Purina Miniature Horse and Pony Feed

[CKC]

We have started feeding it this week on the 60 day challenge.

 

[SammyL]

I use it and love it.

I get mine from a small farm supply store. $11.00 a bag.

 

[Ashley]

Have not looked at it and probably wouldnt. I have never been happy with their feeds and prefer and am satisfied with Front Runner Feeds so will stick with what works.

 

[zoeleeme]

Love this feed! Has been wonderful for my mini's! I feed them less and they are all looking fine! One of my mares usually throws her food out of her feeder...not a problem as she loves this feed. I think I need to shop around though! I buy at Tractor Supply and I think I am paying 15.99! But I had a five dollar cupon last week! That helps~!

 

[disneyhorse]

How in the world can they get away with that? The "Purina" store here only sells it for $13.75 -- so how can they sell it for MORE than Purina! Talk about mark-up! I hope you can find somewhere to get it. I know I'm paying "some" markup -- but this is a Purina store in a very small town and family owned, so I don't mind having them make a bit of profit to stay open! That plus they get me anything Purina that I ask about -- and started handling the Mini Feed after I asked about it. Now they have several customers coming from Sarasota/Bradenton area on the gulf coast about 45-50 minutes away to get it because no one is stocking it over there!

WOW! TSC at $15.99 -- amazing! And the bad thing at our TSC (who I love for Alfalfa) is that their turn-over on feed is horrid and things go bad before they're sold. At least our Purina store gets a new shipment bi-weekly to keep the product turning over quickly.

.

Well, feed around here is pretty expensive, too. My local feed store has Purina Strategy for $19.99 a bag... far more than the rest of you seem to pay.

Andrea

 

[chandab]

How in the world can they get away with that? The "Purina" store here only sells it for $13.75 -- so how can they sell it for MORE than Purina! Talk about mark-up! .

Don't forget about the freight charges, everything where I live is expensive and its mostly because we are so darn far from anywhere that the freight just kills you.

I also don't know if all TSC's charge the same price on products, as there'll be more freight charges on items sent to stores further from the shipping depots.

 

[lcwallis]

Thank you everyone for your input.. We've been feeding Omalene 200 with BOSS and beet pulp for a while but have decided to try out the Mini/Pony feed... It looks like we won't have to supplement with beet pulp or anything else but hay.. Can't wait to see the results.

thanks again

Lynda

 

[LindaL]

How in the world can they get away with that? The "Purina" store here only sells it for $13.75 -- so how can they sell it for MORE than Purina! Talk about mark-up! I hope you can find somewhere to get it. I know I'm paying "some" markup -- but this is a Purina store in a very small town and family owned, so I don't mind having them make a bit of profit to stay open! That plus they get me anything Purina that I ask about -- and started handling the Mini Feed after I asked about it. Now they have several customers coming from Sarasota/Bradenton area on the gulf coast about 45-50 minutes away to get it because no one is stocking it over there!

WOW! TSC at $15.99 -- amazing! And the bad thing at our TSC (who I love for Alfalfa) is that their turn-over on feed is horrid and things go bad before they're sold. At least our Purina store gets a new shipment bi-weekly to keep the product turning over quickly.

.

Diane...where are you buying it?? I had them order me some at the Bradenton TSC, but if it is going to be cheaper at the store you are getting it at, I will have Deb stop by and get some on her way home from work if it is cheaper out there!!

 

[LindaL]

Can someone scan/post a pic of the ingredients tag please?? Thanks!!

 

[minimomNC]

CRUDE PROTEIN MIN 13.50%

LYSINE MIN 0.80%

CRUDE FAT MIN 4.50%

CRUDE FIBER MAX 18.00%

CALCIUM (CA) MIN 0.80%

CALCIUM (CA) MAX 1.30%

PHOSPHORUS (P) MIN 0.65%

COPPER (CU) MIN 75 PPM

SELENIUM (SE) MIN 0.60 PPM

ZINC (ZN) MIN 270 PPM

VITAMIN A MIN 6000 IU/LB

VITAMIN E MIN 125 IU/LB

FEATURES

BENEFITS

Purina® Amplify® Nugget The Purina® Amplify® Nugget is a patented, high-fat extruded particle that contains a proprietary blend of vegetable oils, falxseed and rice bran for an optimal fatty acid profile that supports a strong immune function.

High Quality Proteins Proprietary amino acids (building blocks of proteins) that support strong muscle growth, shiny coat and healthy hooves.

Beet Pulp Contains beet pulp inside the pellet as an excellent source of fermentable fiber for slow release energy.

Nutritionally Balanced Provides 100% of the required nutrients for horses when fed as directed* so no additional supplements are necessary.

*Based on "Nutrient Requirements of Horses Sixth Revised Edition - 2007" published by the National Research Council.

Highly Digestible Ingredients Provides nutrient density and supports proper digestion.

Consistently Fresh, Quality Natural Ingredients Superior, consistent nutrition.

Incredibly Palatable Premium formulation with high-quality ingredients for excellent palatability.

Controlled Sugars & Starch May help reduce the risk of adverse health effects caused by the management error of overfeeding.

FeedGuard® Nutrition System The FeedGuard® Nutrition System is one of the industry's most innovative and exacting quality assurance programs. FeedGuard® Nutrition System can help deliver the trust, quality and performance that horse professionals demand every day.

From TSC website

Purina® Miniature Horse and Pony Feed is the only one of its kind designed to meet the needs of miniature horses and ponies, who tend to be more metabolically efficient than large horses but still meet the nutritional demands imposed by growth, reproduction and work. Rich in highly digestible fiber and critical amino acids but low in starches and sugars, this palatable formula is well-fortified to meet all the needs of mini-horses and ponies, despite their relatively small intake.

Ingredients:

Flaxseed, Beet pulp, Distiller's grains, Stabilized rice bran, Natural anti-oxidants, Chelated minerals, Yeasacc yeast supplement and Natural tocopherols. .

Guaranteed Analysis:

Crude Protein (min.) 12.50%, Lysine (min.) .75%, Crude Fat (min.) 4.50%, Crude Fiber (max.) 16.00%, Calcium (Ca) (min.) .80%, Calcium (Ca) (max.) 1.30%, Phosphorus (P) (min.) .65%, Salt (NaCl) (min.) .40%, Salt (NaCl) (max.) .90%, Copper (Cu) (min.) 50.00 ppm, Selenium (Se) (min.) .60 ppm, Zinc (Zn) (min.) 125.00 ppm, Vitamin A (min.) 6000 IU/lb, Vitamin D3 (min.) 600 IU/lb, Vitamin E (min.) 100IU/lb, Ruminant meat and bone meal free.

Feeding instructions:

Recommendations are in lbs of feed per 150 lb. body weight per day, preferably spaced over several small meals. Feed along with at least 0.8% of horse's body weight in good quality forage (about 1.2 lb. hay per 150 lb. body weight), more if animal is active or not overweight. The feeding quantities of both hay and pellets should be adjusted according to the activity level of the horse and the desired body condition. Feeding rates may vary with age, size, temperament, metabolism, health status, climate, forage quality, lactation quantity and activity level. Do not offer concentrate free-choice. Changes in feeds or feeding rates should be made gradually over a period of 7 to 10 days to allow the digestive system to adjust. Always provide free-choice salt and clean, fresh water.

Maintenance/Light work - 0.75 to 1.0 1.0 to 1.5

Moderate/hard work - 1.0 to 3.0 1.25 to 3.0

Early to mid-gestation - 0.75 to 1.0 1.0 to 1.5

Late gestation/lactation - 1.0 to 3.0 1.25 to 3.5

Stallions in Service - 1.25 to 3.5 1.5 to 3.5

Growth to 18 months - 1.5 to 2.5 1.5 to 3.0

 

[mdegner]

We switched over to this food early in the year for our older show horses (2+ years old) and our brood mares and we really like it. This may have been mentioned earlier, but we had a mare with a very cresty neck and this has reduced it. It's approx, $13.75 a bag up here.

 

[wingnut]

For those of you who have switched and are happy with it, can you give me an idea of how much you're feeding your horses?

I must have read the pkg wrong because by my calculation, it calls for 2x as much of this feed vs. what I'm currently feeding with Strategy. The cost for this where I am is slightly higher than Strategy. So, from a cost standpoint, I'd be spending much more because I'd go through a bag faster.

All five of my younger girls (all easier keepers) get 1/4lb of Strategy 2x a day.

 

[shadowpaints]

we tried the platform feed, only had 3-4 horses that would even touch it. by the third bag of that, it had changed color drasticly, and was super dusty. even my least picky horse wouldnt touch it! went back to omelene, then this came out and a friend was feeding it, said it was AWESOME! i thought ok, well ill try it on a few and see how it goes..

right now, every one is getting 2-6 cups depending on their work load... and growth. im only adding alfalfa pellets because we are a bit low on hay . they are looking AWESOME my mare that i have never been able to get a decent topline on FINALLY has one!!! my yearlings look great! im sold on this feed!

 

[mydaddysjag]

I am switching our new horse over to it. My two local feed stores have been out of strategy for what seems like forever. I guess they both got a bad batch of it (probably from the same supplier?) and had to send it back. That was like two weeks ago, and both are still out of strategy. The new guy is a bit pudgy, so I figured we would try switching him over to it and see how he does. Im not going to change Domingo, hes on Ultium because he needs the high fat content to keep condition.

 

[minimomNC]

I feel like I am feeding less to my horses to get the same results. I don't go through a bag of feed as quickly as I once did.

 

[wingnut]

Here's the feeding guidelines from the "sell sheet" for the Pony & Miniature feed:

According to this, if I were to use this, I would be feeding my four 2-yr olds between 1.4lbs and 2lbs (vs. the 1/2 lbs per day Strategy they currently get). My 3-yr old would get about 1 pound per day (vs. the 1/2 lb. per day Strategy). Are those of you feeding this following these guidelines?

On the other hand, according to the portion of the miniature feed chart I've copied here, that looks at several different Purina products, following the "Active Pleasure - Maintenance" the recommendation is between 1/2 pound and 1 pound. As all of my girls on Strategy are "easy keepers", I go with the lower end of 1/2lb for all of them.

Of course, both guidelines also recommend more hay than I thought was required...I follow the 1-2% of body weight guideline. Right now, all my chunky monkeys but the hardkeeper are getting roughly 1% of their weight in hay. I also want to note that I have "good" weight information on each horse as I just had them all weighed by our feed mill's equine specialist who brings out her portable scale for me.

 

[Windhaven]

I guess I am one of the odd people. I did not like it.

I have tried this on two broodmares that where sold because the new owners wanted them switched over.

I had them up to the required amount for a mare with foal at side. They wouldn't eat it all and they started dropping weight in the flank area. Just did not look as good and had to feed more than what I was feeding before.

 

[patrpbfl]

I just found this thread on the Purina mini and pony feed. Does anyone know if this is safe for metabolic syndrome minis? I read the ingredient tag on a bag at the feed store, and the #5 ingredient is cane molasses. I've been soaking beet pulp for a year now to feed her and with winter coming up again, I would like to switch to something that doesn't need to be WET, for my poor frozen hands.

If anyone has any experience with feeding these guys (she foundered two years ago), I would love any input. She's very sensitive to sugars and I would like to know what other people are feeding. The hay alone (soaked grass hay) isn't maintaining her. Thanks!

 

[WeeOkie]

Pat.......

I'll tell you my experience. I have several foundered mares that I have to feed seperately. The absolute best feed I have found is Triple Crown Safe Starch Forage. They also get some grass hay. After the Purina Mini feed came out (which I am using for almost all my horses) I decided to try the founder girls on a little of it. Here's what they get: twice a day prairie hay, Morning a small serving of Mini Feed (little over a cup each) and night they get 2 lbs. each of Safe Forage along with their hay. I have not been on this long enough to see a weight change but neither have I seen any sore feet. I may increase the grain gradually until I see a weight gain, unless of course I see founder symptoms.

Rita

 

[JMS Miniatures]

Ok I'm sure I posted on this liking this feed and couldn't say anything but good things about it. I'm going to change my answer. In Sept. at AMHR Nationals my one guy I noticed had such a real dull coat. He has been on the mini feed for a few months, at least past the 60 day challange.

June, 2011 MoorGLO by ADM

Coat real shiny and colorful but was still overweight even with exercise. Feed was 18% fat, limited starch.

September, 2011 Miniature Horse & Pony by Purina

Condition is good but coat is dull and not shiny, I don't think he was spot on as in the past either.

Soon after Nationals he stopped eating. With all that has been going on I was treating him like an ulcer case. But after 2 weeks of not eating the grain and not getting better with treatment I took him to a equine hospital but after much tests he was the picture of perfect health. The vet told me that he was not a fan of the new mini feed as it wasn't much nutrients for the horses and a high NSC %. So I put him on a new feed called PrimeGLO by ADM. It's for mature horses that are trail or light performance horses. I wouldn't hesitate to go with the MoorGLO again, he looked awesome on it besides being overweight but he was overweight to begin with. The one thing I like about ADM is you don't need to feed a whole lot of grain as their main focus is forage as it should be. Right now I'm giving him .60 of a pound of grain daily along with close to 5#s of hay a day. Where as on the mini feed he was getting over a pound of grain a day along with 3#s of hay. If you can get ADM feeds in your area I highly recommend speaking with them and what is the best option for your girl. The PrimeGLO might not be enough for her so they may suggest something like MoorGLO or HealthyGLO.

Also wanted to say after the vet visit and got my horse back I was giving him the mini feed again to try and mix the PrimeGLO so I can switch over. He wouldn't eat it. So I decided just to give the PrimeGLO and now he fights me just to get to the bucket. He loves it.