I'd like to suggest that anyone interested, take a look at the websites of a different kind of horse feed that I recently read about on a different but horse-oriented forum. I was intrigued, so went to the feed website - www.thrivefeed.com/Landing.html - (click on the various subjects on the left), and www.dalemoulton.com - which is the feed creator's website. Read all the information; see what you think. I am not advocating this for EVERY horse, but I personally really like,and pretty much agree with, the philosophies expressed and 'built in' to the making of the feed.
Through sheer coincidence, I was able to get my daughter(who was traveling in TX at the time I got the initial information on this feed, and was very near a dealer at the time)to bring me two bags. After much thought, I decided to try it on ONE horse(because I didn't have much, and the nearest dealer is between 400-500 miles away). I am so far darned impressed. The 15 YO miniature gelding on the feed is a confirmed cribber of long standing, and has had ulcer issues for years. BEFORE starting the 'THRIVE', I felt I'd finally achieved a stable situation on the ulcer issue...and that still seems the case. He was NOT in bad shape at all, just didn't look, or seem to feel, quite as good as I thought he could. He has now been on the feed for about 3 1/2 weeks(along with, as suggested on the website by the maker, plenty of good forage hay)-which he was already getting, but now, he cleans it ALL up, even though he now gets just the merest hint of alfalfa at each hay feed; before, he was getting a generous amount,nearly half by weight of his hay feedings. This horse had NOTICABLY filled out along his top line. He just 'looks' much better, even though he has been inactive over the winter and is certainly not in 'athletically fit' condition. His whole demeanor seems more calm, relaxed, comfortable in his skin, so to speak.
I am about to be able to obtain another 10-12 bags of this feed(thanks to my wonderful daughter, who likes to take road trips and will combine a trip to central TX to see an old high school friend with picking this feed up for me!) I REALLY want to be able to give this feed a decent 'trial use' on one or two of my other horses...ones that have no health/well-being issues...to see what results. (I did put a cribbing collar 'back' on the first horse at about the same time I started him on the 'THRIVE', and realize there is no way to tell how much of this improvement *might* be due to his being prevent from cribbing...), so I want to start w/ a 'clean slate', so to speak. All of my other horses are doing well and looking well, but...I want to see if they can do and look even better...plus,I am attracted to the simplicity of feeding, and claimed safety in feeding, of the 'THRIVE'.It, plenty of good forage(grass hay/grazing), fresh drinking-temp water, access to salt...no mixing this, that, the other...no molasses, etc.
I realize that everyone has somewhat different circumstances in their 'horsekeeping'and that for any number of reasons, this feed might not appeal to some. I just am, so far at least, impressed enough both by the feed and the feeding philosophies (even though I've followed some of the more recent 'trends', such as added fat,etc.,right along with everyone else), I have wondered about the probability of 'real' benefit from such.) The more I study and learn, the more I agree with the notion that horses are best off eating as CLOSE to the way and the 'stuff' they evolved to eat, in every way possible."THRIVE' starts w/ quality alfalfa, then TIMOTHY grass...there is only one actual 'grain'--sorghum--along w/ soy, rice bran, kelp, and a host of vit/min. Alfalfa, a legume, while not something you'd GRAZE horses on when in growth mode, is one of the best all-around nutritive plant sources around. Again, read for yourself, decide.
FWIW...All of my horses now LOVE the 'THRIVE'; I've offered it as a 'treat' out of hand to all; some were surprised by the 'mouth feel'at first, but ALL now eagerly take it.
I would love to hear if anyone else has tried it?! 'THRIVE' is not in wide distribution; almost all the dealers are in TX. Word I've heard is that the TSCs may carry it...that some customers have been requesting it.
I actually found samples of a somewhat 'similar' product at one of my area feed stores just the other day. Seems the 'CEO' had been by to hand out samples, brochures, encourage them to carry it. Formula first seemed 'similar' to the 'THRIVE', but I was not interested when I saw the 2nd ingredient was CORN, which I do not like in horse feed-especially as such a primary ingredient(as it is in MANY horse feeds, though not necessarily well-recognized.) This one appears AZ-based. Something tells me that this concept of a 'processed' feed may spread, though...JMHO, of course.
Anyway...hoping to open a thoughtful discusssion....
(Disclaimer: I am in NO way connected with "THRIVE" feed or its maker.)
Margo in NM...where it feels like half the state is on fire...please, pray for rain in AZ and NM and all the drought-stricken areas of the US which are so under threat of devastating fire!
Through sheer coincidence, I was able to get my daughter(who was traveling in TX at the time I got the initial information on this feed, and was very near a dealer at the time)to bring me two bags. After much thought, I decided to try it on ONE horse(because I didn't have much, and the nearest dealer is between 400-500 miles away). I am so far darned impressed. The 15 YO miniature gelding on the feed is a confirmed cribber of long standing, and has had ulcer issues for years. BEFORE starting the 'THRIVE', I felt I'd finally achieved a stable situation on the ulcer issue...and that still seems the case. He was NOT in bad shape at all, just didn't look, or seem to feel, quite as good as I thought he could. He has now been on the feed for about 3 1/2 weeks(along with, as suggested on the website by the maker, plenty of good forage hay)-which he was already getting, but now, he cleans it ALL up, even though he now gets just the merest hint of alfalfa at each hay feed; before, he was getting a generous amount,nearly half by weight of his hay feedings. This horse had NOTICABLY filled out along his top line. He just 'looks' much better, even though he has been inactive over the winter and is certainly not in 'athletically fit' condition. His whole demeanor seems more calm, relaxed, comfortable in his skin, so to speak.
I am about to be able to obtain another 10-12 bags of this feed(thanks to my wonderful daughter, who likes to take road trips and will combine a trip to central TX to see an old high school friend with picking this feed up for me!) I REALLY want to be able to give this feed a decent 'trial use' on one or two of my other horses...ones that have no health/well-being issues...to see what results. (I did put a cribbing collar 'back' on the first horse at about the same time I started him on the 'THRIVE', and realize there is no way to tell how much of this improvement *might* be due to his being prevent from cribbing...), so I want to start w/ a 'clean slate', so to speak. All of my other horses are doing well and looking well, but...I want to see if they can do and look even better...plus,I am attracted to the simplicity of feeding, and claimed safety in feeding, of the 'THRIVE'.It, plenty of good forage(grass hay/grazing), fresh drinking-temp water, access to salt...no mixing this, that, the other...no molasses, etc.
I realize that everyone has somewhat different circumstances in their 'horsekeeping'and that for any number of reasons, this feed might not appeal to some. I just am, so far at least, impressed enough both by the feed and the feeding philosophies (even though I've followed some of the more recent 'trends', such as added fat,etc.,right along with everyone else), I have wondered about the probability of 'real' benefit from such.) The more I study and learn, the more I agree with the notion that horses are best off eating as CLOSE to the way and the 'stuff' they evolved to eat, in every way possible."THRIVE' starts w/ quality alfalfa, then TIMOTHY grass...there is only one actual 'grain'--sorghum--along w/ soy, rice bran, kelp, and a host of vit/min. Alfalfa, a legume, while not something you'd GRAZE horses on when in growth mode, is one of the best all-around nutritive plant sources around. Again, read for yourself, decide.
FWIW...All of my horses now LOVE the 'THRIVE'; I've offered it as a 'treat' out of hand to all; some were surprised by the 'mouth feel'at first, but ALL now eagerly take it.
I would love to hear if anyone else has tried it?! 'THRIVE' is not in wide distribution; almost all the dealers are in TX. Word I've heard is that the TSCs may carry it...that some customers have been requesting it.
I actually found samples of a somewhat 'similar' product at one of my area feed stores just the other day. Seems the 'CEO' had been by to hand out samples, brochures, encourage them to carry it. Formula first seemed 'similar' to the 'THRIVE', but I was not interested when I saw the 2nd ingredient was CORN, which I do not like in horse feed-especially as such a primary ingredient(as it is in MANY horse feeds, though not necessarily well-recognized.) This one appears AZ-based. Something tells me that this concept of a 'processed' feed may spread, though...JMHO, of course.
Anyway...hoping to open a thoughtful discusssion....
(Disclaimer: I am in NO way connected with "THRIVE" feed or its maker.)
Margo in NM...where it feels like half the state is on fire...please, pray for rain in AZ and NM and all the drought-stricken areas of the US which are so under threat of devastating fire!
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