vit/mins, then adjust the amount of the other food according to condition and energy levels without worrying about the vit/min levels.
 
i've just got to the bottom of my first bag of it. Previously my mare was on spillers happy hoof. the only reason i changed to the pasture mix is becoz my local pet shop can get hold of it which is more convenient for me and at £10 a bag its a good price. my mare only gets a small amount, plus her haylage and 24/7 grass when there is any. i only give her garlic for summer and thats it and she seems to be doing ok.
 
i use it on 2 of my 3 horses, along with Alfa-A.

as i don't feed anywhere near the recommended levels (1 horse on 1/4 scoop a day and the other on 1 scoop) so in addition they also get a mugful of Topspec.

both look really well on this diet and they gobble it up so must like it!
 
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