RE: RC: A feed question

["Karen Snodgrass" <ksnodgrass@overdrive.com>]

Hi Karen in NV:

 

The stable I board at feeds three times a day (early morning, mid-afternoon, and late evening) they feel it is better to give a more smaller meals and I agree with that.  With that said, my mare currently get:

 

2 large flakes of hay at each feeding (this is Ohio sized rectangle hay bales)

1 3/4 lbs sweet feed at each feeding

1 1/2 scoops (13 oz coffee can) of dry beet pulp (soaked in enough water to cover) at the mid-day feeding only

supplements at the mid-day feeding (Focus hoof sup. and a joint combo)

 

Plus apples and carrots and horse cookies whenever I am out which is at least every other day.

 

I am in an urban area and at our stable we don't have the land for pasture grazing although we do get turn outs most days for a few hours (indoor turn-outs in really bad weather and when ice takes over the paddocks)  I ride a lot in an indoor arena in winter so she stays exercised.

 

I really didn't know that the sweet feed as at 14% until they told me they were switching to a new mix that was at 10%.  From what I have been reading, this may be better for her.  I just wonder if I will see any type of condition or behavior change as the protein percentage is the ONLY thing changing about her feeding right now.  Just wanted to know what to look for.  We are done competing for the year so will have to wait 'til spring to see if the would affect the competitions.

 

thanks,

 

-Karen in NE Ohio (where winter has been taking its time showing up)

-----Original Message-----
From: Karen [mailto:karen@storallnv.com]
Sent: Friday, December 07, 2001 12:37 PM
To: Karen Snodgrass
Cc: ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject: Re: RC: A feed question

At 09:52 AM 12/07/2001 -0500, you wrote:
 Anyway the new feed has a protein level of 10%.  How will this protein change affect my mare?  We completed 355 miles this year, mostly 2 day 50 mile CTR's, but we did do 2 slow 50 mile endurance rides as well.  She kept her weight up and bounced back from all of the rides well.

***Hi Karen:  You aren't mentioning what else you are feeding?  You have to look at the overall picture.  I'm not a nutritionist, but I know someone who is <g>, and I pretty much follow her advice and have had pretty good luck.  I try to keep my horses protein levels down.  I feed Complete Advantage at rides (not sure what it's protein level is, but it is 40% beet pulp), and at home they get simple grass hay that is 7-8% protein.  Sometimes they'll get straight beet pulp added too (which is not high in protein, about 10% I think), but other than at a ride or immediately following they are on their regular rations of hay.  I'd say that if your horse is looking and feeling good don't worry about it.

Check out Susan G's website:  http://shady-acres.com/susan/beetpulp.shtml  btw, following Susan's advice, my two horses completed 2,550 miles in six months this ride season and both have excellent weight and are happy little (albeit a bit muddy) furballs right now. :^) 

Happy Trails,

Karen
in NV