NY, new diet - advice on diet (for feet)

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happy_talk

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Apologies, not strictly veterinary but think those how can best advise may lurk in here most!

I want to change my horses diet to one with low sugar/starch, but I'm after some do's and don'ts. I'm already finding it frustrating at some feeds advertising and that only some give sugar and starch content.
The horse is lacking 2 molars, but eats well (she's 12). However I'm conscious of some fibre being very hard and stalky (like Alfa) and I don't want her to damage the scar tissue where her teeth were.
She's just coming back into work slowly, and hopefully will end up being schooled 3 x wk (45 min, working elementary wanting to move to medium level dressage) and a hack. She is a TB type, but generally chilled, but I would like her hotter.
She's currently on readi grass, mix, baileys lo cal balancer, micronised linseed, NAF pro feet and a joint supplement. I'll stop the mix (own brand stuff) when the bag is finished.
I would like to find a diet that is good for her (and her feet).

So, 1- is readi grass ok or too high sugar (can't find sugar/starch content anywhere)?
2- If I stop readi grass, what are alfalfa pellets like (thinking dengie Alfa pellets)? Speedibeet? Alfa beet (is that completed pelleted?)?
3- how can I increase energy input when required?

Many thanks- mince pies on offer for reading!
 
Fast Fibre from Allen and Page is low sugar/ starch and as it gets soaked before feeding will be ideal for a horse with dental issues, you can feed it as your base then supplement as you require. It is non heating but will, like most fibre diets be a slow release energy, possibly add oats if you need more sparkle.

I would think redigrass is fairly high in sugar, alfalfa pellets are not suited to all horses, I would start by gradually changing her to FF with the linseed and supplements you are using then see how it goes rather than changing and adding too much as it can be hard to work out which is working best.
 
I feed my elderly, dentally challenged, Cushing's horse

Fast Fibre (fibre)
Speedibeet (fibre)
Pro Balance + (balanced minerals)
Linseed (omega oils)
1000iu Vitamin E (to top up what he doesn't get from the grass due to his teeth)

He dropped condition recently, so I've added

Copra (conditioning)
Spiller's High Fibre Cubes (extra weight)
Protexin (gut aid)
UL30REX (gut aid)
Turmeric (joint aid)
 
Would you drop the lo cal balancer as well and use the fast fibre as main bit/min supplement source?
She's had Alfa before teeth problems with no behaviour effect, but sometimes didn't want to eat it. I knew when I stop it though as her energy dropped. I assume you by not suited you are referring to excitable behaviour??
 
I feed my 22yr old gelding 14.2hh

Twice a day
1 mugfull of fast fibre before soaking.
1 scoop Dengie Unmolassed Hi Fi

Once a day

Tablespoon of Magox
" Salt
" Brewers yeast
Half mug of micronised linseed

All good for feet, coat and older horse.

I cannot comment on specific foods you have queried but if you call manufactors they should answer all your questions.
 
Just about to change my horse to pure feeds heard very good things about them. It's very low sugar/ starch feed and has products from low to high calories and all your minerals/ vits you need included. Only need to feed a joint supplement of you want.
 
Hi, I've tried pure feed before when they had 10bags half price offer. I used those bags and then coupled with loosing 2 teeth she needed "soft" feed. There's a proportion of chopped straw in the feed that doesn't soften with soaking.

ETS- just checked pure feed website and they seem to have expanded their range. Will look more closely at this
 
Hi i feed my mare daily 2mugs of speedy beet (that is 2 mugs before soaking)
1 round scoop d&h high fiber nuts
3 mugs micronised linseed
1 measure of magnesium

She is elderly with cushings and poor teeth with also 2 lower molars missing. Since I changed her onto this diet her feet have improved amazingly and my farrier is very impressed. Previously when she was in work she was always fed full sugar sugar beet, conditioning mixes or oats and barley and sugary chaffs so i think the low sugar and cereal diet is working wonders on her feet amd body.
 
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