Easily available barefoot friendly friends for livery yard?

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Primitive Pony

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Hi, looking for some feed alternatives for a barefoot horse!

I currently feed him on Simple Systems - he a token gesture of grass nuts and chaff to mix with a foot supplement at the minute, and in winter has increased quantities of the same. He has done really well on this, is in great condition and I'm loathe to change it and feed anything more 'commercial' with additives.

But, will soon be moving him onto part livery where the yard owner is happy to order in something equivalent to what they normally feed, but I don't think that SS falls into this category so am looking for a more commercially available alternative that would be easy for them to feed him, along with supplements.

I wondered about oats or another brand of grass nuts? (But not sure how much soaking these would require?) Or any other ideas!?
 
When I was on part my YO bought in SS nuts - IMO they are providing a service so you should be able to request them.

I guess it depends where the yard buys feed from and/or what company they usually feed? maybe finding that out would help?
 
Yep, good point, thank you - they might well be able to order and be happy to do so, I shall enquire. They seem a little more expensive than other feeds but then he doesn't get fed very much anyway so it might work!
 
I think Graze On grass nuts (from Northern crop driers) is probably the most widely available brand of grass nuts around here (south). If your horse is fine with alfalfa, the alfalfa pellets from Dengie are available pretty much anywhere, and you might try one of the non-molassed chaffs (e.g. Dengie) on the market. The molasses-free chaffs are not quite as "straight" as pure grass chaff, but if you're only feeding smallish amounts and your horse isn't a particularly sensitive flower then the more easily available chaffs might be fine.
The Graze On nuts are very hard an need some soaking time, and the grass is chopped very fine with little structure left. The alfalfa pellets are less compressed, slightly coarser and soak quicker.
After a few years of trying the super strict, only-straights barefoot diet, I now feed a small amount each of Dengie alfalfa pellets, Spillers hi fibre cubes and Happy Hoof (plus minerals), and can't say it made a difference, and is in fact easier (because more palatable) than feeding pure straights. Just my experience.
 
I use dodson and horrell just grass chaff. On the basis that of all the dried grass options it has no additives and is a mix of grasses, not just rye grass.
 
Thank you for all the input and ideas which I can mull over and then discuss. He's certainly not v sensitive to anything, and will eat absolutely anything, thankfully!

(Oops, think I should have put this in the 'feed' section!)
 
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When I had a yard I on the whole sorted out my liveries diets according to what I felt they needed. However, I had a few horses who were already on feed that worked really well for them, so they stayed on that. I added a small amount onto the cost of livery but nothing major. I ordered my feed from a local feed merchant who could get anything in. Definitely worth talking to them about it before you change his feed. If he's doing well on it it's a shame to change anything.
 
Emerald green feeds do grass nuts and grass chaff. Their feed is top quality at reasonable prices. A lot cheaper than some.
 
I am on part livery and my pony has dengie molasses free to go with his EquiVita mineral balancer.

Maybe worth asking what they already have in, more places are getting into molasses free low starch options.
 
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