Those with multiple horses

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AutumnDays

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How do you manage costs Vs completeness? I don't know if I'm wording it well! I've asked on here about supplements etc not so long ago, and have been going through samples and prices etc to try and find something that will work for us all. They won't eat any of the powdered balancers I've had samples of, so they would be a waste of money for starters! Everyone agrees on the spillers everyday balancer, but feeding 3 at the recommended amounts is coming up pricey. I'm not adverse to spending money on them, but I don't want to waste it, it's not as easy to earn it as quickly as you can spend it! Everyone could do with a bit of something to perk them up, with a new lay struggling to establish due to incessant terrible weather, the grazing hasn't been the best, and it's showing in the condition of their skin and hooves etc, they just generally look a bit run down. What does everyone else do?

(P.s, I have been a bit busy posting on here asking for advice on various things lately, so I do apologise for being a pest! I promise once this conundrum has been cleared I will go back to quietly lurking!)
 
I would try this, which is a fairly cost effective, cover all bases, vitamins and minerals. Plus 100gm per horse of micronised linseed.

EQUIVITA Equine Forage-balanced Mineral Solution | EquiNatural

EquiNatural's EQUIVITA: Equine forage-balanced mineral solution for year-round maintenance, nutritionally supporting your horse's cellular chemistry and well-being.
www.equinatural.co.uk

I take your point about them not liking mineral powders, but I would find the tastiest mash that they will eat to mix powder in. A small amount of less healthy feed, to get them to eat the powder, can still be a tiny proportion of the diet.
 
I've got 3 (constantly feeling poor!)

I have a base feed of hay cobs and chop which I can hide powders in. I feed the powder in the morning when I know everyone is hungry and won't be fussy. I don't feed a balancer every day either and if I need to move to pellets over summer then they don't get their RDA of Spillers / Baileys either - unless someone is looking ropey.

The one that actually drops over winter is the only one who gets a bagged feed. If I didn't have 2 who reacted to linseed I'd just be adding that into feeds to pep them up.
 
I look after 8.

They get a pelleted feed containing all the vits and mins they need. They get a low cal chaff and molasses free sugar beet.

These range from 11 - 29yrs, they all look good. 3 of them are in reasonable work for the time of year.
If their work load increases, and they need more, they get spillers stamina cubes added.

One gets grass nuts, balancer, linseed and conditioning mash. Plus hay replacer. He's 28yr TB with questionable teeth.

They have hay and haylage and 8 acres of grass. They are out 7am - 6pm.
 
I have two. I tend to feed for specific situations vs. feeding for the sake of it. Looking a bit ribby they get slightly more, looking OK I'll reduce slightly/drop back to one feed again.

I don't love it but I've just swapped to store band nuts which are wheat/oatfeed instead of pure grass which will save about £50 a month, as I generally go through a bag every 5 or 6 days.

They also both get a big mug of linseed and if I think they're looking a bit lacklustre, I'll stick them back on a powdered vit/min supplement for a few months and/or a big handful of oily herbs every day. It's really easy to get sucked into feeding this and that and every pretty pot in the tack shop but unless you're rich you do have to be a bit realistic!

Aside from feed I tend to go for a prevention is better than cure approach, they both get teeth done every 6-8 months non negotiable, good quality tack, lots of hacking to keep fit and supple and enough hay so they are never hungry.
 
It's very difficult, the best supplements with the correct levels obviously taste awful because mine generally won't eat them either.

Mine get half the recommended dose of equivita, I can't get any more into them without increasing feeds but I think half equivita is better than a full dose of most of the pelleted balancers and doesn't have all the fillers and crap in it.

Then I go mad with herbs which they do eat, no idea of the nutritional value but assume a varied diet will help them get what they need.

I have 3 horses. Their feed isn't that expensive, it's hay cobs or grass nuts with the balancer and herbs. I switch to higher protein grass nuts for the thinner one and add linseed.
 
I have 3. The big girls get a base of fast fibre as I like to get as much water into them as possible during winter, and then a balancer on top. The pony gets a handful of chaff and a carrot so she’s not left out at bucket feed time. The rest is just good forage.

I’d say spend the money on a decent balancer or vitamin/mineral supplement and then forget any extra supplements unless absolutely necessary.
 
My focus for my three is always good quality forage, either their hay/ haylage or the grass.

I don't feed a balancer as a rule and all my horses have thrived without the well marketed 'need' for horses to need one. I have on occasion trialled different balancers (forage plus and progressive earth) when I've moved yards and the forage/ grazing has changed but its never made much difference. Over winter they get grass nuts and chop to appease them of a night time feed, and I have now added pink mash in as one now shouldn't have short chop due to her teeth.

All three are a good weight, with shiny healthy coats, if I thought they looked lacking I would consider it but as they are all healthy and happy I just don't see the need to add anything more.

Edit to actually pull that ^ together to answer the OP!
My go to if I do think they are lacking is I put them on linseed (micronized or pink mash) as that normally does the trick for getting them looking great again. Or if I think my grazing/ forage is not doing the trick then one of the powdered balancers but I disguise the taste with either dried mint or hedgerow herbs, or if I really need them to eat it a bit of watered down molasses.
 
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Good quality adlib haylage or wrapped hay. Mineral lick, Rockies yellow one, both use it when they need it and each big block lasts months (keep it dry or it will dissolve quicker) they do have a handful of pony nuts as a token feed. Used to feed topspec balancer but they don't seem any different for being off it
 
Mine get a powered balancer for veterans that includes the supplements they need mixed with a bit of basic low sugar and starch chaff. They also won't eat a full dose but seem to be fine on around half. They have poor quality grass but with lots of healthy plants.
 
Thanks for your replies all. To echo what most of you have said, I don't generally feed for the sake of it, it's usually because there is an issue/need. The only reason I am looking into a balancer type is because at the moment our land is struggling, it was cleared, ploughed and reseeded 18 months or so ago, and it's been so wet and miserable since it isn't doing as well as we'd hoped. They do have as lib forage, but I'm just buying from wherever has it available, so it isn't really consistent high quality. @Landcruiser I do agree a high quality balancer is worth spending on, only if they eat it though! The mare seems to have a bloodhound nose, and instantly tips a bucket over if she detects anything unsavoury in there. Linseed is a good shout, I hadn't considered that (always thought of it as conditioning as in weight gain, so don't really tend to look at it). Herbs is another of my things @Jambarissa, I have a well stocked apothecary! A lot of grazing herb seeds were planted with meadow grass when we did our work, as well as herb "beds", so when it does establish well, I won't need to buy them!
 
The spillers daily balancer was almost the cheapest way to feed mine when I did the maths. Less than £1 a day for a 500kg horse. They’re all on different, 1 gets the balancer plus 15mg biotin, ones on his RDA of digest plus conditioning cubes plus a chaff, another gets a scoop of own brand pony nuts plus an anti-inflammation supplement. Over the summer their feeds have to ramp up with higher energy, electrolytes and I chose to add joint supplements but for winter we’re on savers mode. 1 isn’t shod and the other 2 are only shod infront for winter too.
 
We only have 2 now, the cob reacts badly to linseed, which we found out when feeding forage plus winter balancer. Now they just have ad-lib haylage, a handful or 2 of Agrobs Weisencobs, Aloe Vera juice, vitamin e and a salt lick.
Over the years we have tried a range of supplements and had problems with them all.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
We only have 2 now, the cob reacts badly to linseed, which we found out when feeding forage plus winter balancer. Now they just have ad-lib haylage, a handful or 2 of Agrobs Weisencobs, Aloe Vera juice, vitamin e and a salt lick.
Over the years we have tried a range of supplements and had problems with them all.
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That sounds like a simple and effective way of topping up... Having an allergy dog, I know how disheartening it is to try a product that sounds great that then makes them react, I'm keen to avoid a similar situation with the horses. Forgive my ignorance, but what is the aloe Vera juice for? Just gut vitality?
 
Ad lib good quality forage is my main priority for my 3.

I have 2 good doers and a youngster that needs a little extra. He gets a basic mix and sugarbeet in various quantities depending on his weight and time of year. No-one else gets anything other than hay and a good (water and wind proof) rug - and free choice mineral lick.

Both babies were on a youngstock balancer until they were 18months/2 years and my old boy had a veteran balancer in his later years. So balancers do have a place if there is a deficiency/benefit.
 
dorsetladette said:
Ad lib good quality forage is my main priority for my 3.

I have 2 good doers and a youngster that needs a little extra. He gets a basic mix and sugarbeet in various quantities depending on his weight and time of year. No-one else gets anything other than hay and a good (water and wind proof) rug - and free choice mineral lick.

Both babies were on a youngstock balancer until they were 18months/2 years and my old boy had a veteran balancer in his later years. So balancers do have a place if there is a deficiency/benefit.
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Thank you for your reply, how you manage is what I'm aiming for, just haven't had the best start with the grazing. What mineral lick do you use? And do you have just the one or two on the go to stop arguements?
 
If you're buying herbs it's cheapest to buy in bulk and mix yourself rather than getting a lovely premix from Hilton Herbs, etc.

nuts in bulk, buy wholefoods online and horse herbs tend to be the cheapest in roughly that order.

I feed a lot of different herbs so buy many 1kg bags but they only get about 50g a day so £10-£15 a month each horse.
 
I have 3 horses and two ponies.
There is apparently nothing really they agree on.
I used to spend a fortune on supplements etc and tbh notice absolutely no difference at all.
I’ve simplified everything. I have great hay which they get as lib inside and out.
The only supplements I currently use is Boswellia for the ponies (apparently good for fec!)
And a breathing one for Alfie. They get unmolassed chaff and speedibeet and some nuts for texture!
 
AutumnDays said:
Thank you for your reply, how you manage is what I'm aiming for, just haven't had the best start with the grazing. What mineral lick do you use? And do you have just the one or two on the go to stop arguements?
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My grazing has gone now (last nights rain finished it off) & I'm having to soak hay for one so anything in the field is just filler.

I have a rockies lick in my shelter in its own holder but I don't find they use it much in winter so I have to add a bit of balancer.

I think linseed is a good one for you to look at if they are a bit bleugh and if they'll eat a pellet balancer then just have a hunt around for what's most cost effective.
 
@Jambarissa I do mix my oily herbs up from bags bought via whole foods etc, a gem of information I found on here a while back. @poiuytrewq I'm hoping this year will be the year the grass comes good and I can get food hay off it, I know that is the main ingredient for horsey health! @JoannaC a mash is what I've tried the powders in, and I have no luck with either one or all of them, I have an awkward bunch! @SEL thank you, I think I will have to look into the linseed a bit more
 
another one here who has tried lots of balancers and supplements over the years and recently simplified things hugely after noticing zero diff!!!!

the fat pony is now getting basic £8 fibre cubes and a handful of bran which soaks down to quite a decent volume of mash, plus 1/4 mug of st hippolyt linustar (which is like instant linseed and goes gloopy to help protect the stomach lining) plus pectin powder for more gloop,limestone powder and lamicore balancer which seems palatable. This pony has had every balancer, every stomach supplement etc and clearly none have made a difference as he recently developed 2 stomach ulcers regardless. hopefully this sloppy slimey mess works better!

the big lad was eating a bag of TS linseed mash every 4.5 days at £22!!! so that has been replaced with a half scoop each of bran/mollassed beet/barley and conditioning cubes soaked overnight to a mash, plus a big mug of linustar, pectin and limestone powder.

they are both gleaming.
 
I aim for good quality forage and minimal bucket feed. Mine has a mix of meadow hay & coarse (seed) hay my husband makes topped up with haylege from a neighbouring farm and her bucket feed is the minimum amount of Muscle & Focus with some chaff. We were short of hay last winter and even shorter of good hay so I had to up the bucket feed a fair bit and added some unmollassed beet. I only have one now but did have five a one time.
 
I used to be a feed faffer but in all honesty it never made any difference, just took up time and energy (mine!).

They all get grass/haylage obviously.

Non working horses:
Adults in good body condition - nothing, or at most a handful of pony nuts to keep them quiet if others being fed.
Youngstock up to 4 - suregrow

Working horses in accordance with weight & temperament. My general go to if the need feeding is Baileys Ease & Excel. That said my I/3* horse barely gets anything other than some chaff type feed as he is a fat fizzy type.
 
As decent quality hay as I can get (not that easy this winter due to last year's awful summer), a bit of sugar beet, a small cup of Outshine and vitE and I have a horse and a pony who both look fantastic, and are full of energy and enthusiasm, well mannered and happy.

I've never fed a balancer in my life, and I've looked after a hell of a lot of horses over the years, from tip top competition types to hairy ponies and all points in between. I'd happily feed specific things for a specific horse, but the feed and supplement companies are just out for your money generally, and I hate compound feeds with a passion because of the stuff that's hidden in them.

Interestingly, someone locally commented to a friend that I was out of date and didn't understand about modern feeding practices - I did actually teach it until a few years ago - but I have beautifully mannered, fit and healthy horses, and she has a yard full of crazies that are overweight, riddled with issues, and dangerous to ride and handle. I dread to think what she spends on feed, balancers and supplements to achieve that.
 
Rowreach said:
As decent quality hay as I can get (not that easy this winter due to last year's awful summer), a bit of sugar beet, a small cup of Outshine and vitE and I have a horse and a pony who both look fantastic, and are full of energy and enthusiasm, well mannered and happy.

I've never fed a balancer in my life, and I've looked after a hell of a lot of horses over the years, from tip top competition types to hairy ponies and all points in between. I'd happily feed specific things for a specific horse, but the feed and supplement companies are just out for your money generally, and I hate compound feeds with a passion because of the stuff that's hidden in them.

Interestingly, someone locally commented to a friend that I was out of date and didn't understand about modern feeding practices - I did actually teach it until a few years ago - but I have beautifully mannered, fit and healthy horses, and she has a yard full of crazies that are overweight, riddled with issues, and dangerous to ride and handle. I dread to think what she spends on feed, balancers and supplements to achieve that.
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Exactly what I'm trying to avoid! I do just think they need a little boost as the forage quality has been low, same as when we haven't been eating great and it shows in your skin etc.
 
In the past I just fed what I wanted and couldn’t be arsed with the whole mins and vits thing. Now I am completely anal about it and won’t feed pellets either as refuse to pay for the extra cost. Mainly because one horse is such a nightmare with skin, health etc and so by feeding a proper balanced diet nothing is missing.
Even the Shetland gets vits and mins now though didn’t get anything for years and is clearly still alive.
I feed a full gut balancer, vits&mins and fenugreek, plus they get a lot of hard food this time of year as don’t get really any turnout and in fairly decent work. If I am feeling tight I get mole valley vits and mins and if feeling more flush then it’s vits and mins from company which isn’t forage first but similar.
They all perform, are more settled in themselves and on the whole have very few niggles but it will be interesting as they get older if the normal issues crop up. I could be throwing money down the drain but as I am always looking at marginal gains in management then this seems an obvious one to keep on top of.
 
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