Feed overhaul suggestions please

[KHippo]

Hello, I'm thinking of changing my mare's feed regime & thought I'd ask the H&H oracle for suggestions! Current feed twice per day:-

Stubbs scoop of Dengie Healthy Tummy
500g Topspec Ulsakind cubes
Blue Chip concentrated calm balancer
Agriresearch horse bucket hindgut supplement
Speedi-beet
Ad-lib hay

15.3 5YO TB mare.
Windsucks (no ulcers but fed as though she does, as a preventative).
Workload is 2 x 45 min schooling, 1 x 30 min lunging, 2 x 4-8 miles hacking with 2 rest days per week.
Has KS & ongoing soundness issues so looking to add in some joint support & anything else to assist with muscle development through her rehab.
Energy levels & condition are both fine on her current feed, which works out around £60 per month.

Is there a way of adding joint support & swapping/ditching anything above whilst keeping her feed bills around the same? Some senior feed balancers claim to contain joint supplement but don't want to end up spending an extra £30 per month just for a bit of added glucosamine (I'd rather pay a bit more to include a decent joint supplement).

TIA

 

[Pinkvboots]

You could ditch the blue chip then feed a balancer with joint support progressive earth do one but not sure if it would be cheaper but worth a look, even if you fed the basic balancer and choose a joint supplement it may well be a bit cheaper.

Because its a powder not pellet they are often a bit cheaper.

 

[Dexter]

I'd ditch the lot and start again. Pink mash has protexin in it and it really good for the ulcer prone. It transformed one of mine. I'd feed that and grass nuts or sugarbeet, adding linseed and/or rice bran if you needed calories.

I'd feed either spillers lite if you need a pelleted balancer, or a powdered one from progressive earth or similar

 

[KHippo]

I'd ditch the lot and start again. Pink mash has protexin in it and it really good for the ulcer prone. It transformed one of mine. I'd feed that and grass nuts or sugarbeet, adding linseed and/or rice bran if you needed calories.

I'd feed either spillers lite if you need a pelleted balancer, or a powdered one from progressive earth or similar

Did consider pink mash but feeds are made up in advance so the benefit of any protexin would be lost as not fed within 15 mins of soaking. Grass nuts send her loopy unfortunately!

 

[Dexter]

Then I'd opt for speedi beet and added protexin. It would be unusual for her to be fine on grass and grass nuts to send her loopy unless you were feeding the rye grass ones? Emerald green do a lowish sugar and starch version. Or if shes fine on alfa alfa you can get nuts or chaff made from that. It works well with sugar beet.

 

[HelenBack]

I'm not convinced balancers with joint supplements have as much stuff in them as the separate supplements, although I've not looked into it in any great detail.

Could you swap the cubes and balancer for something like Baileys Ease and Excel cubes or Saracens Releve cubes and then you get the low starch calories and the vitamins and minerals all in one go?

And does she definitely need both the alfalfa and the speedibeet or could you try and ditch the speedibeet?

I like the Science Supplements joint supplement but I think it's one of the more expensive ones. Somebody might be able to recommend something cheaper and still good.

P S. I think healthy tummy has got protexin in it too.

 

[Barton Bounty]

If you wanted to feed glucosamine, I use NAF and it works out 13.75 for 60 days worth. I think thats great value. I have seen a difference with my TB on it ?

 

[KHippo]

I'm not convinced balancers with joint supplements have as much stuff in them as the separate supplements, although I've not looked into it in any great detail.

Could you swap the cubes and balancer for something like Baileys Ease and Excel cubes or Saracens Releve cubes and then you get the low starch calories and the vitamins and minerals all in one go?

And does she definitely need both the alfalfa and the speedibeet or could you try and ditch the speedibeet?

I like the Science Supplements joint supplement but I think it's one of the more expensive ones. Somebody might be able to recommend something cheaper and still good.

P S. I think healthy tummy has got protexin in it too.

Thank you! Ease & Excel looks like it could be the solution as I could feed that on its own at recommended rate, along with Equimins Flexijoint. Running out of space for more feed bins & supplement tubs, & TBH I am fed up with spending more time making her dinner than my own!

 

[Squeak]

And does she definitely need both the alfalfa and the speedibeet or could you try and ditch the speedibeet?

Sugarbeet is great for horses that have stomach issues as it creates a protective lining in the stomach.