Top Spec lite and foot issues

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Archie73

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Hi

Does anyone feed or has fed this to a horse with navicular that is barefoot?

I am really trying to work out if alfafa (pellet is mainly alfafa) is "safe" or if it is high in sugar?

Would be grateful for any opinions and experiences.

I am waiting for my copy of feet first to arrive but am too eager to start sorting diet now!!!

Shoes off in 2-4 weeks depending on growth!!!

Am all excited and nervous non stop and can't stop reading any and everything on the net. Thank goodness for iPhones lol
 
I have an inkling that top spec is not brilliant for barefoot horses. I cannot tell you why,but bumping up for the experts.

I do know that I used simple systems for a year,loads of Alfalfa and my horse was not brilliant on the stuff. It can upset the mineral balance in a significant way.

I now use pure feeds. Very happy with the results.
 
I have an inkling that top spec is not brilliant for barefoot horses. I cannot tell you why,but bumping up for the experts.

I do know that I used simple systems for a year,loads of Alfalfa and my horse was not brilliant on the stuff. It can upset the mineral balance in a significant way.

I now use pure feeds. Very happy with the results.

Thanks for the bump!

Would you be able to tell me exactly what pure feeds you feed and to what sort of lucky horse?

Thanks again
 
I feed pure easy to an 8 year old 17.2 KWPN and to a Knabxappy filly who is 21 months old. They are both out 24/7 on unimproved pasture and get ad lib hay through the winter.
because I feed less than the recommended amount of pure easy(especially in summer) I add a mug full of pure balance which contains vits,mins and yeast.

Both look well and will happily trot over sharp stones,so I reckon I am getting it right for them at the moment!
 
Anecdotally there are a number of people whose horses don't do well on Top Spec. My friend's horse was very itchy on it and had brittle tail hair that broke off. Lots of barefooters don't tolerate alfalfa.

I recommend that you feed both magnesium oxide and yeast if you aren't already doing that.

When you get Feet First, a lot of the cases use seaweed. Don't feed seaweed unless you know that you are not overloaded with iron or iodine, because it's high in both and can cause problems.
 
Can anyone tell me why TopSpec is not good for barefoot horses? Mine were on it for years and suffered no side effects, their feet were beautiful. Not on it at the moment because of costs, but would be interested to hear the reasons people think it is bad.

ETA I tend not to feed alfalfa, a couple of mine turn into psychos on it, recently found a new product called Haysoft (made by the Bedsoft people) which has no preservatives, mollasses or any additives whatsoever, I use the hay chop for my veteran (in a tub trug as hay replacer) as it is so soft and easy for her to eat, the fatties get the oat straw chop, again nothing added - it's fairly cheap too, so far so good :)
 
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Amaranta said:
Can anyone tell me why TopSpec is not good for barefoot horses? Mine were on it for years and suffered no side effects, their feet were beautiful. Not on it at the moment because of costs, but would be interested to hear the reasons people think it is bad.
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I don't know if anyone has gotten to the bottom of it; as cptrayes says, the evidence is anecdotal. I have heard of many barefoot horses which are footy on TopSpec, but have never heard any reasons why. It's enough for me to avoid it, though!
 
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