making feed more appetising?

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hannah28

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hello :)

my boy has a small dinner of just hi-fi good doer in the summer months to hold his calmer. however hes not very interested and often leaves it i need him to eat all of it because he needs his calmer. i thought about adding a small amount of apple juice but wasnt sure if it was safe to do this over a long peroid (5 months). it would only be a small amount as he literally has a handful of chaff. so is it safe? any other ideas? thankyouu :D
 
You could add a very small (basically just watery gravy really) amount of fast fibre or speedibeet to mix it.
 
How about some dried mint? At least you aren't adding sugar then and it should be nice and tasty too! 1kg of it is just over £3 from here http://www.cotsherb.co.uk/culinary-herbs-and-spices/culinary-herbs/mint/prod_573.html?notice=1
Am having the same problem with my mare, not helped by the fact that the grass is super tasty at the moment. Bizarrly she will eat her magnesium if I sprinkle it in a banana skin (no banana because of the sugar!), the mad lady loves it!!!
 
Does your boy like marmite? It's just the same as in people, love or hate!
If he does, you could just cut out the feed and put the calmer in a marmite sandwhich everyday.
 
thanks guys :) marmite idea is interesting not sure he would like it but you never know. and yes i didnt think of mint he really likes polos and stuff so i could give that a try
 
hannah28 if your horse is turned out more in summer (assumption based on not needing feed) you might find he needs the calmer less. Could be an idea to try reducing the quantity (hidden in something tasty but non-sugary!) over the warmer months?
 
If its any help mine has been refusing to eat any type of chaff I give him since he decided he didn't like alfalfa. After wasting many sacks of feed, trying cider vinegar, seaweed, garlic, I found he WILL eat Mollichaff Calmer. It has magnesium in it plus mint and calming herbs - he just gets a handful as a token feed or more if he needs calming powder adding, but so far no calming supplements have been needed.
 
Lots of things you can add without adding sugar

Cinammon
Anise Seed powder
Fennel seeds
Ginger
Ground almonds
Mint, any other herbs you have

My horses love all of these and love variety too - never the same sprinkle two days in a row!

Cotswold Herbs are a good source of fairly priced herbs and spices.
 
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