1. “At what age would be a good age to start feeding him a senior feed, he’s 14 now?”
2. “I wanted to double check with you as a friend recommended adding linseed and barley to her food?”
3. “I would like to put my horse on a low NSC/starch high fat program of feeding…”
4. “I’ve been doing some research and it seems that oats should be fed every day…”
5. “Or should I go ahead and feed her hay and feed twice a day but in smaller portions?”
6. Is there a safe and natural ingredient we can add to our horse ‘s water trough that will cut down on algae growth?
7. “I think he thinks he can feed his horses like you would goats…?”
8. “Is this the correct amount they should be getting…?”
9. What is the ideal diet for Mike as far as grain/supplements…?”
10.
1. “At what age would be a good age to start feeding him a senior feed, he’s 14 now?”
He is strictly a pleasure riding horse; I ride him 2 to 3 times a week for a couple of hours, pretty flatland riding. He’s fed a coffee can of oats every other day or left to graze on oats pasture for 8 hours every other day. At what age would be a good age to start feeding him a senior feed, he’s 14 now? Thanks for your help.
Bill Schurg’s Answer:
Thanks for the additional information. It sounds like the amount of oats (coffee can) along with the oat pasture is more than adequate to maintain this horse and allow you to get the performance you want. Horses that are in their teens like yours could be switched to the senior type feed replacing the oats, however I would again say that the primary benefits of the senior feed would be to give your horse some of the additional nutrients that may be lacking in the oats and oat hay combination. There probably is not any specific age to start or make a change but you could do so anytime. Just one comment, a coffee can of oats doesn’t tell if it is 1 pound, 2 pounds or a 3-pound can. But what you are doing seems to be working and a change of coffee cans of either would work without creating any problems. Best of luck.
2. “I wanted to double check with you as a friend recommended adding linseed and barley to her food?”
Hi There Just wanted to ask a quick question… Last year my mare had a foal; she has lost a lot of condition and now going Into winter she is really thin. I wanted to double check with you as a friend recommended adding linseed and barley to her food? How much is a recommended allowance and how would I prepare it as I here they both need to be cooked/soaked? Thanks very much
Bill Schurg’s Answer:
First, make sure that your veterinarian evaluates any and all health related issues. This includes but not limited to dental health and parasites. Then make sure she is getting adequate hay of the best quality you can find. Usually 1.5% of body weight is adequate. The use of linseed probably at 1/3 or 1/4 of a cup soaked for about 2 hours each day will be adequate and finally 1-3 pounds of rolled barley each day. I would not soak the barley but would make sure it is a rolled or flaked product. Once you have established this feeding program you may find a need to slightly increase ingredients to get more gaining potential or reduce to keep the horse maintained at the desired weight.
3. “I would like to put my horse on a low NSC/starch high fat program of feeding…”
I already give him 1 cup of rice bran oil daily and 4 qts of Purina Horse Chow. He, however, has recently had surgery to remove a large and a few small calcium carbonate Bladder stones. I do not want to feed an alfalfa-based pellet. I’m looking at Triple Crown Low Starch and Safe Starch (can’t tell the difference between the two) and Purina Strategy GX and Purina Ultium compared to Purina Horse Chow 100 for comparison of % NSC, forage base and fat level. I’d also like to know what I could supplement to try to prevent any more stones.
Thank you for your site and your help today
Bill Schurg’s Answer:
Gradually switching to any one of many low starch high fat and fiber feeds would be a good choice. Those supplements could then be fed with good quality grass hay that would likely be a better choice than alfalfas considering the stone problems you have had. Triple Crown, Purina, Nutrena and many other companies have feeds that may adequately fit your needs. Look on the feed tag for a feed that has 12-14% crude protein, at least 6% fat and greater than 10% fiber content. When looking at the ingredients in the list on the tag you should see things like rice bran, beet pulp, flaxseed, soybean hulls as the first ingredients. The Strategy GX product would not be considered a low starch high fat and fiber product. I am not familiar with the Triple Crown product but again check the guaranteed analysis on the feed tag and it should help you. If you don’t want to feed an alfalfa based pellet you may be able to find a grass-based pellet that would work for you. There are lots of choices and you can do some comparison evaluations by going on line and look at products produced by major equine feed companies like Triple Crown, Purina Mills, Nutrena, Buckeye Feeds, etc. I believe that all of these companies have a product that you are trying to find.
4. “I’ve been doing some research and it seems that oats should be fed every day…”
I recently purchased my first horse and he is still boarded with the people I bought him from. He is a 14-year-old big gelding, 14.2 hands and about 1700 lbs. He is an easy keeper and not thin or fat. He usually has a round bail of grass hay and they give him oats every other day. I’ve been doing some research and it seems that oats should be fed every day. Do you feel this is the case and if so, how much oats a day? Or, should I put him on a senior diet to be fed along with the round bail free feed? It’s all so confusing. Thank you so much for your advice.
Bill Schurg’s Answer:
You don’t indicate how much oats are being fed or the extent that you are working this horse. The hay is most likely maintaining this horse adequately and an every other day feeding of oats is probably all that he needs provided he is not gaining or losing weight. If the horse looks good, maintains weight and performs for you in the manner you wish, then the current feeding program is probably adequate. If you are working this horse everyday you may need to include 2-4 pounds of oats or a senior feed daily. The senior feed will supply additional nutrients that are not in oats alone and that may be of some benefit to you. But once again, with an easy keeper that is maintaining his weight and performing to your expectations the current feeding program may be very good. Best of luck.
5. “Or should I go ahead and feed her hay and feed twice a day but in smaller portions?”
I am adopting a horse from a rescue, she has been fed hay and oats for the last 8 months that I know of, when I get her I am pasturing her, I want to know do I still need to feed her hay and feed, regularly like she got or can I wean her off it all, or just give her feed or vice versa with hay? Or should I go ahead and feed her hay and feed twice a day but in smaller portions? I am confused on what to do? Thanks
Bill Schurg’s Answer:
Chances are that a rescue horse may need the supplemental feed along with the pasture for at least 60-90 days. It will depend on her weight and body condition. If she is skinny the use of supplemental feeding most likely will be essential and the 2x per day is probably recommended. If the pasture is very good, once the horse is adjusted to eating pasture you may be able to feed less of the hay but continue small portions of the grain. Best of luck.
6. Is there a safe and natural ingredient we can add to our horse ‘s water trough that will cut down on algae growth?
Bill Schurg’s Answer:
The only “natural” addition to a water trough to reduce algae may be to add a few goldfish to the tank. However, if the tank is extremely coated and contaminated there is nothing like emptying and cleaning the tank extensively. The use of adding liquid bleach to the tank, scrubbing and rinsing followed by sun drying is probably the most effective means of cleaning the tank. Once cleaned you can if possible try to place the tank out of direct sunlight, which may aid in algae reduction as well. Other horse people have used baking soda to scrub and clean tanks and buckets to rid algae. If there is an off taste or odor, some folks will add 1 cup of apple cider vinegar for every 25 gallons of water. The addition of “chemicals” like copper sulfate, chelated copper and chlorine bleach are all used for water purification but may affect natural fiber-fermenting microflora in the horse’s hindgut but are all effective in reducing algae. One must be careful when adding these products to a water source to avoid over treatment. I have heard recently of an all-natural water purifier for horse troughs, which are manufactured by T&L Consulting in Fredericksburg, TX and may be found in some, feed and tack retailer stores nationwide that you may want to investigate.
7. “I think he thinks he can feed his horses like you would goats…?”
There is a man at my barn that swears he’s been around horses all his life, but feeds his horses some pretty alarming things! He just had one horse die from colic and was told that there was a major problem w/his gut which had ulcerations, partially dead parts of his intestine and a badly twisted gut.
Right before the horse got the bad case of colic, he fed them a WHOLE feed bucket full of apples – not the red delicious kind, but they looked like mackintosh – green and red! He has also been giving them on a regular basis (which appalls everyone else) LARGE quantities of cornhusks, cabbage leaves and lettuce leaves. He says he knows someone at the outdoor market and he picks up a few cases of the outside leaves of the cabbage and lettuce and the cornhusk waste. He rams these items into the horses feed buckets until they are packed solid after their grain is gone! He does this at least a few times a week!
I have already found the info on your website about cabbage in SMALL quantities as well as apples and have printed it out, but what about these other items?
He has 3 other horses and says he is purchasing another one to take the place of the one that just died and I don’t want to see him kill them as well!! Maybe some written info from a nutritional source will wake him up! I think he thinks he can feed his horses like you would goats or hogs and their digestive system is NOT the same!! The horse that had the colic was in TERRIBLE pain and had to be put down. I’d hate to see this happen to the other horses he has as well!
Bill Schurg’s Answer:
Most horse owners feed products like apples and carrots as treats to horses and not as a sole source of feed. Fresh fruits can be fed to horses and most horses like them but while they have 70+% water on a dry matter basis they have the energy content of grains. Overfeeding these products could then predispose a horse to colic and laminitis due to excess energy intake. Additionally, some horses might choke on fresh apples. The use of corn husks, cabbage and lettuce leaves are not traditional horse feeds. While a horse may achieve some nutritional value from these products concerns of excess feeding may lead to gaseous and impaction colic. The use of a handful of these products more like a treat or small amounts when fed with traditional long stem hay would be the only way that I would be comfortable in feeding a horse.
8. “Is this the correct amount they should be getting…?”
I have 2 Arabian horses, one is a 2yr old stud and the other is a 3yr old gelding, I have been giving them 1 and 1/2 scoops of 10% sweet feed twice a day…is this the correct amount they should be getting? They are for pleasure riding. They both weigh approximately 1100lbs. They are being feed grass hay twice a day along with being out in the pasture. The scoops including the feed weigh about 10lbs. if you need any more info please let me know and I will see if I can get the answers. Thanks for all your help.
Bill Schurg’s Answer:
Your horses most likely are receiving an adequate combination of hay, pasture and sweet feed. Since they weigh about 1100 pounds they should consume about 16.5 to 22 pounds of total intake daily. Ten pounds of sweet feed seems a bit excessive, however depending on the hay and pasture quality that amount of grain could be exactly what they need. Generally, horses that are being used for pleasure riding are not working very hard and their nutrient requirements will be more like a resting horse. Therefore as long as you maintain body condition and weight I would continue the program you are involved with.
9. What is the ideal diet for Mike as far as grain/supplements…?”
I have just purchased a 2yr old Tennessee Walker who lived in a large open field and grazed all day with minimal amounts of corn to supplement. He is now in a small paddock with very limited grazing. His heath is good and he is 1000lbs. He gets good quality hay and is currently feed 5 cups of 10% sweet feed mixed with corn. What is the ideal diet for Mike as far as grain/supplements?
Bill Schurg’s Answer:
You can check the feeding chart at allabouthorses.com/site/health/feeding.html. which will give you some general parameters for feeding your horse. Your horse should be consuming about 2% of its body weight each day in total feed. Depending on the level of activity adjustments in the hay to grain ration may be needed. If your horse is just at maintenance, the diet that you are currently feeding is probably adequate, however if you are starting to exercise this horse this diet may need some modifications. Thus, I highly recommend that you weigh your feed to this horse based on his body weight. I would check to make sure that your horse is receiving at least 14-16 pounds of hay daily and 2-4 pounds of the grain mixture. There are several feed companies that make very nice feeds for the young horse and I would suggest that you check into using one of the Equine Junior types of feeds and follow the directions for feeding as outlined on the feed tag. Best of luck with this young horse.
