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| People often want to know what the horses diets consist of, so I figured I may as well share what is working for my horses and the horses I have here on the property - with a few variations dependant on the individual horses needs... All horses are different, and will either need more, or less of a particular feed. I am not listing the amounts of the feed I am using generally here - as each horse is a bit different. I have found that the easiest way to feed is to have horses split into their groups and paddocks dependant on their feeding requirements and who they get along with! Pic 1: Maxi Soy - MUST be soaked - I generally put about 5 times as much water in there as there is dry volume of Maxi Soy pellets... Great as a conditioner for horses and excellent source of fibre and a brilliant way to get some moisture into your horse - keeping in mind that when winter hits - the horses drink less, but consume more hay and can end up with colic due to not having enough liquid in their system to keep things flowing smoothly! Have not had a horse leave any of this over in the feed tub yet! Pic 2: James & Son High-Pro Horse Developer - what a fantastic feed - this is a non-oat museli mix containing very high levels of energy and protein, formulated from steam rolled and cracked grains, blended with molasses and oil. This has: Soy Bean Flakes, Steam Rolled Barley, Steam Rolled Lupins, Black Sunflower Seeds, Oil, High Maintenance Horse Pellets, Split Faba Beans, Molasses as well as a Vitamin and Mineral Mix. The horses love it and it is not as heavily molassified as a lot of other premix feeds. Great value for money and suitable for growing horses as well horses in work, pregnant or lactating and conditioning. Pic 3: Cool Conditioner - a simple, all round pellet that is non heating but great for gaining and maintaining condition for horses of all ages. Pic 4: Salt - Yes, good old salt! I put a handful of salt in the hard feeds - this also aids in the horses water intake - as you know - you eat salty foods and you want to drink more! As a bonus - if you run out in the kitchen - just fill up your canister from the bag! |
| Lucerne Chaff and Oaten or Wheaten Chaff - I prefer the steam cut chaff, as it is less dusty than the rough cut versions, and generally only use chaff as a 'filler' with horses who need the extra rougage but dont have fantastic teeth to grind hay effectively. Hay - We have a good source of quality Meadow, Oaten and Lucerne Hay and dependant on their needs - the horses generally get round bales or free access to as much hay as they would like - with the lucerne as a little extra given - this one is not generally freely available to them. 007 Mineral Block - a great all round mineral lick for horses. We try to use the 20kg blocks as they last quite well and are great in paddocks with a number of horses sharing. My theory with feeding is that you keep it as simple as possible - start with good quality hay - and let them have as much of that as they would like provided they are not on limited intake for weight, age or veterinary reasons.... So Hay, Hay and More Hay.... As horses are grazing animals and in the wild would be eating about 20 - 23 hours a day - it helps their gut keep moving and you reduce the risk of colics due to sand or gorging themselves provided they are getting enough liquid in their diet as well - which in the winter months is where the soaked feeds come in really handy, or just giving them a salt lick/mineral lick... it will make them drink more. From time to time I may use an additional supplement dependant on what is required and the feed nutritional value at the time... Cal-Plus with Biotin is good in measured doses for growing horses. Be careful not to 'overdose' though and muck up the calcium : phosphorus ratio, and just check what the other feeds that you are giving have in them. Feramo-H with Chromium or Equilibrium are both very good and I have used them from time to time. Performa 3 Oil from Mitavite is very good as well. I have found the Barastoc Feeds, and Mitavite to be extremely good as well in the past and will use them again in the future at some point no doubt! Please note: I am not an equine nutritionist, I am just recording what works for me and my horses. |