Re: Feeding/hay suggestions

["Susan Garlinghouse" <suendavid@worldnet.att.net>]

Wait until around March and then look around for some first cutting
bermuda---first cutting grass hay is the lowest in lignin, therefore the
best quality than that grown in hotter weather.  Try either Linda's in Norco
or R&D in Chino.  Unless you're Oprah Winfrey, timothy is too pricey in So
Cal and although more digestible than the bermuda, not nutritionally all
that different.  I fed bermuda for many years and never had a problem, but
switch them over gradually (as with any feed).  Or, you can try
grass/alfalfa pellets, Broken Horn usually had pretty good prices if the gas
doesn't kill you.  I never had good luck finding oat hay in So Cal that
wasn't glorified straw.

As others have suggested, the beet pulp is a good alternative, or you might
consider Purina Complete Advantage (beet pulp based) if soaking isn't
feasible.

Good luck,
Susan G
----- Original Message -----
From: Jennifer Thompson <jlthompson@earthlink.net>
To: Ridecamp <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2001 11:17 AM
Subject: RC: Feeding/hay suggestions


> Hi all,
>
> I am looking for some feeding suggestions.  I board my 10 yr
> old Arab mare at a friend's house here in Southern
> California, who has two of her own Arabs.  Between the two
> of us, over the years we have lost three horses to
> enteroliths (intestinal stones - we had been feeding
> alfalfa-only diets).  So now we are understandably paranoid
> about feeding alfalfa.
>
> We have tried switching over to oat hay, but our horses do
> not like it, and even when they do eat it, they lose
> condition.  My vet told me that just oat hay doesn't give a
> horse enough nutrition and suggested Timothy hay.  However,
> Timothy hay is not readily available in our area, and when
> we are able to get it, it costs about 2x as much as oat or
> alfalfa for bales half the size.  My vet cautioned against
> Bermuda hay, said it tends to cause impactions...?
>
> We are currently feeding about 25% alfalfa and 75% oat, but
> the horses still pretty much just eat around the oat hay.
> We have also tried oat/barley, and oat/barley/wheat
> combinations - all with less than satisfactory results.  I'm
> afraid our horses are spoiled after years of yummy alfalfa
> and they just lose weight when we try to take the tough
> stance of "if they're hungry enough, they'll eat it."
>
> I am now supplementing my mare with Equine Senior, just to
> keep her weight up, which is ridiculous.  A healthy 10-year
> old horse shouldn't have to have supplementation just to
> stay at a good weight.  I would think that good forage or
> hay should be enough, unless she's being used hard.  But,
> she isn't even being ridden hard right now at all - she's
> pretty much a pasture pototo due to my work schedule and
> recent storms - she gets ridden maybe 2x a week.
>
> Any suggestions?  We are planning on feeding 50%
> alfalfa/grass, 50% oat/barley starting in March, when the
> feed store gets some alfalfa/grass in stock, but have my
> doubts about that regimen, too.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help.
>
> Jennifer
>
>
>
>
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