mydaddysjag
Well-Known Member
So, I'm about to make the switch from Midas (coming 3yr old gelding, currently in no work, soon going to attempt to train for hunter, and fit for halter for local open shows) current diet which is:
Basically free choice grass mix hay, 1 handful blueseal strategy pelleted grain, Quiessence, and grand coat. He is not I/R, quiessence is because he is a very easy keeper and vet said it would be a good preventative, and also help calm him down a bit (he tends to be hot headed)
He is fat in some places (over his hips and his butt) but has a bit of a belly, and is lacking in the top line. I don't think he is butt high because he was level as a yearling when fit, and his withers and butt are same height, hes just missing the "in between". I would like to change his diet because I feel something is lacking, and the hay at the barn where I board isn't a GREAT quality, so I don't believe he is getting enough nutrients from it. I dont feel that the 1 handful 2x a day of strategy is enough to even give him the proper nutrients, because it is not a concentrated feed.
So, I am looking into ration balancers. My options are either Buckeye grow n win (for grass hay, 32% protein) or purina enrich 32 (formerly born to win, also for grass hay, 32% protein) From what I am reading they are about the same. Both are 32% protein, 5% fat, 5% fiber, I dont see the NSC for enrich 32, but for the grow n win it is 13%.
-Also, the grow n win first ingredients are: dehulled soybean meal, heat processed soybeans, wheat middlings, maize distillers dried grains, dehydrated alfalfa meal, L-Lysine, flax seed, vegetable oil, then the vitamins/minerals
-Enrich 32 ingredients are: Plant protein products, processed grain by-products, calcium carbonate, mono calcium phosphate, dicalcium phosphate, molasses products, forage products, soybean oil, then the vitamins/minerals.
Ingredient wise, I would think that the grow n win would be the better product, but im not experienced in ration balancers at all, so appreciate your input on what you think the better product is. Also, I see that I can feed oats for additional calories if my horse is in work.
Generally, how much oats do you feed to keep a horse in condition if it is in on a mild to moderate exercise schedule?
I really think that the ration balancer is the way to go, but I'm afraid that when I start working him harder and conditioning him that I won't be able to keep him in show shape if hes not on a regular grain, or that I'm going to have to worry about a hay belly, since this is meant to go with a hay based diet plan. One way I'm wondering if I'm not better off putting him on a 14% protein, 5% fat complete pelleted feed. I know with this in show season I can keep him fit, and I wont have to worry much about a hay belly as I can feed a good bit of beet pulp, some hay, and the complete feed has forage too.
I'm just trying to get my information correct before I stop by the feed store tomorrow.
It would be a great help if anyone had pictures of their conditioned show horses on a ration balancer so I can see what kind of shape it keeps them in.
Also, I have seen a lot of places saying not to add any supplements with a ration balancer, does this mean I cant feed a coat supplement or quiessence with it?
Basically free choice grass mix hay, 1 handful blueseal strategy pelleted grain, Quiessence, and grand coat. He is not I/R, quiessence is because he is a very easy keeper and vet said it would be a good preventative, and also help calm him down a bit (he tends to be hot headed)
He is fat in some places (over his hips and his butt) but has a bit of a belly, and is lacking in the top line. I don't think he is butt high because he was level as a yearling when fit, and his withers and butt are same height, hes just missing the "in between". I would like to change his diet because I feel something is lacking, and the hay at the barn where I board isn't a GREAT quality, so I don't believe he is getting enough nutrients from it. I dont feel that the 1 handful 2x a day of strategy is enough to even give him the proper nutrients, because it is not a concentrated feed.
So, I am looking into ration balancers. My options are either Buckeye grow n win (for grass hay, 32% protein) or purina enrich 32 (formerly born to win, also for grass hay, 32% protein) From what I am reading they are about the same. Both are 32% protein, 5% fat, 5% fiber, I dont see the NSC for enrich 32, but for the grow n win it is 13%.
-Also, the grow n win first ingredients are: dehulled soybean meal, heat processed soybeans, wheat middlings, maize distillers dried grains, dehydrated alfalfa meal, L-Lysine, flax seed, vegetable oil, then the vitamins/minerals
-Enrich 32 ingredients are: Plant protein products, processed grain by-products, calcium carbonate, mono calcium phosphate, dicalcium phosphate, molasses products, forage products, soybean oil, then the vitamins/minerals.
Ingredient wise, I would think that the grow n win would be the better product, but im not experienced in ration balancers at all, so appreciate your input on what you think the better product is. Also, I see that I can feed oats for additional calories if my horse is in work.
Generally, how much oats do you feed to keep a horse in condition if it is in on a mild to moderate exercise schedule?
I really think that the ration balancer is the way to go, but I'm afraid that when I start working him harder and conditioning him that I won't be able to keep him in show shape if hes not on a regular grain, or that I'm going to have to worry about a hay belly, since this is meant to go with a hay based diet plan. One way I'm wondering if I'm not better off putting him on a 14% protein, 5% fat complete pelleted feed. I know with this in show season I can keep him fit, and I wont have to worry much about a hay belly as I can feed a good bit of beet pulp, some hay, and the complete feed has forage too.
I'm just trying to get my information correct before I stop by the feed store tomorrow.
It would be a great help if anyone had pictures of their conditioned show horses on a ration balancer so I can see what kind of shape it keeps them in.
Also, I have seen a lot of places saying not to add any supplements with a ration balancer, does this mean I cant feed a coat supplement or quiessence with it?
Last edited by a moderator: