Independent feed advice

[BMA2]

Is there such a thing...

Obviously D&H will only suggest D&H.

Local feed merchants only really say what they sell a lot of.

And my experience with feed companies is they all seem to suggest balancers...but in real life I know few that feed balancers

I just think there must be better complete feeds out there that could cut down on additional supplements (expensive wee)...but I feel trapped in the cycle that without x supplement the horses head will fall off.


Any suggestions...

 

[ihatework]

There is, but whether it's worth the £££ I'm not convinced. I'd probably only do it if I had a tricky horse.

I had smug satisfaction once. Good friend is a 5* eventer and we often bounced ideas off each other. They had an owners horse in that wasn't the easiest to feed and friend asked me what I thought. I advised 3 strategies with one commercial feed as my number 1 to try. Owner wasn't interested and paid £££££ for independent nutritionist.

Nutritionist gave the exact advice I gave and horse started on the food I suggested! I do understand why you would go to a pro, but at the same time feeding the majority of horses is not rocket science.

 

[BMA2]

Maybe i should just ask you then


i just feel like I'm chucking money into supplements I.e using a supplement to try and help with skin and hind gut whereas surely there must be a feed that would do that job...for less

 

[Cortez]

Why don't you do your own trial, stop feeding things and see if his head falls off? You'd be amazed at how many things the average, healthy horse DOESN'T need.....

 

[BMA2]

I 100% agree

Does anyone have a suggestion of a feed for a stress head...holds weight, doesn't need more omph. Needs to be very hind gut friendly, feet good, Coat/skin is a bit meh

 

[HeyMich]

I 100% agree

Does anyone have a suggestion of a feed for a stress head...holds weight, doesn't need more omph. Needs to be very hind gut friendly, feet good, Coat/skin is a bit meh

Baileys Ease and Excel cubes (no 24) or TopSpec UlsaKind cubes. Both are high protein, low starch/sugar, support the hind gut and don't fizz them up. Both work brilliantly, help them keep weight on but not turn them into nutters. Can highly recommend.

 

[ThreeFurs]

Do you have a Brit equivalent to FeedXL? Its an online nutrition calculator with every imaginable feed/supplement inc diff kinds of pasture and hay, fed into its database so you just put your horse's stats [weight, needs etc] and their diet in and it spits out a report showing where the deficiencies are, if any. Right down to micro-minerals. And it gives suggestions to balance the diet, with no feed company influence, its all about the components of each feed.

I've often used it just for a month subscription, to sort out diets for weight loss or gain, then cancel. It was created by an Australian equine vet nutrition specialist.

 

[Cortez]

Do you have a Brit equivalent to FeedXL? Its an online nutrition calculator with every imaginable feed/supplement inc diff kinds of pasture and hay, fed into its database so you just put your horse's stats [weight, needs etc] and their diet in and it spits out a report showing where the deficiencies are, if any. Right down to micro-minerals. And it gives suggestions to balance the diet, with no feed company influence, its all about the components of each feed.

I've often used it just for a month subscription, to sort out diets for weight loss or gain, then cancel. It was created by an Australian equine vet nutrition specialist.

How could it possibly calculate anything useful without analysis of forage, soils and bloods? It’s no better than what’s on the back of a feed bag: I.e. not very useful at all.

 

[Surbie]

Does anyone have a suggestion of a feed for a stress head...holds weight, doesn't need more omph. Needs to be very hind gut friendly, feet good, Coat/skin is a bit meh

I feed oat straw chaff mixed with Allen&Page Veteran Light to mine, which has a bit of linseed in plus pro/pre-biotics. Not quite sure how much point there is in them, but my horse thinks it's awesome, it's fairly low sugar/starch at 8.5% combined and it's useful for covering the other things I fed him. It's also a 2min soak so very easy for friends to do his feeds when they are bringing in for me.

I do use an independent nutritionist (Fiona Watkins) to weigh my horse twice a year. I haven't gone down the full consultation route but she says I am pretty much on track with what I choose to feed, and the (small) amounts I feed.

eta: I don't do forage analysis as I'm on a livery yard and mine comes in from different sources throughout the year. I do add vits and mins as (as with @LEC) I feed nowhere near the amounts suggested on the bag.

 

[LEC]

I used an independent nutritionist and found it really helpful and I am pretty switched on.

I estimate she has saved me £20 a month on feed by useful protein suggestions and verified the supplements I use as doing the job as mine are cheap ones.

I also do not feed the required amounts so compound feeds so need to add vits and mins (which I do) but useful to have confirmed and discuss it all.

I get haylage analysis done and that was helpful to look at protein levels and I try and keep it simple.

I was basically reassured that I do everything right and had 4 done in my visit. I also discussed my February drop off that I get every year and have fed for and not fed for and it’s made no difference. I used Claire - https://www.facebook.com/ClareMacLeodEquineNutritionist

 

[LEC]

I 100% agree

Does anyone have a suggestion of a feed for a stress head...holds weight, doesn't need more omph. Needs to be very hind gut friendly, feet good, Coat/skin is a bit meh

No feed will do that job unless you feed the required amounts which are normally pretty high which you don’t need to do if holding weight. I use MaxHut health to do the job you want but you will also need basic vits and mins.

 

[BMA2]

Yeah that's the other thing...

So I contacted D&H...

Be Calm balancer with Fibre Fusion. Be calm balancer is fully balanced with all essential vitamins and minerals, meaning that alongside forage and grazing he will be getting everything that he needs. It is very low calorie, low in starch & sugar to support an even temperament , but high in good quality protein to support muscle health and development. There is also added immune support (QLC antioxidants), hoof support (biotin, zinc & methionine), digestive support (Actisaf yeast probiotic) and elements of our placid supplement to further support an even temperament. Our recommended feeding rate is 100g/100kg bodyweight per day.
Fibre fusion is a palatable blend of alfalfa, sainfoin and grass chaff with a slightly higher oil content to help with overall condition. This product is also packed full of digestive support with our fibre plus complex, Actisaf yeast probiotic and MOS prebiotic. Our recommended feeding rate is 100-600g/100kg bodyweight per day, which you can adjust within as you see fit.

IT SOUNDS HUGE QUANTITIES COMPARED TO WHAT I CURRENTLY FEED

 

[Cortez]

Yeah that's the other thing...

So I contacted D&H...

Be Calm balancer with Fibre Fusion. Be calm balancer is fully balanced with all essential vitamins and minerals, meaning that alongside forage and grazing he will be getting everything that he needs. It is very low calorie, low in starch & sugar to support an even temperament , but high in good quality protein to support muscle health and development. There is also added immune support (QLC antioxidants), hoof support (biotin, zinc & methionine), digestive support (Actisaf yeast probiotic) and elements of our placid supplement to further support an even temperament. Our recommended feeding rate is 100g/100kg bodyweight per day.
Fibre fusion is a palatable blend of alfalfa, sainfoin and grass chaff with a slightly higher oil content to help with overall condition. This product is also packed full of digestive support with our fibre plus complex, Actisaf yeast probiotic and MOS prebiotic. Our recommended feeding rate is 100-600g/100kg bodyweight per day, which you can adjust within as you see fit.

IT SOUNDS HUGE QUANTITIES COMPARED TO WHAT I CURRENTLY FEED

....that's how feed companies make money.....

 

[SEL]

I feed very basic soaked hay cobs to all of mine just as a carrier for the stuff they actually need. A little goes a long way.

Two need extra vitamin E, one gets bozmerix and hay cobs do good job of hiding a smelly balancer from all 3 of them and I can slip salt in too.

When coat is a bit meh I add something with oil. Used to be linseed but since finding out it makes littlest pony itch then I've ditched that.

With a decent balancer though all mine have fabulous shiny coats and currently its all they're getting apart from hay. My hay has a decent protein profile but low mineral profile so I know they need a bit extra in that department.

Claire Macleod mentioned above has a good reputation and she's not tied to a brand either.

 

[ThreeFurs]

How could it possibly calculate anything useful without analysis of forage, soils and bloods? It’s no better than what’s on the back of a feed bag: I.e. not very useful at all.

The forage is analysed, the pasture type you select according to several variables, via 30-40 photos or you can send in a soil sample. If you need bloods you need a vet rather than a Nutrition Calculator, and tens of thousands of users have found it useful over the decade its been available, as it takes the guess work out of putting together a feeding plan. Cortez, has anyone ever suggested to you that 'one catches more flies with honey than vinegar'?

 

[Cortez]

The forage is analysed, the pasture type you select according to several variables, via 30-40 photos or you can send in a soil sample. If you need bloods you need a vet rather than a Nutrition Calculator, and tens of thousands of users have found it useful over the decade its been available, as it takes the guess work out of putting together a feeding plan. Cortez, has anyone ever suggested to you that 'one catches more flies with honey than vinegar'?

I don’t have any desire to catch flies.

 

[Squeak]

I 100% agree

Does anyone have a suggestion of a feed for a stress head...holds weight, doesn't need more omph. Needs to be very hind gut friendly, feet good, Coat/skin is a bit meh

I’m probably really missing the point but does he/ she need hard feed? If you don’t need oomph or weight and don’t want to upset the hind gut then just forage could be the answer?

You could feed a balancer either pelleted or a powder in some chop or something if you wanted but you might find keeping it simple sorts out the gut and consequently the skin and coat?