pure feeds

[hihosilver]

Hi I am currently feeding safe and sound to me 16hh good doer. He is worked 5 times a week and goes to competitions every other week, I have been reading some negative press on safe and sound so thinking of changing to pure feeds number one. Does anybody feed this? or can you recommend a better feed? thanks.

 

[ohmissbrittany]

I can't speak from experience about the Pure Feeds chaff unfortunately...

But I've been super happy with Thunderbrooks Herbal Chaff- my only complaint is that it's a little low on protein for my competition horse, so I add about 400g 2x per day of alfalfa pellets and even when she's not in work there is no muscle wasting, she still looks fabulous.

 

[hihosilver]

I can't speak from experience about the Pure Feeds chaff unfortunately...

But I've been super happy with Thunderbrooks Herbal Chaff- my only complaint is that it's a little low on protein for my competition horse, so I add about 400g 2x per day of alfalfa pellets and even when she's not in work there is no muscle wasting, she still looks fabulous.

thanks for that. When your horse is not competing are you just feeding the thuderbrooks chaff on its own?

 

[ohmissbrittany]

I always keep a little alfalfa for protein because our hay is pretty sparse, but I do cut it back when she's not working. (Like right now she has a splint fracture and 4 more weeks of rest, so I cut it in half because she's not nearly as active). It makes some horses fizzy, so if that's the case for yours, beet pulp (speedi beet specifically because it's low sugar) is another good option to add some protein without adding a ton of calories.

A lot of folks give alfalfa and protein a bad rap, but honestly that "big belly with a bony topline" look is a protein deficiency, and it makes sense to make sure they have enough because that's what all the important stuff (muscle, hooves, hair) is made out of.

 

[hihosilver]

I always keep a little alfalfa for protein because our hay is pretty sparse, but I do cut it back when she's not working. (Like right now she has a splint fracture and 4 more weeks of rest, so I cut it in half because she's not nearly as active). It makes some horses fizzy, so if that's the case for yours, beet pulp (speedi beet specifically because it's low sugar) is another good option to add some protein without adding a ton of calories.

A lot of folks give alfalfa and protein a bad rap, but honestly that "big belly with a bony topline" look is a protein deficiency, and it makes sense to make sure they have enough because that's what all the important stuff (muscle, hooves, hair) is made out of.

ah ok I think he might heat up on alfafa. So could I just feed herbal chaff and speedi beet or would I need nuts as well? sorry for all the questions! in my day all I used to feed was a mix! so am finding it hard to get to grips with new feeds! x

 

[ester]

which do you mean by number 1? They are numbered by energy input so there are several with the same, the only one with a 1 is the pure balance which is a balancer pellet that they include in their other mixes too.

Personally I am a fan of agrobs if you can get it but you would need to add a vit/min supplement for that, I used equimins adv complete with it, or if you don't want to feed him anything just feed the pelleted supplement.

And no chance I would feed the safe and sound looking at the ingredients list!

 

[ohmissbrittany]

ah ok I think he might heat up on alfafa. So could I just feed herbal chaff and speedi beet or would I need nuts as well? sorry for all the questions! in my day all I used to feed was a mix! so am finding it hard to get to grips with new feeds! x

I think you'd be fine with the speedi-beet and chaff. They don't NEED nuts. And bonus, when you soak the speedi-beet, your ForagePlus balancer sticks to the wet pulp so it doesn't get sifted out or wasted. (But both my horse and my friend's horse are on "dry" feeds and still lick the buckets clean, they love the FP balancer!)

 

[hihosilver]

I think you'd be fine with the speedi-beet and chaff. They don't NEED nuts. And bonus, when you soak the speedi-beet, your ForagePlus balancer sticks to the wet pulp so it doesn't get sifted out or wasted. (But both my horse and my friend's horse are on "dry" feeds and still lick the buckets clean, they love the FP balancer!)

so I need to get ForagePlus balancer as well?? confused now.com!

 

[Leo Walker]

A lot of folks give alfalfa and protein a bad rap, but honestly that "big belly with a bony topline" look is a protein deficiency, and it makes sense to make sure they have enough because that's what all the important stuff (muscle, hooves, hair) is made out of.

people will say that alfalfa can make barefoot horses footy, because it can. The big belly with bony topline is a sign of many things, cushings, horse not in work, older horse etc,etc, not a protein deficiency.

 

[hihosilver]

people will say that alfalfa can make barefoot horses footy, because it can. The big belly with bony topline is a sign of many things, cushings, horse not in work, older horse etc,etc, not a protein deficiency.

What would you recommend?

 

[ohmissbrittany]

people will say that alfalfa can make barefoot horses footy, because it can. The big belly with bony topline is a sign of many things, cushings, horse not in work, older horse etc,etc, not a protein deficiency.

Sooooo. All these vets are wrong?

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/m.../nutritional_diseases_of_horses.html#v3322990

https://theequinepractice.com/protein/

http://www.hygain.com.au/nutrient-deficiencies-in-equine-diets/

http://www.thehorse.com/articles/10576/the-power-of-protein



I mean I get what you're saying- there are other causes. But I'm finding a lot of "low protein" feeds here in the U.K. as compared to other countries and a lot of people asking how to "add weight" when what they're actually missing is topline when you look at the photo of the horse. Forage can be energy sufficient but still lack essential amino acids.

And my barefoot horse is fine on alfalfa. Not all are and I'm not sure why, but feeding pelleted alfalfa I've never had a problem. I can't say about baled because I haven't tried baled here.

 

[Leo Walker]

But you dont put topline on from a bag. Muscle is formed from work. Grass contains a fair whack of protein and in the UK horses seem to be out on grass much, much more, so maybe thats why there arent high protein feeds? There are more risks associated with too much protein than there are with too little

Mine is a different type of horse to yours Hiho, but I feed a good spec mineral balancer, salt, a handful of linseed and something to carry it. I've been using chopped oat straw and a handful of Agrobs but I'm just about to try Key Flow Pink Mash to try and reduce calories and sugar even more.

What are you wanting to achieve from what you feed?

 

[hihosilver]

But you dont put topline on from a bag. Muscle is formed from work. Grass contains a fair whack of protein and in the UK horses seem to be out on grass much, much more, so maybe thats why there arent high protein feeds? There are more risks associated with too much protein than there are with too little

Mine is a different type of horse to yours Hiho, but I feed a good spec mineral balancer, salt, a handful of linseed and something to carry it. I've been using chopped oat straw and a handful of Agrobs but I'm just about to try Key Flow Pink Mash to try and reduce calories and sugar even more.

What are you wanting to achieve from what you feed?[/QUOTE.
Just a low sugar feed that will be better for
Him than safe and sound! Have heard pink mash is good?