why do you feed, what you feed

[seaofdreams]

i was cleaning out the feed room at work yesturday and thought of a interesting poll (this is my first so please excuse me) but i was wondering why you all feed the feeds you do is it because

 

[CastleMouse]

I decided myself through research, Castle is fed on Red Mills Cool & Cooked.

 

[Mellymoo1]

I feed Brads what his old owners fed him, he looks pretty good on it so I'm not in a hurry to change it. I've tweaked it slightly by adding some more supplements in addition to what he used to have.

 

[Frazer]

I normally go trough what I know with my knowledge of feeds anyway, but with my underweight mare phoned up dodson and horell and they gave me a full diet plan and was really helpful!!

 

[seaofdreams]

I also go through reseach and i have spoken to a feed company when they came to check the horses at my work ,
Mouse is on Red Mills horse care cubes, Slow realease energy cubes and Happy Hoof, oh and lots of carrots and apples!!

 

[seaofdreams]

hi Mellymoo,
how is Bradley ?

 

[Mellymoo1]

Hes great thanks!! Had a lesson on him today and he was an angel. Thinking of having a dabble in some dressage with him next year.

 

[seaofdreams]

great, im really pleased,
he should do a great dressage test !!
Good Luck
Helen x

 

[PoppyPony]

I decided through research - but talking to my friend/instructor sort of counts as research because she has an equine science degree and researched feeding! I feed hi-fi lite but when he's in work in the winter he'l go on alfa-beet and a sup.

 

[MagicMelon]

Im a bit sad in that I actually enjoy reading about new feeds on the market etc.! But I decide what my horses need and then read up on all the different things suitable and then make my choice from that.

Supplement wise - I do tend to listen to recommendations from friends. If they say something is absolutely amazing then I might try it.

 

[lizzie_liz]

It started as what the yard feed as that was all there was, since moving yard have just stuck to what i feed, but have also done own research as well as the horses have changed workloads and conditions.

 

[Janette]

I've just moved from full livery to DIY, so deciding what to feed has been quite interesting. I rang Top Spec who were very helpful, then found that some of what they recommended was not available at my feed merchant so made a couple of substitutes - Baileys Cool Mix for the Topspec, and Blue chip for the calmer. They advised Dengies Hi Fi Lite so we are going with that for the time being and seeing how things go.

 

[madabout2]

I asked my YO for advice so put that down. But that could also be research!

 

[chestnut cob]

Haven't voted as it's several of those....

Sort of make it up as I go along, trial and error really. I now know there are some feeds I can't give him as he goes loopy, others that I can safely feed (I also know there are some that fizz him up a bit, so he gets those if he needs more "go").

Also go by advice from instructors and more knowledgable friends who've suggested things. I moved from Good Doer to Hifi Lite on the advice of Topspec, then added Economy Mix on the advice of my last instructor.

Just trial and error really

 

[RunToEarth]

Bekka's mother co owns the feed merchants, Argos. I ask her what to feed mine on based on what they are doing, where they are in the year and how fit they are, she always gets it right.

 

[Nari]

"Make it up as you go along"

I read a lot about feeds so I hope I can make a reasonably informed decision. However mine is a fussy eater who seems to react badly to certain feeds so finding a suitable diet for him has been a case of trial & error - he's now on a diet of straights with a couple of supplements.

 

[druid]

Research!!

Soaked oats - no additives, no molasses, eays to digest, good to put on condition and keep it.
Alfalfa - to balance the Cah ratio of the oats and to add protein, again no molasses/additives.
Bailey's Outshine - High-oil, listed ingredients, good way to feed oil to horse who hates overly oily feeds.

 

[Governor]

A mix of research and judging it on the horse really.

HiFi Lite for fibre.
Horse and Pony cubes for general maintinence.
Cooked flaked barley for more energy, shine and condition.
Glucosamine and MSM for his joints (growing lad - can get a bit clicky from time to time without it).

I'll be honest I do chuck half the recommended amount of Equivite in as a precaution - mainly going into winter or when he's in heavy work and i'm convinced it helps his condition.

He's looking really well so I must be doing something right although I want to get rid of the cubes and add some linseed over winter.