Vitamins and Mineral Block

Randonneuse

Randonneuse

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Hi,

My barefoot trimmer recommended me the suplement Surelimb (Dodson & Horrell) few months ago for my 13.2hh 16 year old gelding.
He is barefoot, living out 24/7, still no rug at the moment and with ad lib hay in winter. (no supplement except for a block of Himalyan Salt)
His feet looks great but he hasn't had any of the Surelimb powder as he hates it! (I ended up giving it to an other livery as I tried on its own, mixed up with hay, inside a carrot, on a piece of hard bread, piece of apple...nothing worked!)

So does anyone know of a lick I could buy which contain the same things as Surelimb please? Or similar? (if unmolassed it would be better)

Thank you! :-)
 
Have you tried it in unmolassed sugarbeet, maybe with some mint?

It does seem very high spec, though - do you know why your trimmer recommended it specifically?
 
She just said to put some on its own on the floor everytime I tie him up to brush him, do his feet etc...
And she said he would only eat it if he NEEDS it.
But it seems to me than he just hates the smell of it as he hasn't wanted any since May when I bought it... unless he really doesn't need any vitamins and has found/finds everything he needs in the hay/grass?
What do you think?
I haven't tried any unmollassed or other supplement of any kind yet as wasn't sure what to get.
(trimmer is coming in 10 days time and I'll ask her about it)
I went to a feed store yesterday and they wanted to sell me a mineral and salt block but was mollassed so I didn't get it!

Thank you :-)
 
Dengie do a lite lick - but it doesn't seem overley palatable!! It's very, very low sugar too.
Why not try D&H Equibites?? they are a vit/min supplement in a biscuit form, fed from the hand or in the bowl, unmolassed too.
 
Dodson and Horrell UNIBLOCK.

Comes in two sizes and once the horses get over the 'alien' appearing in the field generally love them.
 
My lot can be funny about supplements but my laminitic mare loves the product sold by the Laminitis Trust specially for feet. It is flavoured with apple juice.
 
How much of the Himalayan Salt lick does he take? It's a supplement in it's own right, I have some that will go through a 5k block in a month, and others that don't touch it, it's the only supplement I offer them.
 
How about a rockies field and stable block? No molasses at all, you can put it in the field or stable and it won't melt away - then he can please himself! http://www.rockies.co.uk/
P.S. don't be swayed by lami trust approved stuff, unfortunatly they often contain molasses or low sugar molasses (just added sugar by another name!) - you still need to hunt down the little white paper label attached to the food back and see for yourself what is actually in the food. I wish manufactuers would be more open about what is in the bag though!
 
Thanks to everyone!

I'll have a look at all the suggestions you've given me :-)

Intouch, I give him the salt while I get him ready for a hack (I only hack) or untack him.
I tried to put the Himalayan salt out in the field thinking it wouldn't melt easily as it is very hard but it did so now he only has it when I ride (3 times a week at the moment, 6 times in the Summer as still light after work!)
Does the himalayan salt contain vitamins?? I didn't think so?
 
Unless there is something he is specifically lacking, he should be getting all the vitamins he needs from grass/hay - the salt does contain natural minerals. I've left a block in the field with 3 ponies for 3 months now, they don't use it a lot, there is at least 1/2 of it left. Are you sure he wasn't using it, rather than melting?
I never heard of just leaving a supplement for the horse to choose to eat or not - I suppose if he isn't eating it he doesn't need it, but I'd be encouraging him with some SB rather than waste it!
Is there actually a problem, why do you think he needs a supplement? Most horses are fine with just grass / hay, it can be a bit of a con to make us feel guilty and buy expensive stuff.
 
I don't think he is lacking of any vitamins and that's probably why he wasn't eating that Surelimb powder.
I'll ask my barefoot trimmer when she comes to do his feet in 10 days times and see what she thinks :-)
I think it melted a bit when left outside (Bilto also used it) but now I've chosen to give it to him only when I go there as otherwise the 2 mares he shares the field with get it as well and I'm the only one buying it!!(it's not that cheap)
 
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