Making plain chaff "edible"...

Right, I have just had a peek at your other thread. Balancer can be fed on its own, for example both baileys low cal and outshine can just be fed with no additions and they eat it willingly. Speedie beet or molasses sugar beet will keep soaked for a while, speedie beet for longer because it doesn't have the molasses. My speedie beet is presoaked in a bucket and lasts 3-4 days before I've used it all, by then it's still fine. So, bearing in mind that you say you're only up there 4/5 evenings a week, speedie beet will be fine to use. And sugar beet should be good for a couple of days in this weather, the other thing you could do, is just feed your cup of balancer and supplement and just add some warm water to it so it breaks down into a mush.
 
Dunno if this idea will be of use but CALM AND CONDITION was great when my mare refused to take Antibiotics in feed...dont know if it contains soya though , needs soaked but easier than speedi beet ...hope this helps.
 
She's currently on a powdered balancer, which can't be fed on its own. I have a large supply of this left (and it seems to suit) so I'd like to finish it off.

In regards it the sugarbeet, it literally has to be something I can put in a bag, leave, and then it can be given as and when required.

I would suspect c&c contains soya, I've looked through a few a&p feeds and they have either soya or molasses in
 
Simple system Blue label grass nuts don't need soaking, are soya free and are low energy. I know this as I have the same problem with my horse who has a soya allergy. The other alternative is alfafa pellets made by dengie but they are a higher energy level.
 
I was also thinking alfalfa pellets, but I think these must be soaked too, the other thing to consider is something like baileys ultra grass, now that is what I use but it's coated in soya oil, however d&h (I think) do one called just grass, I had a peek the other day and I can't see any mention of it being coated in soya oil, no molasses either. It is literally chopped meadow grass.
 
I'd go for the grass over the grass nuts as it's going to be an easier carrier for the balancer and supplement although I have to say op, I'd be interested to know what this balancer is, I've never heard of a balancer that comes in powdered form before. :)
 
It's equine answers 365. I've used it in the past, and certainly has helped current horse, though when the pot is finished, may be looking at a pelleted balancer.

I've wanted to avoid grass chop, as it is higher energy than straw etc, and my horse does not need more energy!

I've asked Dodson and horrel for a sample of their equine sensitive. I will see if horse will eat this, so she thinks she's being fed, and put some straw and hi fi in with it. I'm currently reluctant to fork out for yet another bag of chop she probably won't eat long term.

Grass nuts are def out, can't risk them being soaked enough/not enough.
 
but the amount you are going to be feeding is going to be so small the higher energy level in a grass chop really is going to be negligible. I can't think that plain chopped straw with nothing else is ever going to be that palatable. Do grass nuts need soaking?
 
Yes they do really. The ones I've used before are really really hard. I looked at the ss ones, which say they don't need soaking but they would still need to make up the majority of feed
 
Why can't you use a grass chaff then? As I assume you only need to be feeding this horse enough to carry the balancer? ie a couple of handfuls?
 
ester said:
but the amount you are going to be feeding is going to be so small the higher energy level in a grass chop really is going to be negligible. I can't think that plain chopped straw with nothing else is ever going to be that palatable. Do grass nuts need soaking?
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This is exactly what I was told by a number of feed companies when I first looked into swapping to grass chaff over hi fi and Alfalfa chop, I didn't want to feed anything too sugar dense as Ben is barefoot, they said that for the amount I want to use, the energy levels are negligible. I can't remember but I think a stubbs scoop is about 600g in weight, let's say you use half of this, so you're only feeding 300g.... The sugar in that would barely register in the horse.
 
Well as a slight update... I've finally managed to find some feed that is molasses and soya free, is "proper" feed, and my horse will eat!

Dodson and Horrell Equine Sensitive. Horse was practically wolfing it down when I tried a small sample on her; added to this it smells really nice, and horse ate all her chaff in an effort to get to the feed!

Only downside to it is its 15% starch, which is a little high for my liking, and I think it has alfalfa in it... but will see how we get on with it!
 
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