Nutrition/Feed Advisors - Baileys etc.

[showjumpingfilly]

Sorry if this has already been done - my search function is poor

Feed is running low and as money is tight trying to work out if the horses actually need the feed they are getting. If it's what they need then of course the money will be spent but not going to spend money on something that could potentially be a pointless feed for them, I'd rather spend it on what they need. I don't think I'm going far wrong but some help would be great!

So, anyone used an advisor from a company such as Baileys, Dodson & Horrel etc etc?

Who would you recommend?

What is their procedure? - Do you normally just speak on the phone? Or do they come out to see you/horses?

Do you have to pay for this service?

Have you found it useful/made a difference?


These may sound like stupid questions to some of you but I've never used one before and just generally wanted some advice.

So any thoughts or advice please!

 

[Abbeygale]

The only contact I have had with one the feed advisor was one from D&H. I contacted them by e-mail, and they then both e-mailed me back (very quickly) and phoned me too. They were very helpful, and didn't cost anything. I was using a D&H mix at the time, but they were happy to advise me on the use of other on D&H products.

They had some helpful suggestions. I would say just drop them an email, and ask what you want to know - include the size, type / breed, age and what you are currently feeding,

 

[Firewell]

I've spoken to pretty much all of them!
They are sensible and I do find they keep the diet as simple as possible but of course they advise their own products. I also find the recommended amounts of feed they give is quite high.

I normally listen to what they say and then adjust for my own horse ( as I do know him best ).

The best thing to do is to ring them although you can email them and they will write back. Don't be afraid to speak to all of them and then you can decided who's diet you think will suit your horse best and is the best value for money.

They normally ask questions such as hight, weight, workload, age, breed, what they are currently being fed ect.

.

 

[Firewell]

And no it doesnt cost a thing! On the contary you often get sent samples and fact sheets through the post and sometimes a money off voucher .

 

[TigerTail]

I wouldnt use one from any of those companies as I dont like their ingredients and think its a waste of money to feed their feed. Also they will obviously all favour the company they work for.

You would be better getting your forage analysed and supplementing missing minerals as required.

What do your horses do work wise, live in or out have adlib hay etc?

 

[Archangel]

I have found them very helpful. It is good to know roughly what your horse weighs and the actual weight of your current feed. They gave me excellent advice for an elderly pony without ramming their own products down my throat.

Having said that the best bit of advice (using Ready Mash and Thunderbrook base mix for the oldie) I picked up on a thread on here!