Re: RC: Re: Feeding/hay suggestions

[Lynne Glazer <lynne@glazer.org>]

OK, you emigrant--we started getting this *great* 3 way 
oat-barley-alfalfa a few years back.  My colt has been on it since he 
was 6 months old, he's coming 4 now--gets that, and Grand Vite and 
about 3 lbs of Western Working Horse (Ace Hi/Star Milling Co), and he 
cleans that oat hay up.  So does coming-10 Ember, and I certainly 
have no trouble keeping weight on.  There are loads that are less 
palatable than others; we buy it all from Linda's.  My horses are 
used as the benchmark for palatability for the barn (like Mikey, 
they'll eat almost anything) -- though more than half of the others 
are now fed the three-way instead of alfalfa for dinner (most of them 
get Trojan's low protein alfalfa pellets for breakfast.)  The amount 
of horses on oat increased after a TB there got a softball-sized 
enterolith.

The three-way is definitely messier than alfalfa, but they're not 
rooting around in the sand for every bit, like they do with alfalfa. 
The first thing Ember does when fed is rip all the hay out looking 
for the carrots that might be beneath. <sigh>

Part of the reason for low protein in the Trojan pellets is that one 
of the ingredients is crushed almond hulls.  Haven't found any horses 
that don't like 'em.

Lynne




At 4:42 PM -0700 2/14/01, Susan Garlinghouse wrote:
>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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